How to promote free software

[Bernhard Reiter]

On Tue, Dec 03, 2002 at 03:32:38PM +0000, Nick Mailer wrote:
> On Tue, 2002-12-03 at 14:58, Richard Stallman wrote:
> >     I think we definitely got a message out at the european parliament
> >     recently. Although I do feel that most parties will be moving to
> >     harmonize with the US markets, no matter what we tell them.
> > 
> > Please do not be defeatist--since you see it will be a hard fight, the
> > right conclusion is that *you need to join in*.

> with joining in. I am joining in, but am sufficiently realistic to
> appreciate that there are economic and political forces at work that
> will ensure this gets through, 

>  I will fight the fight. But I know windmills when I see them.

Many people thought there were no chances to resist software patents
in the EU in 2000. I personally was laughed about and told 
by a patent lawyer: "Want kind of resistance do you want to put up? 
Look at your opponents. You can't win!."
He suggested some compromise letting open sources live in the
non-commercial world.

Still we resisted and mainly the personal engagment of only two people
stopped the progress of software patents in the EU for one round.
Their names were Jean-Paul Smets and Hartmut Pilch.

Noew we are in the second or third round. Our chances already
are much higher as we gained some publicity already and stronger allies.
I've seen it happen, each one of us can make a huge difference!
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