Political Parties

All across the political spectrum, there are opponents and proponents of software patents. The only thing that they all have in common is that they all say they don't want software patents. Some say it and do the opposite.

Politicians in the center and on both sides of the center have understood that software patents are a bad idea for Europe. However, there are also politicians all throughout the political spectrum that either haven't understood or don't want to understand because they are too close to those that demand software patents.

Even within some political parties, there are opposing views on software patents. The German red-green coalition government supported software patents on 18 May 2004 in the EU Council, while the city of Munich, which is governed by the same two parties, issued a strong statement against software patents less than three months later.

Some incorrectly describe the opposition to software patents as a left-wing concern. However, the majority that voted against software patents in the European Parliament on 24 September 2003 would not have been possible without a very significant number of conservative politicians that supported the respective amendments. Also, the center-right governments of Austria and Italy did not support the legalization of software patents in the EU Council on 18 May 2004.

Actually, no political party can be in favor of software patents without violating its principles. There simply is no party anywhere that is based upon the idea of strengthening monopolists at the expense of SMEs and the general public. There are also far too few patent attorneys and patent bureaucrats that they could be represented by a party. Conservative parties can't support software patents without alienating one of their most loyal clienteles: small and medium-sized business owners. Social democrats can't support software patents without sacrificing employment opportunities only to make the rich even richer. Liberals can't support software patents without jeopardizing economic freedom and the freedom of information and communication. If a politician wants software patents, then it is either for a lack of understanding or for the opportunistic desire to pander to big industry lobbyists.

On this website, you can stay informed as to what the various political parties in Europe say and do about software patents. Since they all write to their voters in verbose and flowery ways that they were against software patents, we will ensure that you and the other visitors of this site are accurately informed. We debunk the lies, relentlessly. If a political party works against you, then you have the right to know. Please visit the forum often because that is where we always publish the latest information on the statements and actions of politicians and their parties on the software patent issue.

Click here to read about the role of various organizations in the legislative process