FFII Newsletter - April 2006
Contents
- NEWS
- AGENDA
- PROJECTS
- COMMENTS
- DONATIONS
1. NEWS
- Brussels, 12 April: Commission consultation on EU patent strategy closed. FFII submitted response to questionnaire, endorsed by numerous firms and individuals.
Details
In January 2006, the European Commission started a consultation on a project that, if it goes according to current plans, will result in the legalization of software patents, which are known to be devastating to the software industry. The project is the Community Patent. While the essential idea, having EU-wide patents, is a good one, the current Commission proposal would transfer EU and member state legislative and judicial power to the European Patent Office, which would effectively legalize their hitherto illegal practice of granting software patents. Moreover, patent system do not guarantee continued innovation. In the context of free market, its expansion appears clearly counterproductive.
FFII first questioned the validity of the procedure, based on the serious lack of accessibility, which means that a majority of EU businesses are completely excluded from answering. Thats why FFII recommended participation to those businesses that are able to do so, since this will demonstrate to what extent businesses are affected. For Open democracy means more transparency and effective hearings of all stakeholders
Following a formal complaint by FFII to the EU Commission's President Barroso, and meetings between FFII and the Commission, the Commission has agreed to extend its deadline from 31 March 2006 to 12 April 2006. FFII submitted its answer to the consultation organized by the European Commission on the Future of the Patent Policy in Europe last Wednesday 12th of April.
2. AGENDA
- Warsaw, 2-4 June: FFII board conference and meeting. Meet the people who make your life hell with untold emails about inane subjects, and tell them what you really think!
- Brussels, 12 June: EU Commission hearings on the future of patent policy in Europe. The FFII will be there.
Full calendar on http://new.ffii.org/Calendar.
3. PROJECTS
- Enforcement. Write software and go to jail? The FFII is collecting industry support to stop the IPRED2 directive from criminalising patent infringement across the EU.
- FFII Poland. Try to come to Warsaw on 2-4 June, and be part of starting a new chapter in history
4. COMMENTS
Patents and innovation, cause or correlation? See http://heironymouscoward.blogspot.com/ for one point of view.
5. DONATIONS
To pursue its action, FFII needs donation from every concerned part.
