Last Wednesday, farmers and software developers were demonstrating in Munich in front of the European Patent Office. Richard Stallman was describing the European Patent Office as a "corrupt and malicious organisation which should not exist":
Here is what he said:
So we have here two different areas attacked and threatened by patents.
It's no accident.
The European Patent Office is a corrupt malicious organisation which should not exist. (Applauds)
The European Patent Office is working for the people who wants to crush everyone's life with monopolies.
It is their tool, pure and simple.
By all means try to make it start respecting your freedom.
By all means try to get rid of plant patents, and animal patents and software patents.
But if the European Patent Office stands in your way, get rid of it too.
It's time to stop treating every european institution as if is was sacred and unquestionable.
Every institution, every government deserve only as much respect as it earns.
The idea of the European Union was a beautiful idea. The practical implementation tries to impose a new constitution by pretending it's not a constitution.
They are gonna let me tell you any more.
Happy hacking!