04.05.11
Gemini version available ♊︎Bill Gates is Lobbying in Europe, Microsoft Lobbying Group Wants Software Patents in New Zealand
Summary: Microsoft’s lobbyists roam the world, still looking for new legal mechanisms that promote monopolies, by design
Microsoft’s #1 lobbyist (Gates) is lobbying in Europe again, according to a leading FFII figure. As we explained before, he does not seek to accomplish only what he — along with his million-dollar-per-day PR operation — claims to be doing.
In Europe, like in New Zealand, there is a major public debate right now about software patents (in both places the “embedded” trick gets used) and we all know Mr. Gates’ views on the subject; he promotes the interests of large pharmaceutical monopolies (whom he invests in and takes as top tier staff), amongst other entities which depend on patents for dominance through obscenely and unnaturally high prices.
Over in New Zealand, a Microsoft-backed lobbying group brought back the debate about software patents, so the ever-insightful Anthony Doesburg relies on Jeffrey Matsuura who according to Doesburg states that politicians who are inclined to pass another law each time new technology tests existing legislation should resist the temptation. To quote with more context:
Politicians who are inclined to pass another law each time new technology tests existing legislation should resist the temptation.
That’s the view of Jeffrey Matsuura, an American lawyer with decades of experience of technology-related issues who is studying New Zealand’s legislative response to technological change.
Once he is familiar with our methods, he’ll compare us with the United States, Canada and other countries and try to draw up a manual of best practice.
So far, from his temporary vantage point in the University of Otago’s Centre for Law and Policy in Emerging Technologies, he approves of what he sees.
“I believe New Zealand has been willing to be a little more careful about enacting laws and regulations aimed specifically at new technologies or applications. I think that’s a better way to err.
There was never a reason to introduce even the proposition of software patents in New Zealand, but when lobbyists from Microsoft throw their weight around looking to become richer and more powerful, it’s clear that the law is always subjected to distortion by a few, for benefit of the few. Gates, for example, loves monopolies. Back in 2008 (at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle) Bill Gates defended the pharmaceutical cartel (patents-dependent) and then started attacking the GNU General Public License (GPL). “I think if you invent drugs, you should be able to charge for them,” he said in defence of patents abusers (implying that GPL is against making money and that patent abusers deserve to be defended). Is this the type of minds they allow into Strassbourg? The bully which even Gates' friend warns about? The man who broke the law repeatedly?
Lobbying should be prevented; failing prevention, vigilance is essential. █
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