Trivial patents *not the problem* (was: Re: [ILUG] Re: ILUG sends s/w patents briefing document to Irish MEPs)

[Justin Mason]

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ccostelloe at flogas.ie writes:
> On Monday 21 March 2005, Barry O'Donovan wrote:
> > Now, from another perspective, the large multinationals that support 
> > software patentability (or any other directive or law) usually have 
> > well paid professional lobbyists working in Ireland and in the E.U. (as 
> > well as the other member states). These people have the ear of the 
> > politicians because they bring big money into the country by way of 
> > capital investment, corporate tax, jobs etc. Fair enough. FOSS 
> > hobbyists and enthusiasts do not have equivalent lobbyists. Nor the ear 
> > of politicians without a lot of hard work. So, usually, the people we 
> > elect to represent us hear loudly and directly from the multinationals 
> > and whispers, if at all, from the rest of us. This may be the 
> > democratic society we live in but it doesn't seem very fair.
> 
> Politicians are driven purely by votes at the next election, and
> because of that, it is still democratic.  What is worrying the
> relevant politicians is not the attitude of the multinationals as
> such, but rather the fact that if they are in power if / when the
> multinationals moved out, the voters would blame them and not vote
> for them.

Well, actually it goes both ways -- if they are in power when the
multinational announces a new development centre creating 500 jobs, their
voters will (supposedly) thank them with a vote at the next election.

I think this is driving the recent pro-MS stuff coming from government;
the promise of future jobs, coupled with the threat of job losses if EU
law goes the other way.

- --j.
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