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1220445227|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — EDPS confirms the possibility of a 'Soviet Internet': EDPS, the European Data Protection Supervisor, points out in its analysis of the Harbour report that amendment 81 gives the possibility of a 'Soviet Internet', where National Regulatory Authorities could impose technological mandates, such as mandatory TPM chips to connect to the internet. (Comments: 0)

1219943997|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — World Day Against Software Patents (24 Sep 2008): You want to get your software association, software company, software consultancy, software project involved in the 24 September World Day Against Software Patents and are able to speak in the name of your organisation? Please give us your contact data below. Your organisation gets the opportunity to be listed as a supporter for the announcement of the World Day Against Software Patents. (Comments: 1)

1218830465|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — Subprime Patents: Many patents work in the same way that subprime mortgages and all its derivatives. They create false assets and so false economies that finally develop in important economical crisis. But in the case of patents it is worse indeed, because every patent is potentially a monopoly and a block to the free market. (Comments: 0)

1218664266|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — EPO gets Google style search: The EPO will introduce full text search for patents this year. (Comments: 0)

1218210952|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — Software patents on the way to be legalised in India: A comment on a blog tell us that software patents are on a way to be legalised in India. Microsoft, Infosys, Symantec and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) (nice name :-)) were pushing for software patents at a recent meeting at the Indian Patent Office in Mumbai. RedHat was "shot down" at the meeting. (Comments: 1)

1217171711|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — EPO says the term "software" is ambiguous and prefers to use tautology for more clarity: EPO says the term "software" is ambiguous, and prefers to use tautology for more clarity. Maybe the European Patent Office has a different dictionary than I have. (Comments: 0)

1216275169|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — Patent trolls start on the open source sector: Why go to the effort of developing new software when you can use patents to extort other companies? A story about FireStar Software, which has not updated its software since 2003, preferring to rely on lawyers rather than programmers, to assure its income... (Comments: 0)

1216030997|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — Patented wheels or how you can drive a car: Recently I found this picture of patented wheels. Just for history I post it here. (Comments: 0)

1215683531|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — EU proposes chaining IPR with competition law: Competition policy and intellectual property policy are like cats and dogs. France on behalf of the EU proposes to overcome the current unintermediated situation. (Comments: 0)

1215513849|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — Bunyan wants better document access: How can civil society influence trade talks if everything's secret? Statewatch has an opinion on that. (Comments: 0)

1215196653|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — European Parliament rushes towards Soviet Internet: Brussels, 04 July 2008 — Amendments to the European Telecommunications directive being rushed through the European Parliament propose a "Soviet internet" where software publishers and internet service providers watch traffic and data for Hollywood. Software and services that run on the internet would have to ask for permission of the regulators. (Comments: 0)

1215162459|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z — Spanish MEP paints the EPO as the legislator: The EPO Gazette reports that some MEPs members of the Legal Affairs committee visited the EPO in early June. Questions were raised on the democratic control of the Office, and how the Alicante model of the OHIM could also apply to the EPO. One MEP mentioned that the EPO is also taking political decisions. (Comments: 0)