TomTom, which Microsoft elected to be its scapegoat du jour [1, 2], may fortunately be based in Europe, but the patentability of software over in continental Europe had Microsoft gleefully argue that the EPO "can’t distinguish between hardware and software so the patents get issued anyway." Alison Brimelow (shown above) is still looking into it [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. At the moment, Microsoft is trying to formally legalise software patents (primarily in the EU and elsewhere in developed countries) in all sorts of ways. Over in the US, as stressed by Red Hat last week, there is a chance of software patents dying altogether -- a possibility that would imperil these patents' expansion to other continents/countries through so-called harmonisation or centralisation (e.g. Community patent). These would no longer be applicable.

Rob Tiller, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at Red Hat, explained the need for patent reform and discussed the implications of the recent Bilski decision during a presentation on Saturday at the Southern Cailfornia Linux Expo (SCALE).

Soon enough there will be an important event which is EPO's huge annual conference. The speakers for this year are mostly concerned with software patents. Logotec, for example, is an ACT proxy from Poland [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. There is also Mingorance from the Microsoft-sponsored BSA. The BSA too is one of Microsoft's lobbyists for software patents and royalties across Europe [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. They are all very hostile towards Free(dom) software and they are all over the place.

Here is another new link that shows the ongoing relationship between Microsoft and Jonathan Zuck of ACT (he has other shells), as well as Silver Lie promotion:

Copyright Laws for Web Designers and Developers. Learn the rules for using content produced by others, particularly as Web applications get richer and deep linking becomes more common. Get straight answers from a developer and not a lawyer to common copyright questions like "What are the real boundaries of the DMCA?", "Where does traditional copyright apply and what is fair use?", and "How do I license content for my Web site?" Speaker: Jonathan Zuck – Association for Competitive Technology...

It's truly funny how Zuck pretends that he represents small businesses. While promoting some new AstroTurf campaign at Innovators-Network.org he could also confirm to us that he is participating in "the working group on OSS and the contribution OSS can make to European Growth." He's referring to the Commission's "European Software Strategy" WG7 on Open Source.

“Microsoft's anti-Linux, anti-ODF, pro-software patents and anti-FOSS people are now participating in decisions about "OSS" in Europe.”Yes, that's right. Microsoft's anti-Linux, anti-ODF, pro-software patents and anti-FOSS people are now participating in decisions about "OSS" in Europe. They sure know how to stack panels, as those OOXML corruptions have already demonstrated.

"With nearly a thousand European SME members, we have a very real interest in seeing an economic turnaround in Europe in whatever form that might come," Zuck writes. But who is it again that pays his wage? The company that's suing Linux and open source using software patents? They cast it differently of course, saying that there are "nearly 4000 SMEs [they] represent."

ACT is already writing (so fast!) about the TomTom case. Minutes ago, said one reader about this group: "This is so 90s. I hate when someone pretends to be on the small man's side but in fact they're not. They are just pretenders."

It is impossible to see if it's ACT's people who registered the following domain because these people are typically all about 'proxifying' (using DomainsByProxy.com in this case):

Domain ID:D107212109-LROR
Domain Name:INNOVATORS-NETWORK.ORG
Created On:18-Aug-2005 14:36:15 UTC
Last Updated On:18-Oct-2007 03:08:14 UTC
Expiration Date:18-Aug-2009 14:36:15 UTC
Sponsoring Registrar:GoDaddy.com, Inc. (R91-LROR)
Status:CLIENT DELETE PROHIBITED
Status:CLIENT RENEW PROHIBITED
Status:CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITED
Status:CLIENT UPDATE PROHIBITED
Registrant ID:GODA-013539726
Registrant Name:Registration Private
Registrant Organization:Domains by Proxy, Inc.
Registrant Street1:DomainsByProxy.com
Registrant Street2:15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Registrant Street3:
Registrant City:Scottsdale
Registrant State/Province:Arizona
Registrant Postal Code:85260
Registrant Country:US
Registrant Phone:+1.4806242599
Registrant Phone Ext.:
Registrant FAX:
Registrant FAX Ext.:
Registrant Email:INNOVATORS-NETWORK.ORG@domainsbyproxy.com
Admin ID:GODA-213539726
Admin Name:Registration Private
Admin Organization:Domains by Proxy, Inc.
Admin Street1:DomainsByProxy.com
Admin Street2:15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Admin Street3:
Admin City:Scottsdale
Admin State/Province:Arizona
Admin Postal Code:85260
Admin Country:US
Admin Phone:+1.4806242599
Admin Phone Ext.:
Admin FAX:
Admin FAX Ext.:
Admin Email:INNOVATORS-NETWORK.ORG@domainsbyproxy.com
Tech ID:GODA-113539726
Tech Name:Registration Private
Tech Organization:Domains by Proxy, Inc.
Tech Street1:DomainsByProxy.com
Tech Street2:15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Tech Street3:
Tech City:Scottsdale
Tech State/Province:Arizona
Tech Postal Code:85260
Tech Country:US
Tech Phone:+1.4806242599
Tech Phone Ext.:
Tech FAX:
Tech FAX Ext.:
Tech Email:INNOVATORS-NETWORK.ORG@domainsbyproxy.com
Name Server:NS21.DOMAINCONTROL.COM
Name Server:NS22.DOMAINCONTROL.COM

Here you can see why ACT participates in the ESS and here a CompTIA's position paper on the ESS [PDF]. CompTIA is yet another Microsoft pressure group [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] and CompTIA's Hugo Lueders is also a member of ESS WG7. Hugo Lueders, a political scientist, also wrote in the German social democratic newspaper Die Zeit, adding a contribution about a Garaudy book (1972). The neo-Marxist Garaudy is today mostly known for his anti-Semitic writings.

Aww well...

Microsoft is running out and about everywhere in Europe, so characteristically boasting its infinite "innovation" in its Web site that's dedicated to "Growth and Innovation Day."

One person writes: "I was in Brussels South train station today and there are huge displays for Microsoft's "EU Growth & Innovation Day" on March 5th. A bit odd though since they prominently show an Asian woman; last year they showed Mediterranean & Nordic-looking persons. They always manage to get Commissioner Reding and other ministers for speechifying & "schmoozing", as usual.

"As far as I can make out Microsoft uses this annual opportunity to repeat ad infinitum that they have X employees in Europe at Y research centres, yada, yada." ⬆