FYI. Attached you'll find The EU software patent event calendar. If you wan't know what all this about, please read this: http://swpat.ffii.org/papers/eubsa-swpat0202/demands/index.en.html Please considering joining the JURI committee vote event and discussions on June 17: http://swpat.ffii.org/termine/2003/europarl/06/17/ Please also take some time and write to some (or many) European Parlement members. Browse this site to get their contact details: http://wwwdb.europarl.eu.int/ep5/owa/p_meps2.repartition?ipid=0&ilg=EN&iorig=&imsg= Your voice matters (even if they don't reply), don't expect others to speak up for you and defend our freedom. The most important aspect IMO, is to make clear to EP's that 'law harmonization' for software patents isn't wanted if this means that software patenting will now be allowed in the EU. If the pro-software-patent-lobby gets their will, the software industry will be the only sector where there is a double legal restraint in the form of both copyright and patent law (excluding trademark law). I think we should should aim at achieving that the EU directive will simply clarify current patent law again by saying: 'Software patents are not allowed in the EU', followed by a clear definition of terms which describe what software and algorithms are. Attention also needs to be given to the already granted software patents (by the national patent offices) ofcourse. On my website frontpage (http://debianlinux.net) I've written my views on the EU software patent issues. regards, Jama Poulsen
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- Subject: EU Software Patent Events 2003/06-7
- From: phm@xxxxxxxx
- Date: 10 Jun 2003 01:17:02 -0000
Dear FFII/Eurolinux Supporter[1]! We need your presence at some of our next Meetings at the European Parliament in Strasburg tue/wed June 10.-11. http://swpat.ffii.org/termine/2003/europarl/06/10/ tue/wed June 17.-18. http://swpat.ffii.org/termine/2003/europarl/06/17/ tue/wed June 24.-25. http://swpat.ffii.org/termine/2003/europarl/06/24/ tue/wed July 1.-2. http://swpat.ffii.org/termine/2003/europarl/07/ Please register through the FFII Participation System http://aktiv.ffii.org/?l=en menu item: participate in events By registering a few days in advance you will be sure to have a free bed in a double room. Even if you want to come to tomorrow's event, we can still get you a bed. But in that case please write directly to buero@xxxxxxxx beside registering through the menu. Please also go to the "My MEPs" menu item and try to contact some MEPs or their assistants. Preferably you should tell your MEP that you are coming with a delegation of experts and SME representatives around one of the weekly events listed above. You can even make an appointment for the delegation if you do not plan to come yourself. If you can't get an appointment time within the indicated timeframe, make one for our permanent Brussels representative Erik Josefsson <erikjosefsson@xxxxxxxxx> and confirm with him. Erik is in the Parliament every day and will most likely be able to attend the date which your MEP proposes. Moreover, he is well informed about the issues and able to give helpful explanations to interested MEPs. You can get in contact with other possible delegation members through the EU event preparation mailing list http://lists.ffii.org/mailman/listinfo/bxl/ More hints on how you can help can be found in various languages at http://www.eurolinux.org/ as well as on the meeting pages, which you suggest you might look at once in a while, as they evolve. Thank you very much for your patience and your support!
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