Allowing patents on software routines is certain to cripple the European IT market, hamper innovative development, and make business for many IT companies - large and small, non profit and commercial - near impossible.
Thanks to protests throughout Europe, the plan, which would otherwise have been handled by bureaucrats, came to the political agenda. The European Parlement protested against the proposal and insisted that the Committee change it to disallow for such restrictive patents.
Unfortunately, the Committee seems not inclined to listen to the only democractic organ in the European Union. Instead, no doubt under the influence of large American corporations, they want the Counsil of Ministers to recognize and set in motion the original plan dutring next weeks meeting, turning the already feeble European democracy into a sham.
This friday, we plan to hold a protest meeting at the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Ministery van Economische Zaken) in The Hague. This could be but a small protest, butw e may also turnthis ina signmifcant one if we all attend.
The protest is to commence at 10:00 in the morning. I implore you all to attend.
More information on the demonstration can be found at: http://wiki.ael.be/index.php/DemoDenHaag
See also: http://www.softwarepatenten.be/pers/p8
-- Pierre van Rooden Mediapark, C 107 tel. +31 (0)35 6772815 "Never summon anything bigger than your head."
