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<TITLE>RE: [plug] Software patents</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>> -----Original Message-----</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> From: Shayne O'Neill [<A HREF="mailto:shayne@guild.murdoch.edu.au">mailto:shayne@guild.murdoch.edu.au</A>]</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Sent: Tuesday, 10 August 2004 1:46 AM</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> To: plug@plug.linux.org.au</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Subject: [plug] Software patents</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Ok. But we really need to start writing letters to FEDERAL </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> labor (and lib,</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> but those guys are probably hopeless) MP's asking for either </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> the US patents</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> stuff to be nixed, or some sort of ammendments either;-</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> 1) excluding software</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> 2) specific protections against using patents to protect monopolies</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> (Including by proxy)</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> OR</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> 3) specific protections against using patents against open source.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Obviously 1 is the best go, followed by 2 then 3.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Whats perhaps needed is that letters need to be written from the</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> perspective of IT PROFESSIONALS, and how it affects our industry.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Unfortunately the only cats on the case seem to be the </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> activist scene, and</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> the mainstream parties just aint gunna listen to them.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2><*Text cut to conserve space*></FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>> This is real important guys. There seems almost NO outcry in </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> australia,</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> but our industry is in jepardy. And I'm not being hysterical. </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> Only *bad*</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>> things can come out of software patents.</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Do you have some sort of template for this kind of thing?</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>I know I am against this, but I wouldn't know where to start with writing to a member of parliament... I know that if I had a template, or some sort of starting point, It'd make it a lot easier to write and maybe get something done. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels like this...</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>Does anyone have something that we could use as a starting point?</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>Thanks,</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2>Phil.</FONT>
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