[ILUG] Eek! McCreevy wants to legalise Software Patents via a US-EU patent treaty

[Braun Brelin]

From: Braun Brelin <bbrelin at gmail.com>
Date: May 19, 2008 10:53 AM
Subject: Re: [ILUG] Eek! McCreevy wants to legalise Software Patents via a
US-EU patent treaty
To: Ciaran O'Riordan <ciaran at fsfe.org>

Not being an Irish citizen, perhaps it's presumptuous for me to weigh in on
this, (but, given how many Irish criticize
my current chimpanzee-in-chief, perhaps I can be forgiven for the
transgression.  :-)).

I think that the Lisbon treaty is a serious mistake.  I think that voting No
is probably the best thing that
Ireland can do for itself.  This concept of a "United States of Europe" with
a strong federal government is
a perfect example of the "top down" philosophy of government.  This form of
government is inflexible and
rife with the potential for abuse.  I guarantee you that the first thing
the EU parliament will start doing is passing laws
to bring in "tax harmonization", which is a code phrase for "raising taxes".
  Forget about getting any of the
sort of things that people on this list care about passed, such as banning
software patents and other intellectual property
concerns.  The lobbyists for big corporations such as the Pharmas,
Agri-Food, etc. will simply overwhelm the average
citizens ability to petition for change.

Republics or democracies happen because a group of people with a shared
culture and history stand up to oppressive
governments to demand representation by their own.  Trying to fit multiple
cultures and customs within a single
legal framework is a recipe for disaster.

Braun Brelin




On 5/19/08, Ciaran O'Riordan <ciaran at fsfe.org> wrote:
>
>
> Declan McGrath <declan at frogface.org> writes:
> > Is Ireland the main force behind trying to force software patents into
> Europe
>
> I think it's more down to individuals (McCreevy and Harney) than Ireland as
> a whole.  Our MEPs were quite good for the anti-swpat side.
>
> Ireland can be blamed for producing McCreevy, but it was the EU that tipped
> him for one of the most powerful portfolios in the commission.
>
> > As a side note, given that a Yes vote 'streamlines' decision making in
> Europe
> > and that decision making hasn't proven to be terribly democratic on the
> > software patent issue - does that mean a No Lisbon vote is better to try
> to
> > make/keep Europe patent free?
>
> I known anti-swpat folks that support each side.
>
> > On the other hand a Yes vote appears to
> > strengthen the European parliament's hand (how much I don't exactly know)
> who
> > tend to be more sensible on the software patent argument. Any thoughts on
> > this?
>
> The European Parliament would gain the power to initiative legislation.
> Currently only the European Commission can initiate legislation.  So the
> argument here is, given that the parliament is much more anti-swpat is than
> the commission, maybe this would be good for fighting swpats.
>
>
> --
> Ciarán O'Riordan (+32 477 36 44 19) \ Support Free Software and GNU/Linux
> http://ciaran.compsoc.com/ _________ \     Join FSFE's Fellowship:
> http://fsfe.org/fellows/ciaran/weblog \      http://www.fsfe.org
>
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