[php] [Fwd: Searching for CEOs against software patents"]

[Egon Schmid (_(at)_work)]

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From: Michael Widenius <monty_(at)_mysql.com>
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Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2000 00:37:03 +0300 (EEST)
To: mysql_(at)_lists.mysql.com, announce_(at)_lists.mysql.com
Subject: Searching for CEOs against software patents"
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Note that this is not a SPAM!  My opinion is just that this is such a
serious issue that everyone should know about it!

Software patents are a serious threat to Open software development

Keep Europe free from software patents!
Support the Eurolinux alliance initiative!

In November 2000, EU governments will debate whether to apply software
patents or not in Europe. Several big players with software patents
and proprietary interest are lobbying to get software patents legally
approved in the EU and they have got some of the IP Lawmakers behind them.

As Jean-Paul Smets from eurolinux puts it:
"IP Lawmakers do not understand the "free software" model. They hate it
because it contradicts their ideology. So, they would rather be happy if
Linux disappeared.... And most people in administrations tend to believe
IP Lawmakers. It's a shame but it's like that"

Software patents will turn development of Open source software into a
minefield, where the risk of being sued will kill and hamper
initiatives. Patent offices seldom understand the nature of
programming and can be expected to give patents without fully
understanding the consequences. Closed source development will be the
only safe way to avoid infringing on software patents. The Linux
itself as an open source alternative to proprietary operative systems
may well be threatened, which no doubt would please several
economically strong interests.

Software patents will not only affect Open Source, it will affect all
software development.  For example if you have a web site where part
of the data is stored in a database or if you are sorting data to
speed up searches, you may be breaking a patent!  The problem with
software patents is that there are so many patented techniques that
the software you developed actually contains statistically 10s if not
100s of patent infringements, and anyone of these can be used to put
you out of business!

MySQL AB / TcX is strongly against software patents. We believe that
copyright is the right way to secure software investments. We
therefore engage in the Eurolinux Alliance project to get 200 CEOs of
big European companies to sign a petition, telling the EU governments
that software patents would be harmful to their business.

If Your are a CEO of a suitable company, or have the means to get Your
CEO to sympathise with the work against software patents in Europe,
please mail or call me (+358-9-3861825, 10.00 - 22.00 GMT +0)

Instead of contacting me, you can of course also try to contact your
EU representative to discuss this!

You can find lots of information on software patents at:
http://petition.eurolinux.org/reference/ Please forward this adress to
anybody You think may contribute to the struggle against software
patents.

Act TODAY or find Yourself in a cage tomorrow!

Michael "Monty" Widenius
Moderator
CTO of MySQL AB

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