Via a friend.
Good luck,
Malcohol.
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From: "Simon Gentry" simon.gentry@campaignforcreativity.org Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 19:52:01 +0100 Subject: CII: One week to go!
Dear supporter
We have just over a week to go until the European Parliament decides on the future of Europe's high technology industry. Once the decision is made it is final, so the situation is urgent. In the coming days we will be placing advertisements in the press to emphasise that Europe's innovative small and medium sized companies support the continued patentability of computer implemented inventions. The advertisement consists of the statement below sets out why patents are so important and the signatures of as many small and medium sized companies as possible. Please read the statement below and sign up, then send us an electronic copy of your signature or a fax with your signature attached (00 44 (0)20 8742 3343). This really is the last chance we have to convince MEPs not to make the disastrous decision of abolishing patents for the high-technology industry. We really do depend on your support. Please help us to help you. Finally if you have any colleagues in other companies that you think might participate, please as them to do so.
Europe?s SMEs need patents to protect their innovations
We, the undersigned, support the continued patentability of high-technology inventions in Europe.
* Patents protect small and medium sized companies against larger * players that may wish to commercially exploit their work without * paying for the privilege. * Copyright protects the actual software code, but it does not protect * the invention; only a patent can do that. * Patents are public documents and therefore enhance transparency. * Without them companies would be much more secretive about their * work. * Patents do not threaten open source software. Open source and * patents have co-existed for years. In fact open source is thriving, * even in the United States which has a very robust patent system. * Europe cannot stand alone as the only economic region in the world * where high-tech patents are forbidden. * Patents stimulate competition by forcing companies for seek new * approaches to technical problems. Without patents there will be * less real competition, as companies will simply copy their * competitors inventions. * Patents enable investment in new and growing companies. Why would * any investor risk his or her money if they knew that larger * competitors would be able to copy the inventions of smaller or * smarter competitors? * Patents on computer implemented inventions have been granted by the * patent office for thirty years, with no evidence that they stifle * innovation ? in fact all the evidence is that they protect and * enhance innovation.
The best way of protecting innovation and securing Europe?s high-technology future is for the Members of the European Parliament to reject all amendments or abstain during the vote on computer implemented inventions.
Signature:
Name:
Position:
Company:
Protect innovation, protect patents: Take action now! Go to http://www.campaignforcreativity.org and send an email to your MEPs.
Simon Gentry Campaign for Creativity Studio 1.18 Power Road Studios Power Road London W4 5PY 00 44 (0)77 6027 4414 http://www.campaignforcreativity.org
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