“This week, Linux evangelist Bruce Perens criticised OpenForum
Europe for supporting software patents in the European Community.
Graham Taylor, Director OpenForum Europe, has penned this open
letter in response.“As you will be aware OpenForum Europe was recently a signatory
to a letter organized by EICTA in support of the revisions proposed
by Arlene McCarthy relating to software patents. OpenForum Europe
draws its members from both the business user and supplier
communities (including HP, IBM, Red Hat, SCO, SuSE and SUN) and has
consistently adopted a pragmatic approach to the perceived business
needs of users as reported by our members and by independently
commissioned research.“Unfortunately this pragmatic approach is not welcomed in all
quarters and our recent support of proposed revisions on software
patents at the EU has created much negative and extreme comment
from some members of the OSS community, based on incorrect
information on our position. As a result we are today posting the
following response on the website and writing to Bruce Perens and
others clearly explaining our position and credentials. We hope
this will provide greater clarity on our thinking and true
beliefs…”
Related Story:
NewsForge:
False Open Source Representative Calls for European Software
Patents(May 06, 2003)