This is

as days pass by, by Stuart Langridge

. Here I write about many things. In the past I wrote about other things but the past is past. I write code for people to play with, I write about my life on Twitter, and I write here.

On I wrote European Parliament rejects software patents bill, on the subject of Politics and Software.

The Eurpoean Parliament has rejected the Computer Implemented Inventions Directive 648 to 14. No software patents for us! Hooray!
Hooray! I’m not sure I’m being clear enough about this. That’s bloody fantastic news.
“Hi-tech firms supporting the directive said it was vital to protect the fruits of their research and development.” The SME market, ordinary users, open-source development groups, and Stuart Langridge all said “we’re not going to sign away our ability to write software to a few firms with deep pockets“. Hooray!
“More than 1,700 Europe-wide companies, represented by the Free Information Infrastructure UK (FFII-UK), joined the plea for the European Union to reject any law which patents software.” I think all of you who are relieved and pleased by this decision should raise a glass to Rufus Pollock and the FFII for representing our views. They’ve done a great job, and they must be really rather happy today. Well done, guys.
Update: those of you thinking “bloody free software hippies, why are software patents bad anyway? Stop whining!” might want to read Why Can’t I Patent My Movie? for the lowdown.

mrben

Three cheers for Ruthless Bollock….

Adam Sweet

Hip hip

This website belongs to Stuart Langridge. Contact details are available. Don't eat yellow snow. Valid HTML5, at least in theory, except for the bits that aren't because I'm that futuristic that I'm ahead of the spec, oh yes. HTML5 help from Bruce Lawson, among others. Fonts from the superb FontSquirrel. End.