How to Help

If you understand how bad software patents would be for all of us, then you're cordially invited to help us fight against them. Yes, you can make a difference!

Most people underestimate how much influence every one of us can potentially have on a political decision such as this one. It is only because of people like you that the EU has not yet legalised software patents. If there had not been the activities of many citizens and companies, then the patent system and big industry lobbyists could have dictated the EU legislation. They couldn't do so because a number of people stood up and took action. Politicians quickly realised that this was a topic that concerned many people because they received many letters.

In the software patent debate, it's the power of money versus the power of the people. A few large corporations hope that software patents will give them control over a huge market. It's not just about the software market but also about media and telecommunications. Big industry lobbyists throw enormous resources at this political fight but the strong will of people like you can prevent politicians from making a mistake of historic proportions.

Just like the others play out their resource advantage, we have to rely on our strengths. They have the bigger checkbooks, we have the greater credibility. They have to lie all the time, we can always tell the truth. They stand for a devious special interest, and we stand for the public interest, for what would benefit all of Europe. We don't have to spend as much money on this as they do. We don't need the same number of full-time people running around in Brussels and other cities. However, even with truth on our side, we still need to do more than in the past so that the political decision will ultimately be the right one for Europe.

Click here to read how to best spread information on software patents