[Fsfe-ie] ok, patent letter being sent now, please take a look asap
Glenn Strong
Glenn.Strong at cs.tcd.ie
Fri May 14 16:38:41 CEST 2004
On Friday, May 14, 2004 at 15:20 +0100, Ian Clarke wrote:
> Ciaran O'Riordan wrote:
> > Between other things, the letter to Mary Harney never got sent, but here's a
> > letter. I want to send it immediately, so can I get the go ahead from
> > another committee member?
>
> Well, thats not me, but FWIW it looks good and you are right to send it
> ASAP, one or two nitpicks:
I agree that it looks good - send (with the corrections noted by Ian).
Just a couple more nits:
> > companies are allowed to patent techinques required for writing certain file
techniques
> > copyright is instant, free, and doesn't intefere with other peoples work.
interfere
> > Since the mid-ninties, some businesses have been builing a new business
nineties building
> > Software patents are particularly harmful to Free Software, moreso than
more so
> > software patents would be disastrous for Europes software developers and
Europe's
> Also, would it be worth pointing out that the draft for discussion got
> rid of many of the safeguards created by the EP amendments?
Perhaps it could fit in the last paragraph - very quickly written
alternative wording (only the last sentence changed):
Last September, we were pleased that Ireland's MEPS, along with the
majority of the European Parliament, voted to adopt a set of
amendments which would clarify that software innovations are excluded
from patentability. For the reasons given above, we believe it is
clear that the introduction of legal software patents would be
disastrous for Europe's software developers and software users.
Noting that the recent draft for discussion has removed many of the
safeguards introduced by the amendments we ask that you support the
decision of the Irish MEPs and the parliament.
Not sure if that reads better, though. There's no ambiguity about what
we're asking for, so it might be better that the letter goes out today.
--
Glenn Strong
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