Re: MEP Candidates in Scotland and Software Idea Patents

On Tue, 2004-06-08 at 08:39, Space Bunny wrote:

> 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.
> 

LibDem MEPs appear to suppose that the Council & Commission 'negotiate'
in good faith. We need to demonstrate that the unelected bodies do not,
that they are duplicitous, they present 'fake compromises' (and there is
no meaningful compromise anyway). In short we need to show that they
represent a vested interest.

> 
> Elspeth Attwoll MEP appeared not to vote last September on software idea patents.

It /was/ the week of party conference

> 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).
> 

Interesting... didn't realize the ScotParl had that sort of power...


> 
> I think more should be done to determine SNPs exact voting intentions.

Neil McCormick MEP, who is standing down, was one of the leading MEPs in
putting forward anti-swpat amendments. Also the Celtic Nationalist MEPs
belong to the same European party bloc as the Greens. There can be no
doubt that they would have voted against swpat had they been in the
chamber. I don't know why none of them were (but McCormick did speak in
the debate the previous day --- note that voting always takes place the
/day after/ the debate). Maybe it was the week of their party
conferences.

>  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) . 

I spoke to Purvis in Strasbroug. He was the only Tory MEP I tried to
speak to who was at all receptive (but didn't honestly think he would
vote against until I saw the roll-calls). [His assistant did not at any
stage fob me off with "speak to Malcolm Harbour".]

Alex
-- 
Alex Macfie, Taipei, Taiwan ROC              email <[email protected]>
Tel: +886 955 857477   <http://www.cgce.net/>
STOP SOFTWARE PATENTS IN EUROPE <http://swpat.ffii.org/>