[plug] Software patents

[Shayne O'Neill]

Ok. But we really need to start writing letters to FEDERAL labor (and lib,
but those guys are probably hopeless)  MP's asking for either the US patents
stuff to be nixed, or some sort of ammendments either;-
1) excluding software
2) specific protections against using patents to protect monopolies
(Including by proxy)
OR
3) specific protections against using patents against open source.

Obviously 1 is the best go, followed by 2 then 3.

Whats perhaps needed is that letters need to be written from the
perspective of IT PROFESSIONALS, and how it affects our industry.
Unfortunately the only cats on the case seem to be the activist scene, and
the mainstream parties just aint gunna listen to them.

We need to point out that it *hasnt* been an uncontraversial process in
europe. We need to point out that there are some RIDICULOUS patents in the
US that we'd be forced to accept (one click, XML stuff). We need to point
out that software methods are rarely innovative (generally if a coder
knows it can be done, the coder can do it due to the logical process
coding uses), yet patents get handed out in software on non-innovative
things all the time. We need to point out that small developers can rarely
afford to fight patents even though a huge number of US software patents
have been found to be bogus. We need to point out that software patents
are anti-competitive and anti-free-trade in that they are a form of
protectionism.

We really have to bombard the pollies with this stuff.

As it stands, the greens, Democrats, and One nation will probably outright
reject the fta stuff. No dramas there.

So all we need to do is to get labor to see that wholesale software
patents are a BAD thing that will HURT australias IT industry.

And if we are clever, we can knock this sucker on the head. Interestingly
its dawned on me that if we had software patents with protections for
free/open software, we'd be setting a model for ammending american/euro
software patents to protect linux.

This is real important guys. There seems almost NO outcry in australia,
but our industry is in jepardy. And I'm not being hysterical. Only *bad*
things can come out of software patents.

--
"the vast majority of Iraqis want to live in a peaceful, free world. And
we will find these people and we will bring them to justice."
George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Oct. 27, 2003

Shayne O'Neill. http://www.perthimc.asn.au

On Tue, 10 Aug 2004, Garry wrote:

> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
>
>
>
>
> http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,10395091%5E15319%5E%5Enbv%5E15306,00.html
>
>
> A couple of months ago I explained to my local member (Mick Murray) the
> virtues of open standards and open source software in general, in his
> Collie office. I also spoke to the premier on 6pr radio on the same subject.
>
> Today's AustralianIT has a story that today the WA premier will announce
> a strategy of moving towards open standards!!
>
> NOTE: I am NOT (r) claiming credit for this. There are far more eloquent
> and intelligent people who I am sure are also raising this with
> government people.
>
> I am very happy to be part of the Linux community and see our government
> is actually thinking about how things are being done! It's also nice to
> see something you believe in being seriously - and ultimately -
> favourably considered by those "in power"..
>
> This (if it is more than noise) is exciting for Linux in WA!!
>
> 8^)==
>
> Garry
>
>
>
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
> Version: GnuPG v1.2.4 (GNU/Linux)
>
> iD8DBQFBF6yXvdH9DANniC8RArBXAJ9oMs0z1KSdZqSItGwYBxZbuBGPVQCfV5nn
> FGkBvqKs2EXzIT24X9VErxI=
> =fH1h
> -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
> _______________________________________________
> PLUG discussion list: plug at plug.linux.org.au
> http://mail.plug.linux.org.au/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/plug
> Committee e-mail: committee at plug.linux.org.au
>