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

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- The EU Council is planning to adopt its outdated "political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