[Fsfe-ie] Re: 2004 dates for the EU Competitiveness Council

[Robert Dewar]

Ian Clarke wrote:

> If anyone starts suggesting things like exemptions for free software it 
> will be massively destructive to our cause as it would constitute a 
> betrayal of our natural allies, the SMEs.  I hope nobody is so foolish 
> as to advocate anything like this.

I very strongly agree. And my position here, as CEO of a SME that relies
entirely on a Free Software approach is an interesting one, since 
clearly I am not arguing any special interest here :-)

Unfortunately, there have been people "so foolish as to advocate 
anything like this", and indeed at one point specific amendments 
suggesting such exemptions were proposed.

Robert Dewar
CEO and President
Ada Core Technologies (www.gnat.com, see also www.act-europe.fr)