Hello TFP'ers,
I'm not normally big on politics. This topic however is near & dear.
The push by big business to get patent protection for software continues. These patents (for software already protected by international copyright) are used to control who can enter markets, and are specifically a new commercial tool against open source projects. Do you live in an EU member country? If you haven't written your representatives, now would be a good time.
Software patents in the U.S. are a disaster. They're granted for obvious processes and only serve to restrict development by forcing developers through a maze of patent examination and licensing, for things as simple as tabbing between hyperlinks in your web browser. Those with the funds to pay patent ransom win, while independent developers with nothing but passion for the technology are shackled. If software patent passes in the EU it will have widespread negative effects on software availability, cost, innovation, and diversity. Please do what you can.
For that matter those of us in the U.S. need to get off our butts and let our representatives know how we feel.
Check here for information, press releases, etc.:
http://NoSoftwarePatents.com
And a lobying guide in PDF format - what you can do to help:
http://www.NoSoftwarePatents.com/docs/050124guide.pdf
My apologies if this has been brought up here before. I made a quick search but nothing obvious turned up.
Raising a toast to Poland. :cheers!: