Compliance Toolkit

Story: Software patents make a mockery of European ideals

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Here's why we should ALL vote against Europe:

1) Punishment for our pro-patent national governments (losing a vote is the only language they understand).

2) Because a bad law, enacted at the EU-level will automatically apply to every country.

3) Without a uniform bad law, one or more EU countries would be able to think for themselves, to prohibit software patents outright, and become a magnet for skilled developers. We could choose to move to this country or countries (still in the EU) and soon the superior innovation and dynamic SME's there would become apparent. The IT industry would prosper there (only), and they would out-compete the sw-pat countries. Copyright, rigorously enforced, will provide sufficient protection for software. Patents can still be allowed on physical inventions.

4) In turn, the pro-swpat countries might see this, come to their senses and change their minds - there is always the possibility. This is really competition and free enterprise in its true sense.

Alternatively, if we support the EU, the whole of Europe will be under the chains of software patents, there will be no choice and no future. Like the Iron Curtain of old.

This same principle would apply to other crazy proposals of the European Commission - like the "Bolkestein directive". This would, for example, bypass a country like the UK's high-standards in Health and Safety laws, replacing them with those of the country where foreign workers are from (with much lower standards). Companies would have a big incentive to hire workers from countries with low standards, as it will be cheaper etc.

I believe should be possible to remain in the EU and to not support all laws. But first we will need to start saying "NO", so they will start listening to their own citizens!

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