Re: reply from Elspeth Attwooll MEP on Software Patents

On Wed, 2004-06-09 at 22:03, Space Bunny wrote:
> In addition to one at: http://kwiki.ffii.org/?LtrAtwooll040604En
> here is reply I received from Elspeth Attwooll MEP which seems to be 
> taking on board 'weakness' of existing draft more than above.
> 
She is still only *beginning* to show signs of clue.

> The LibDems 
> are in favour of increased legal certainty in the EU. 

Certainty is only good if it means software developers can be certain
they will not be victim to patent trolls.

>  The Parliament's position would harmonise 
> current practice in the European Patents Office,

Er, how can you harmonize practice in a single body?

> Personally, whilst I was not present to vote in September, I would have 
> supported the Parliament’s overall position as all but a handful of 
> British MEPs did.

Obviously she's been looking at different voting data from the rest of
us. All buit a handful of British MEPs *did not* support the
Parliament's overall position. This includes LibDem MEPs.

>  I think that the lack of a definition of 
> what constitutes a “technical contribution” does seem to be a weakness 
> in the current text and ought to be clarified by MEPs at second reading. 

Signs of a clue...?

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/>