Re: [Fwd: Brussels 2005-02-17: Software Patents Showdown]

I think it is too early to remove the 8.0 announcement.

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Justin Clift wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Are we ok to put something about the approaching patent problem on the
> website for a while again (as mentioned in the message below)?
>
> I'm thinking we could use this for our first test of replacing the main
> message, as PG 8 has been out for about a month now.
>
> Regards and best wishes,
>
> Justin Clift
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Brussels 2005-02-17: Software Patents Showdown
> Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2005 02:15:14 +0100
> From: FFII <feedback@ffii.org>
> To: justin@postgresql.org
>
> Dear FFII supporter[1],
>
> It is time to stand up for European democracy. Talk to
> your government. Join the demonstration. There will be
> a major confrontation in Brussels on February 17th 2005
> ( see http://demo.ffii.org/demo0502/ ).
>
> Last week, the European Parliament's Legal Affairs (JURI)
> Committee asked to restart the legislative process on software
> patents, but this request is still in danger:
>
> - The EU Council is planning to adopt its outdated "political
>    agreement" on software patents at a meeting of the finance
>    ministers on February 17th.  Poland can not be expected to
>    stop it again on its own. Another country has to take the
>    initiative (but will receive support from Poland).
>
> - Once the Council adopts its "agreement", the Commission may
>    choose to ignore the Parliament's request for a restart of the
>    procedure.
>
> - We can not be sure that under such circumstances the European
>    Parliament's Conference of Presidents (which also meets on
>    the 17th) will opt for a confrontation.
>
> Thus it is still possible that we end up with a 2nd reading,
> with all its dangers[2].
>
> In this critical situation we need your help.
>
> If you reply to this mail and tick any of the following items,
> we will try to provide some assistance and coordination.
>
> [ ] I will try to contact my national government and ask them to
>      oppose a Council meeting agenda containing the software
>      patent directive, at least not before the Commission has
>      answered the European Parliament's request, or/and to ask
>      for renegotiation in the Council (B-item).
>
> [ ] I will try to contact the European Commission and ask them
>      to answer the European Parliament's request ASAP.
>
> [ ] I will try to come to Brussels on February 17th to join the
>      demonstration and press conference
>
> [ ] I would like to call on MEPs to join the demo / press
>      conference
>
> [ ] I would like to contact media and press agencies.
>
> [ ] I will help organise car pools or busses from my region
>      to Brussels. (Note: for Paris rather use the wiki at
>      http://mm.ffii.org/CoachParis050217Fr)
>
> [ ] I will place a banner or protest page on my website and
>       register my participation via the aktiv web interface[3]
>
> [ ] I will contact some important websites and ask them to
>      participate
>
> [ ] I will donate (http://donate.ffii.org/)
>
> We hope to hear from you and to see you in Brussels.
>
> --
> Holger Blasum, Christian Cornelssen, Benjamin Henrion, Erik
> Josefsson, Felix Klee, Jonas Maebe, Jan Wildeboer
>
> [1] This mail was sent to justinu in https://aktiv.ffii.org/
> [2] http://swpat.ffii.org/letters/juri0502/
> [3] http://www.ffii.org/ffii-cgi/eintrag?m=netstrike
>
> --
> "One who sees the invisible can do the impossible."
>   + Frank Gaines
>
> ---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
> TIP 4: Don't 'kill -9' the postmaster
>

--
  Bruce Momjian                        |  http://candle.pha.pa.us
  pgman@candle.pha.pa.us               |  (610) 359-1001
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