[Linux-aus] AUSFTA - time to start doing more

[Michael Davies]

Microsoft has just been granted a US patent for double-clicking.


See http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/02/1086058889577.html for details.


Earlier in the year they filed for "virtual desktop navigation" (remember
that twm had this years ago).  Bad patents are getting awarded all the
time.

Have you done something about stopping US-style patents coming into
Australia?  Under the AUSFTA these sorts of things will start happening
here unless we stand up and be counted.

See http://linux.org.au/fta for ways you can help - right now petitioning
your local member of parliament is something you might like to do.

Linux Australia also has a wiki -
http://lactte.linux.org.au/twiki/bin/view/Main/FTA - so you can record
what you say to which politician.

Everyone in the Open-Source community should get involved if they can. 
This is important for our future.

-- 
Michael Davies               Linux.Conf.Au Canberra Apr 18-23 2005
michael at msdavies dot net  Australia's National Linux Conference
http://opensource.org.au     http://lca2005.linux.org.au