[Fsfe-ie] Next thing to write: patents position paper

[Ciaran O'Riordan]

IFSO should have a "positional paper" on the software patents directive.
Something comprehensive so when politicians bring up a questions (TRIPS,
current situation, employment), we tell them what page to read.

So when we meet policitians, we bring a copy, highlight bits as we talk, and
leave them with a highlighted copy.  Shows we're organised, thought of
everything, etc.

I don't know how big it would have to be, but 10 pages seems like the right
order of magnitude.  The directive should be quoted, etc, so it could go to
20 pages.

I was hoping to make a start on this last night but it didn't happen.

A lot of stuff can be robbed from our letters, and more can be robbed from
FFII's site.  It doesn't matter if the material isn't ours (although it will
be clearly labeled as being whoever's material), the important thing is just
to have it in one document.

First section should explain what happens when an economy permits software
patents:
1. Some existing software development models become impractical due to costs
(these are individual development, SMEs, more?)
2. Writing useful software is specifically prohibited because use of
standards (and worse, defacto standards) can require patent licenses


This true because:
How the current text permits software patents

The fallout is:
Less control over software
Less choice
Less SMEs
Less investing in SMEs (because investment just brings lawsuits)


I can start this on Monday, or someone can take a stab now.

-- 
Ciarán O'Riordan,
http://www.compsoc.com/~coriordan/
Have you signed up to help FSF Europe yet? http://www.fsfe.org/