Lobbying

The most active lobbying group in favour of software patents are the patent lawyers. Patent lawyers work at law offices, at IP divisions of large companies, in the industrial property committees of large industry associations, in Patent Offices or in the industrial property units of national governments and in the General Directorate for Internal Market of the European Commission. They form a strong alliance and benefit from the active support of the US government support through the Word Industrial Property Organisation for example. For many decades, this lobby of patent lawyers has been alone in setting the rules of patent policy.

The most active lobbying group against software patents is the Open Source Community, because software patents turn original software developed by individuals into potential patent infringements thus reducing the possibility to publish original software on the Internet. In Europe, this community has created an alliance with small and medium-size software publishers.

EuroLinux

This is the web site of the EuroLinux Alliance. This Alliance has two goals: promote European Linux Software Industry and co-ordinate the resistance to software patents.

http://www.eurolinux.org

Freepatents

This web site collects information and news on software patents in Europe.

(dead link removed)

SWPAT-FFII

This web site also collects information and news on software patents in Europe. Since 2001 it has gradually become the most comprehensive repository of information on the european software patent debate.

http://swpat.ffii.org/

Breese & Majerowicz

This IP attorney shop in France is a typical example of active promoter of software patents in Europe. A significant part of their literature is devoted to attacking open source & free software (although their web site uses free software).

http://www.breese.fr/guide/htm/Logiciel/main.htm#hautdepage