From: Jonas Norrman Date: October 6 2000 4:50pm Subject: Searching for CEOs against software patents" List-Archive: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql/52617 Message-Id: <14814.700.321786.297096@jonas.mysql.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hej Monty, =C5ter fr=E5n en trevlig semester laeser jag gamla mail och har d=E5 st= =F6tt p=E5 detta viktiga meddelande. Jag tycker du skall skicka det - inte bara till f=F6retagare- utan ocks=E5 till de viktigaste datatidskrifter= na inom EU. Kontakta dessutom era finska EU-politiker, s=E5 att de kan agera p=E5 =F6nskvaert saett. Haelsningar, Jonas jonas@stripped >>>>> "Michael" =3D=3D Michael Widenius writes: Michael> Note that this is not a SPAM! My opinion is just that this Michael> is such a serious issue that everyone should know about it! Michael> Software patents are a serious threat to Open software Michael> development Michael> Keep Europe free from software patents! Support the Michael> Eurolinux alliance initiative! Michael> In November 2000, EU governments will debate whether to apply Michael> software patents or not in Europe. Several big players with Michael> software patents and proprietary interest are lobbying to get Michael> software patents legally approved in the EU and they have got Michael> some of the IP Lawmakers behind them. Michael> As Jean-Paul Smets from eurolinux puts it: "IP Lawmakers do Michael> not understand the "free software" model. They hate it Michael> because it contradicts their ideology. So, they would rather Michael> be happy if Linux disappeared.... And most people in Michael> administrations tend to believe IP Lawmakers. It's a shame Michael> but it's like that" Michael> Software patents will turn development of Open source Michael> software into a minefield, where the risk of being sued will Michael> kill and hamper initiatives. Patent offices seldom understand Michael> the nature of programming and can be expected to give patents Michael> without fully understanding the consequences. Closed source Michael> development will be the only safe way to avoid infringing on Michael> software patents. The Linux itself as an open source Michael> alternative to proprietary operative systems may well be Michael> threatened, which no doubt would please several economically Michael> strong interests. Michael> Software patents will not only affect Open Source, it will Michael> affect all software development. For example if you have a Michael> web site where part of the data is stored in a database or if Michael> you are sorting data to speed up searches, you may be Michael> breaking a patent! The problem with software patents is that Michael> there are so many patented techniques that the software you Michael> developed actually contains statistically 10s if not 100s of Michael> patent infringements, and anyone of these can be used to put Michael> you out of business! Michael> MySQL AB / TcX is strongly against software patents. We Michael> believe that copyright is the right way to secure software Michael> investments. We therefore engage in the Eurolinux Alliance Michael> project to get 200 CEOs of big European companies to sign a Michael> petition, telling the EU governments that software patents Michael> would be harmful to their business. Michael> If Your are a CEO of a suitable company, or have the means to Michael> get Your CEO to sympathise with the work against software Michael> patents in Europe, please mail or call me (+358-9-3861825, Michael> 10.00 - 22.00 GMT +0) Michael> Instead of contacting me, you can of course also try to Michael> contact your EU representative to discuss this! Michael> You can find lots of information on software patents at: Michael> http://petition.eurolinux.org/reference/ Please forward this Michael> adress to anybody You think may contribute to the struggle Michael> against software patents. Michael> Act TODAY or find Yourself in a cage tomorrow! Michael> Michael "Monty" Widenius Moderator CTO of MySQL AB