John Madden wrote:
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>>In case anyone here is interested.
>>I think history has shown there's more then one on this list!
>- ----- Forwarded message from Simon Coveney TD MEP <simon.coveney at oireachtas.ie> -----
>>>>John,
>>>>In my e-mail to you dated 23rd March I referred to a Dáil question I had
>>submitted on the above.
>>>>The question was only answered yesterday. (I'm told that the original
>>was lost so I had to re-submit it)
>>>>More likely it took them that long to write a sufficiently misleading
response.
I assume that misleading the Dail is reason for trouble? How's about
not answering a question? The question had 2 parts:
1 What investigations have been carried out on adverse effects on
SMEs and small/startup software houses
2 Views on implications due to "the worlds leading open source
software company" maintaining a base here
Point 1 is unanswered. Instead (I presume) the minister says that
consultations were made 3+ years ago. Also it says that one body
supported the position in 2005. Does this mean no investigations have
taken place?
Point 2 in unanswered. Instead (I presume) the minister says that
copyright and competition laws won't be effected.
Just to cap it all off, he goes round the circle of saying that
patentability won't be extended, computer programs "as such" won't be
patented (emphasis mine of course) and that we need to level the playing
field. Problem is, only a small group of people want the Patent lawyer
induced insanity of the current interpretation "as such", but by
continuing to play these games of language most people remain unaware of
the threats lurking in our system "as such".
I still haven't managed to wrap my head around the "as such" connundrum
and what it means, I would love to see a Jeremy Paxman style interviewer
get Mr Ahern (perhaps both of them in turn followed by Ms Harney) into
the hotseat to explain it and why they believe it is in the best
interests of the country.
Time for a "We're not protesters as such" demonstration outside Mr
Ahern's offices?
Niall
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