06.24.11
Pirate Party of New Zealand Points the Finger at Microsoft for Pro-Software Patents Lobbying
Summary: The Pirate Party of New Zealand stands up for the interests of New Zealand (NZ) and commends Simon Power for disowning foreign interests
New Zealand’s patent law is under attack by companies from America. They want NZ-based companies to have NZ-hostile laws. Microsoft in particular is trying to colonise and subjugate NZ-based companies by changing the law of this distant foreign country, using lies, lobbyists, and subversion of political processes. We gave a lot of evidence before. Microsoft does not always do this behind proxies.
According to this new press release from the Pirate Party of NZ, “Pirate Party condemns pro-patent spin on software patents” and its co-leader Bruce Kingsbury “condemned the suggestion that software patents may be required in New Zealand law.”
“There is no ‘inventive step’ in software development,” he wrote, “as would be required for patenting.”
He then names Microsoft’s role in the lobbying. “Microsoft’s attempt to spin this as a change of position or some insurmountable problem with the select committee’s decision is little more than a last-minute attempt by them to subvert the democratic process to their own advantage” (Microsoft uses allies and lobbying groups to do this too).
He ends with some kind words for Mr. Power, whom we mentioned some days ago (EN | ES). “We congratulate Commerce Minster Simon Power and the Government for continuing to support the select committee’s recommendation and doing what is best for New Zealand software developers and the wider IT community. We hope the Government will continue to resist this unwelcome pressure from foreign interests’ lobby groups,” concludes the press release. Thanks to the Pirate Party of New Zealand for these constructive words. █
