[Lilux-info] [Fwd: Petition to stop software patents now]

To whom it may concern, We are contacting you as we believe that the following topic might be of interest to your organisation. We would like to inform you of a new attempt to legalise software patents and ask for your support against it by signing our petition at http://stopsoftwarepatents.eu In October 2008 the President of the European Patent Office issued a Referral to its Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBoA) concerning the question of software patents in Europe. In the absence of European legislative initiatives, the EBoA's conclusion on this matter is likely to have the same effect as a software patent directive. However, since the EBoA – rather than the European Parliament – is now tasked with this issue, the decision will be made on a purely legal basis, unaccompanied by more extensive political or economic debate. The FFII is currently working on several different strategies to communicate its concerns to the EboA; the deadline to do so is at the end of April. This is why your organisation's signature is needed to put an end to software patents right now. It would be extremely helpful if the members of your organisation could also aid us in our efforts and sign the petition individually. After signing the petition, you will receive a link which you could then forward to them. The adapted link will allow us to find out which organisation individuals who signed the petition belong to. If you prefer to withhold that information, you can alternatively send the following link to the members of your organisation: http://stopsoftwarepatents.eu Thank you very much for your cooperation. Sincerely, Luisa Zielinski FFII e.V. Malmöer Str. 6 10439 Berlin Tel.: (+49) 030 417 22597 www.ffii.de -- Thierry Coutelier Président LiLux asbl Tel: +352 406776 GSM: +352 621 350037 7, Rue des Pres L-5316 Contern