New
- The fight against software patents in final stage in Brussels
- EFFI and CODE: The IPR enforcement directive must be discarded
- The latest copyright act proposal under closer look
- Ville Oksanen to EDRI board
- Big Brother awards announced on 4th June – Sonera wins
// THE FIGHT AGAINST SOFTWARE PATENTS IN FINAL STAGE IN BRUSSELS
At the moment it is not clear whether the vote regarding allowing software
product patents in Europe will be carried out next Monday or whether it will be
postponed. Tapani Tarvainen from EFFI has been in Brussels since Wednesday to
meet Finnish MEPs who have either taken a pro-patent stand or have not yet
decided their position. At 29th July EFFI sent an open letter to all Finnish
MEPs:
http://www.effi.org/julkaisut/kirjeet/avoinkirje-2003-07-29.en.html
The original Finnish version:
http://www.effi.org/julkaisut/kirjeet/avoinkirje-2003-07-29.html
// EFFI AND CODE: THE IPR ENFORCEMENT DIRECTIVE MUST BE DISCARDED
An international coalitin of civil rights organizations demands that the IPR
enforcement directive must be discarded. The coalition that consists of 37
different civil rights organizations from different countries sent a letter to
MEPs on 11st August with a demand to discard the intellectual property rights
(copyright, patents, trademarks) enforcement directive. The coalition warns
that the proposed directive steps over reasonable bounds and threatens civil
rights, free innovation and competitive marketplace. The proposed directive
calls for inprisonment for commercial intellectual property infringment.
The press release in Finnish:
http://www.effi.org/julkaisut/tiedotteet/lehdistotiedote-2003-08-11.html
// THE LATEST COPYRIGHT ACT PROPOSAL UNDER CLOSER LOOK
On 16th July the Ministry of Education released a new draft for updating the
copyright act. The draft is practically equivalent to the proposal rejected by
the Parliament on January with only little fixes and changes. EFFI will issue a
written statement to the Ministry of Education on 5th September. Last Monday
Mikko Välimäki and Ville Oksanen, invited on behalf of the Ministry of
Education, went to discuss about regulation of technical protection measures.
Additionally Kai Puolamäki participated on a public hearing on the law on
Wednesday. EFFI’s Copyright FAQ has been updated to reflect the latest draft. A
copy of the document was also given to the Ministry of Education.
EFFI’s Copyright FAQ in Finnish:
http://www.effi.org/tekijanoikeus/laki/tekijanoikeus-faq.html
EFFI’s press release announced after the draft, in Finnish:
http://www.effi.org/julkaisut/tiedotteet/lehdistotiedote-2003-07-16.html
// VILLE OKSANEN TO EDRI BOARD
Ville Oksanen, the vice chairman of EFFI, was nominated to the board of
European Digital Rights (EDRI, www.edri.org)
in the annual meeting of the organization. EDRI is an European umbrella
organization for organizations such as EFFI. Maurice Wessling from Netherlands
will continue as the president.
The press release in Finnish:
http://www.effi.org/julkaisut/tiedotteet/lehdistotiedote-2003-07-07.html
// BIG BROTHER AWARDS ANNOUNCED ON 4TH JUNE
EFFI announced the annual Big Brother awards at Hotel Torni in the footsteps
of The Allied Control Commission after the Second World War. The ceremony
gathered together a cabinet full of EFFI members (about 40) and even a few
journalists. The primary award was rightly given to Sonera.
Some pictures and a raport of the ceremony in Finnish:
http://www.effi.org/yksityisyys/bb2003/index.html
EFFI Email is a regularly published newsletter on the activities of
Electronic Frontier Finland ry. If you wish to join or have more information of
the organization, please contact us or fill a form at http://www.effi.org
The English version of this newsletter has been edited and translated from
the Finnish newsletter by Janne Nikula (jni@iki.fi).
Regards,
Mikko Välimäki
EFFI chairman