Modulix: It is essential that members of Parliament return to the version of the bill which was adopted on first reading.
We are firmly engaged in local, social and solidarity (economy) development, thus suggesting through our action an alternative to globalisation for the IT market.
Ivan Havlicek
Manager of Modulix
The sole aim of software patents is to perpetuate the profits of multinational corporations (mostly non-european). That is not our vision of the future ! We defend a regional economic model, based on knowledge shared through co-operative/collaborating networks such as ProLibre.
We can not envisage the existence of software patents, our survival being totally dependent on public access to source codes which free/libre software offers today.
In this regard, let us not forget that Internet owes its existence to free/libre software (that equip more than 60% of Internet servers).
What risk for us ?
Today, laws concerning intellectual property state that a patent can not be granted in the case of previous disclosure of the process. The principle of the Open Source code, accessible to all, garantees that no free software can be patented. But the American concept of patenting, which we are gradually being imposed, functions on the principle that the first to register is the owner of the invention.
As a consequence, the richest will be able to obtain patent for our sources and claim sole right of property. Once again, money will determine power.
In the long term, this bill signs the death warrant of companies involved in free/libre projects.
At present, it is therefore essential that members of Parliament return to the version of the bill which was adopted on first reading.
