[Ecommerce] New software lobby group to target EU politicians

[Michelle Childs]

Story below. Here's a link to their site:http://www.europeansoftware.org/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/20/eu_software_lobby/

New software lobby group to target EU politicians

Let's get associated
By Lucy Sherriff
Published Thursday 20th October 2005 14:14 GMT

Some of Europe's biggest software companies have joined forces to form the
European Software Association, a new industry body set up specifically to
lobby the European Commission and Parliament on behalf of the software
industry.

Other similar lobby groups already exist, but according to the newly
formed ESA (not to be confused with the European Space Agency), they work
on a global stage, while this group will keep its focus strictly European.

The group says issues it will concern itself with include open source
software, privacy, and funding for research and development.

It would be astonishing if it didn't concern itself with the question of
software patents in Europe as well. Although the European Parliament
recently rejected the proposed directive on computer implemented
inventions, anti-patent campaigners say it is unlikely that is the end of
the story.

Companies qualify for membership of the ESA if they are European, or if
they have major European subsidiaries, so it should come as no surprise to
learn that Microsoft is already on board. Indeed, it is the only US
company in the group, and one of just three non-European firms.

"Microsoft believes that software development is a traditionally
under-represented sector of the industry and ESA is a constructive and
inclusive means of engaging with policy-makers on relevant issues," it
said in a statement.

Microsoft is certainly now in a better position to lobby the European
authorities than it has been. Just last week it signed a settlement with
Real Software to settle the firm's anti-trust actions. Under the terms of
the deal, Microsoft is to pay Real $761m, and in return Real will pull out
of antitrust actions in Europe and Korea. =AE



--
Michelle Childs -Head of European Affairs
Consumer Project on Technology in London
24, Highbury Crescent, London, N5 1RX,UK.
Tel:+44(0)207 226 6663 ex 252.
Mob:+44(0)790 386 4642. Fax: +44(0)207 354 0607
http://www.cptech.org

Consumer Project on Technology in Washington, DC
1621 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20009 USA .Tel.:
+1.202.332.2670,Fax: +1.202.332.2673

Consumer Project on Technology in Geneva
1 Route des  Morillons, CP 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 791 6727