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Most unfortunate :(
I guess we'll be having fun lobbying the MEP's again to vote no shortly.
Cheers, Niall
- ------- Forwarded message follows ------- Hi John,
News just in is that the Irish proposal on software patents was passed, this is a dark day for innovation in the European Software industry, not to mention for democracy in the EU.
This is an (apparently successful) attempt by the pro-patent lobby to torpedo the whole directive on software patents, since they are well aware that the European Parliament is extremely unlikely to vote for this version when it is returned to them (because it removes all of their amendments and safeguards).
Their strategy seems to be that having effectively killed this directive, they will now pursue the introduction of software patents through less transparent means, doing everything they can to minimise democratic scrutiny of their actions.
In short, a small cabal of unelected beaurocrats are seeking to rewrite European law to increase their own powers and appease their friends in industry. They are doing so against the express wishes of the EU's democratically elected representatives in the European Parliament. To achieve this goal they are using every trick in the book to minimise or evade democratic scrutiny and accountability.
Kind regards,
Ian.
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