The Geekette Speaketh

I got this from the Philippine Linux Users Group (PLUG) mailing list today. Apparently the New Zealand government is thinking of allowing the unlimited patents of software. If this pushes through, it can be a big blow to the future of open source development. But we can do something about it despite the fact that we don't live in New Zealand. In fact, we SHOULD do something about it.

The email is from Ciaran O'Riordan, director of the End Software Patents campaign. The information on http://en.swpat.org/wiki/New_Zealand tells you how you can submit your opinions on why Patents Bill 2009 should not be passed. It also mentions what else you can do to prevent the bill from being passed. While email submissions may be considered, an oral or paper submission can have more impact.

Now you may be wondering why you should even care when you don't live in New Zealand? If New Zealand's Patents Bill 2009 gets passed, other countries may follow suit without even understanding the consequences of their actions. More like "monkey see, monkey do". Remember that the people making this bill have little or no knowledge of the impact of this to current practices in the software industry.

So please, spread the word. Express your sentiments. Educate the New Zealand committee members. Tell them why they shouldn't pass this bill.

Dear Free Software Supporters,

The New Zealand government has proposed allowing unlimited software patenting. They are accepting comments until July 2nd, but participation from the people who will be harmed seems very low.

The details of how to participate can be found on swpat.org:
http://en.swpat.org/wiki/New_Zealand

Participation of the free software community is particularly important because, although SME federations and consumer rights groups are sometimes the most influential lobbies against software patents, it's often the free software community that raises awareness of the issue and gets these other groups moving. The July 2nd deadline is very close, so work is needed now.

We thus urge you to participate in the consultation, but also to raise awareness on blogs, news sites, and among email groups, and to contact related interest organisations and companies to ask them to get involved too.

Some other swpat.org pages that may be useful:

http://en.swpat.org/wiki/Organising_a_campaign
http://en.swpat.org/wiki/Software_patents_harm_SMEs
http://en.swpat.org/wiki/Studies_on_economics_and_innovation
http://en.swpat.org/wiki/Harm_to_standards

Ciaran O'Riordan
Director End Software Patents
Tel: +32 487 64 17 54 email: ciaran [at] fsf.org

end.

--
Peter T. Brown
Executive Director
Free Software Foundation
www.fsf.org www.gnu.org