MEP Candidates in Scotland and Software Idea Patents

http://www.alba.org.uk/euro04/euro04cand.html

Some responses to my enquires as to voting intentions of candidates.

The other week I attended a small hustings with candidate from SSP; 
Felicity Garvie (top of their list),
from Green Party: Tara O'Leary (2nd on list)
and Alex Bruce (3rd on Lib Dem list) who was political assistant to 
their existing MEP

Felicity was not aware of issue but sounded positive to our cause. I 
have no reason to suspect that she would vote for software idea patents 
if elected as she would not be subject to pressures that have lead Lib 
Dems to do so. The SSP are keen to put clear water between them and 
mainstream parties and are not into horse trading on this issue. The 
only thing I would worry about is them not seeing issue as important and 
not taking time to vote the anti patent line on complex amendments. 
There are people in their party who would hopefully be able to push for 
party policy to be developed in this area.

Tara had heard of issue and Greens in Scotland have produced a leaflet 
on the issue. So are pretty committed to vote the against software 
patents, thanks to having fixed position of existing MEPs of sister 
parties to follow.

Alex gave some use for anything 'need for balance' answer, and correct 
me on way I have presented what council of minister had done as he 
pointed out that they could no impose anything against parliaments 
wishes as they have equal power over EU legislation. I made error of 
trying to score points with him rather than find out his position and 
persuade.

Elspeth Attwoll MEP appeared not to vote last September on software idea patents.
Nor did Ian Hudghton MEP of SNP it seems.

http://www.ffii.org.uk/votes/swpat/country/UK.html


I followed up with some emails. Here are some of responses so far.


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	RE: Your opinions and voting intentions when it comes to EU 
directives relating to software
Date: 	Fri, 4 Jun 2004 17:09
From: 	Election Team <election at scotlibdems.org.uk>
Reply-To: 	<election at scotlibdems.org.uk>
To: 	<[email protected]


Many thanks for contacting us. I apologise for not contacting you sooner but
your email was only just forwarded to me.

You ask a great deal of highly complex and technical questions, so we will
need to look into this in some detail before giving you a full response

Best wishes

Michael Scanlan
Press Officer
Scottish Liberal Democrats European Election Campaign
4 Clifton Terrace
Edinburgh

0131 347 8318
07958 698 698

www.votescotlibdem2004.co.uk





Felicity or her office has yet to respond but some response for others 
in their party have:

*From:*  "Gordon Morgan" <[email protected] 
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SSP-Geek/post?postID=TLl6Wn057xmGRlCN1VaqSN2xkR1j35zrin1igvkXPxJSU9ArFyIXtprOeAm8HUsj_WrvtKOrO5u_1MnkPwsZgg>> 

*Date:*  Fri Jun 4, 2004  11:40 am
*Subject:*  Re: [SSP-Geek] What is your Felicity Garvie's voting 
intentions on EU directives relating to software?


As we have no MEPs at present, and as the specifics of software patents 
has not been debated at SSP conference, the SSP have no formal policy on 
this issue. However, as Felicity responded we are opposed to patents 
being used to benefit multinationals and screw the poor - notably on GM 
crops and supply of anti viral drugs to Africa. We also have protested 
against Microsoft's use of its monopoly position to stifle innovation, 
drive out competitors and receive ridiculous sums from the taxpayer for 
crap software.
We have also, if memory serves, voted against copy protection 
legislation in the Scottish Parliament when it has been moved as a 
statutory instrument (primary legislation is done at Westminster).





Ian Hudghton MEP has yet to respond to email but his second on SNP list has:



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Re: *** SNP Web Form: EU directives relating to software: your 
opinions and voting intentions***
Date: 	Fri, 4 Jun 2004 18:32
From: 	Alyn Smith <alyn.smith at snp.org>
To: 	Micah <[email protected]>

	



More power to your elbow, the SNP totally supports your aims.  Our MEPs
have been leading the charge against this bizarre raft of measures which
will only serve to stifle innovation and ingenuity.

All best

Alyn




I think more should be done to determine SNPs exact voting intentions. 
Also it would be good for someone to explore what is going on with the 
two conservative candiates in Scotland one who voted in favour of 
patents (Stevenson) and one against (Purvis) . The irony is if the a 
shift to UKIP splits their vote and they could lost second on list  who 
voted against patants. But good idea to see what they think now.


I have been sending those I wrote to usually an introduction about 
myself, and my interest in issue and some pointers, and at least 
following Qs.

P1:
    These questions concern the forthcoming second reading of the
    directive on patentability of computer-implemented inventions. Will
    you vote for freedom of publication (against patent program claims)?
P2:
    Will you vote for freedom of interoperation, as voted by European
    Parliament Plenary on 24 September 2003 and in the JURI, CULT and
    ITRE committees? 
P3:
    Will you vote for exclusion of data processing from a 'field of
    technology', as voted in Article 3a on 24 September? 
P4:
    Will you vote for a definition of 'technical' by reference to forces
    of nature? 
P5:
    Will you vote for rejection of the directive if it does not include
    all of the above freedoms, exclusion and definition?

I also often asked them to consider signing the declaration at following 
url against software idea patents:
http://swpat.ffii.org/papers/europarl0309/demands/