[ILUG] MEPs responses

[John Madden]

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On (09/03/05 13:49), Colm Buckley didst pronounce:
> 
> I'm slightly worried about today's communication from Eoin Ryan; he's 
> forwarded a statement from Brian Crowley MEP, who is the chairman of 
> the UEN group (of which Fianna Fáil MEPs are members):
> 
I also got word back from Brian Crowley, which I won't forward on here
as I didn't ask for permission to make his statements public. However,
his reply to me contained pretty much the same substance as the one in
Colm's mail.

One thing I did note however, is that he appeared to avoid the more
difficult questions in the two mails I sent him, instead concentrating
on what can be done from now on, since the common position has already
been accepted. I asked the three recipients of the mail I sent (Brian
Crowley, Simon Coveney and Kathy Sinnott) to request a statement from
McCreevy about his part in forcing through the directive to its second
reading. The only reply I've gotten so far to the first mail was from
Brian Crowley. In my reply to him, I asked why patents are necessary for
computer "inventions" since copyright more than covers code, in the same
way it covers art, literature, music etc. I also asked if the Irish
government had investigated the possible loss of jobs and income within
Ireland due to smaller companies being unable to compete against the
patent portfolios of multinational companies. It is the two questions in
my second mail (why patents are necessary, and investigation by Irish
government) that I feel are being avoided. I have yet to hear a valid
argument as to why patent legislation for software should be implemented
(apart from the "innovation" buzzword!).

Anyway, just said I'd let people know what I'd heard. Brian Crowley also
gave me a pretty good rundown of how the process for bringing in new
legislation works, if anyone wants it. In general, he was quite helpful,
but I feel he supports this legislation.

- -- 
Chat ya later,

John.
- --
BOFH excuse #1: clock speed
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