What could software patent and copyright holders do with the IPR enforcement directive?
by Ian Brown, Foundation for Information Policy Research (FIPR)
SCO has threatened Linux users across the US with lawsuits, based on its claim that Linux contains copyrighted SCO code. And the wide range of software patents granted in the US could be said to be infringed by any number of free software tools.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament is in the final phases of considering legislation that would provide powerful new legal mechanisms against infringers of intellectual property rights. The European Commission is busy trying to overturn amendments to draft European legislation on software patents. What could patent and copyright holders threaten European free software users and distributors with if this legislation was passed?
Shut down free software distribution sites
Destroy free software distribution CDs and presses, at the user's cost
Demand damages and legal costs
Require public apologies
Encourage national criminal sanctions
License local companies to take action
Demand the handover of systems running infringing software, and company records — without hearing the user's side
Ban further software use or distribution, with recurring penalties
Seize bank accounts, without hearing the user's side
From my readings I guess the U.K. has already been hit with the passing of the Enforcement Directive in 2004, by the European Parliament.
Enforcement Directive welcomed as a first step in the fight against piracy and counterfeiting
Wikipedia also has a page on this here:Directive on the enforcement of intellectual property rights
I guess since the BSA had such good success in the U.K. they are coming after America.
Are there any members from the U.K. out there that have been directly affected by the Enforcement Directive being passed? Example: A company you work for shut down for Piracy or shut down because it cannot compete with the market?
This is really disturbing if true!
[edit on 17-1-2006 by DustintheWind]
