Read this message on another list and although it has nothing to do with 
PICs, it does affect people who do programming for a living.... in 
other-words, almost everyone reading this list.
Therefore, I leave it to you to speak-up in time, or forever hold your 
peace if laws change in a manner less agreeable with your work.

----------------------------
From: "Roderick Klein"

Hello everybody,

So before you wonder what this has todo with OS/2 ?Everything!!! OS/2
 has a lot to thank about open source software. For example Mozilla,
 Thunderbird, Firefox (the GCC compiler with which the previously
 mentioned programs are compiled) are all open source applications.
 www.os2voice.org runs Apache as a webserver, ported from Linux and
 open source (like many other websites in the OS/2 community). Not just
 small companies can be effected by software patents but also free
 software ( the amount of software patent lawsuites keeps rising each
 year especially in the US!)

This is a dramatic call. I have been to Brussels on behalf of Mensys.
Europe is on the brink on making an important dission about the future
 of its IT sector.
As was discussed yesterday at a meeting organised in the European
Parliament in Brussels.  "Is the USA reforming its broken patent system
 ?" The answer is yes. There is a big chance that US politics is
 looking at what Europe will do.... Its time to send a very  CLEAR
 message, its 5 MINUTES TO 12.

 If you think that you contribution does not count ? It does count!
 FFII is one of the main organizations behind the very succesful lobby
 against software patents. The are succesful to large extend because
 they try and mobilize as many people as possible.
As reported: http://noepatents.eu.org/index.php/NO_Software_Patents

(From website)
"Vote for Buzek-Rocard amendments!

The Software Patents Directive, as approved by the European Council of
Ministers, would codify US-style Software Patents in the European
 Union. If that happens, software developers will no longer own what
 they write and can be sued for selling or distributing their own
 software. If you don't inform your parliament, mega-corporations are
 doing the job for you: "The European Parliament is filled with
 lobbyists of Microsoft, Eicta, CompTIA and so on. There are 30 to 40
 lobbyists permanently roaming the halls." (in Eweek, 21 June
(http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1829955,00.asp))
(End of website quote)

So how can you help ? Primarly is you have a website that is visited
frequently put the protest front page online:
http://noepatents.eu.org/index.php/Web_Demo_Against_Software_Patents
 The webdemo basicly starts right now and runs until the 6th of July.

Does it help this webdemo ? In 2003 a LARGE webdemo of websites that
 where closed (that could be effected by software patents) created much
 media coverage.
So every website counts! I have also seen this in Brussels, your VOICE
does not count  In 2003 & 2004 FFII has proven this several times!

If you are a small European company you can send a signed fax! More
details about the webdemo and the fax you can send can also be found
 here: http://noepatents.eu.org/index.php/NO_Software_Patents

So before your head really starts to spin what's the background on this
 ? For some years this heated debate on software patents has been
 running and this vote on the 6th of July is an important vote (yes the
 parliament vote on this already, but they now need to do it again).
 BTW please don't ask me to explain how Brussels works, its quite
 complex :-).

After this vote the process is not over. However the core message is
 that a set of amendments on the Council text are required. At this
 moment lobby groups related to large companies like Microsoft have
 send parties to Brussels that are saying they represent small and
 medium sized companies want software patents.

More information here:
http://www.corporateeurope.org/lobbycracy/C4Cbackground2.html

But they are not representing us :-( So make your voice heard with the
webdemo or a fax (if you are small company).

Thank you for your time and support!

If you have any questions let me know.

Thanks
Roderick Klein
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