While inviting Irish MEPs to a meeting at the European Parliament next week in Strasbourg on the IPRE directive, I came across a press release from Nuala Ahern, Green MEP on how she's against software patents and voted against the softpat directive last year. The Greens are an influential political group in Parliament. Nuala is not standing for re-election in June 2004, so perhaps she can burn her boats before she leaves!How about meeting up with her to discuss strategy? http://www.nualaahern.com/releases/release2303.htm
Teresa
---------- Teresa Hackett 114 Cedar House Mespil Estate, Sussex Road Dublin 4, Ireland Email: teresahackett@eircom.net Dutch Mobile: +316 523 63486 (until 19.3.2004) NEW! Irish Mobile +353 87 6253768 ----------
teresahackett@eircom.net wrote:
While inviting Irish MEPs to a meeting at the European Parliament next week in Strasbourg on the IPRE directive, I came across a press release from Nuala Ahern, Green MEP on how she's against software patents and voted against the softpat directive last year. The Greens are an influential political group in Parliament. Nuala is not standing for re-election in June 2004, so perhaps she can burn her boats before she leaves!How about meeting up with her to discuss strategy? http://www.nualaahern.com/releases/release2303.htm
Its nice to be reminded that there is intelligence in Brussels after all ;-)
Realistically though, what practical influence can MEPs have now that the swpat issue is in the hands of the EC Council?
Having exchanged a number of emails with her over the Summer, I believe Avril Doyle MEP is also on our side (IIRC she is also a Leinster MEP).
Ian.
I contacted Nuala Ahern about Software Patents back in July, at Malcolm's behest. I include her response below.
If you need any help engaging Nuala or any other Greens on the issue, let me know (I am a minor Green politician).
Ryan
------ Forwarded Message From: "Nuala Ahern" NAhern@europarl.eu.int Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 14:13:30 +0200 To: ryan@meade.net Subject: Software Patents
Dear Ryan,
Thank you for your email concerning the McCarthy report on computer implemented inventions (com 2002-092). Like all Green parties in the European Union, I share your concern that software patents and patents on business methods are a threat for European software developers.
The Greens/EFA in European Parliament are fighting on this dossier in order to prevent software patents being legalized in the Union; we have organized two conferences with Richard Stallman (in November 2002 "Is software patenting necessary?" and in May 2003 "Software patents and SMEs"). You will find more info on our website http://www.greens-efa.org
Regarding our work inside European Parliament; we tabled amendements - and won - in the culture committee and again in the industry committee but we lost in the committee for legal affairs as the rapporteur (Arlene Mac Carthy, member of the Social Democrat Group, UK Labour) refused any compromise. We thus voted against her text.
Lately we opposed the very fast and very discrete attempt to add the report on the plenary of July; it is now scheduled for September (see http://www.europarl.eu.int).
You can be assured that I will defend software freedom in plenary as well.
Best wishes Nuala Ahern
On 07/02/2004 00:49, "teresahackett@eircom.net" teresahackett@eircom.net wrote:
While inviting Irish MEPs to a meeting at the European Parliament next week in Strasbourg on the IPRE directive, I came across a press release from Nuala Ahern, Green MEP on how she's against software patents and voted against the softpat directive last year. The Greens are an influential political group in Parliament. Nuala is not standing for re-election in June 2004, so perhaps she can burn her boats before she leaves!How about meeting up with her to discuss strategy? http://www.nualaahern.com/releases/release2303.htm
Teresa
Teresa Hackett 114 Cedar House Mespil Estate, Sussex Road Dublin 4, Ireland Email: teresahackett@eircom.net Dutch Mobile: +316 523 63486 (until 19.3.2004) NEW! Irish Mobile +353 87 6253768
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