[ILUG] Software patents, Ireland and the EU/Proposition for action

[Bryan O'Donoghue]

John P. Looney wrote:
> On Tue, Mar 01, 2005 at 11:28:36AM +0000, Dave Burke mentioned:
> 
>>AFAIK, the FFII already did the banana thing in mid-Feb during a protest
>>to the Luxembourg chief council....
>>
>>http://wiki.ffii.org/Demo050217En
> 
> 
>  OK, so that didn't work. How about a book like "Democracy for Dummies" ?
> You know, explaining what voting is etc.

Hmm, I've been reading some of the stuff posted on nosoftwarepatents... 
goring one of the admins a little bit. I've vociferously disputed that 
"Ireland" as an entity is forcing patenting though the EU, but, perhaps, 
as opponents to Patenting in Ireland, we should be doing more in the way 
of lobbying/embarressing the government to shift positions ?

However since our own dear Charles McCreevey is in fact, in a position 
to have a big influence over the European Patenting process.... perhaps 
some sort of group should be setup composed of Irish internet types, as 
a focal point for Irish dissenters opposition ?

As a group then, pronouncements/announcements could be made, to the 
government and or about government policy.

This could even be the sort of thing various <nameless> Irish McMedia 
agencies might like to link to.

Perhaps some sort of organised petition should be collected at this 
stage and presented to our government, similar to the thank Poland 
petition ?

With enough coverage and publicity, (despite the failure to remove 
Martin Cullen) it is possible we might be able to embarress the 
government somewhat or give the opposition a stick to beat them with.

Would a petition (limited to Irish people or not) directed at Bertie, 
McCreevy, Enda Kenny and Pat Rabbitte be of any merit, in anybody's opinion?