UKUUG
(the UK's Unix & Open Systems User Group)
Software patents will be a disaster, says UKUUG Council
We the UKUUG Council, the executive of a technical forum of some 400 software specialists, wish to register our profound and grave concern about the adoption by the European Union Council of Ministers of the Directive on the Patentability of Computer-Implemented Innovations, usually referred to as software patents.
We are dismayed that the Council of Ministers' has ignored decisions of the European Parliament, many of whose members are convinced that software patents will damage the economic prospects of SMEs, especially those of developers of software.
Software patents give large multinationals a weapon to use against smaller competitors, to slow innovation and maintain high prices. MicroSoft's monopoly position would be reinforced and the continued development of Linux and other open source software threatened. Software patents will be to the detriment of computer users throughout the EU.
We believe it is essential that this proposal is rejected as it stands and the question of software patents given much wider consideration.
The widely-held misgivings about the effect of the Directive are valid subjects for debate and we recognise that our position is not unopposed. We will continue to argue the case against software patents and take every opportunity to ensure that our voice is heard.
The dismissal of the Parliament's concerns by the Council of Ministers' is seen in many quarters as cynical and corrupt and entrenches the view that it is unwilling to listen to viewpoints other than its own. | The contempt that has been shown for consultative and democratic processes is lamentable and must alarm any citizen of Europe, no matter what their viewpoint.
For further information on the UKUUG and its objectives, please see http://www.ukuug.org or contact Leslie Fletcher, 0161-613 9547, Leslie.Fletcher@ukuug.org
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