EICTA asks MEPs to support unlimited patentability
On 9 June, Leo Baumann of EICTA sent a mail to all members of the European Parliament, repeating its usual positions and asking MEPs to blindly swallow the Council's counter-proposal of the software patents directive.
Note that more than half of EICTA's members are non-European companies, so their introductory paragraph is at least misleading.
More information about EICTA can be found here.
Text of the email
From: "Baumann Leo (LBN)" <xxx at eicta.org> Date: 9 June 2004 To: "Baumann Leo (LBN)" <xxx at eicta.org> Subject: EP Elections 2004 Dear candidate to the European elections, We are writing to you on behalf of EICTA, the industry body that represents the Information and Communications Technology and Consumer Electronics Industry in Europe. EICTA is composed of 48 major multinational companies and 32 national associations from 24 European countries. In all, EICTA represents more than 10,000 companies all over Europe with more than 2 million employees and EUR 200 billion in revenues. As Europe's citizens approach the forthcoming elections for the European Parliament, they expect Parliament to play its role in a European Union dedicated to improving the quality of life and accelerating economic growth and social cohesion for 450 million Europeans. These objectives can not be met without embracing the digital technologies developed and brought to market by EICTA's members including mobile telephones, computers, software and consumer electronics devices. These technologies make possible efficient communication, production and distribution structures, new e-government services which bring citizens closer to public administrations, remote tele-working opportunities and flexible work options, new possibilities for life long learning through e-learning and broadband communications). In order to take best advantage of the solutions our sectors are able to offer, the right framework in Europe needs to be developed in order to stimulate investment in information and communications technologies (ICT) and consumer electronic products. We must encourage companies to invest in research and development in Europe and to be able to produce and sell at competitive prices and avoid measures which unnecessarily increase the prices for digital equipment depriving Europeans of affordable equipment and services available elsewhere in the world. The European Parliament will deal with issues crucial to the development of our industry during its next term. Just to mention a few: - a decision in second reading will be taken on a new framework directive, laying down eco-design and energy-efficiency requirements for energy using products ("EuP"); it is very important to obtain a harmonized European approach that leaves room for voluntary industry measures (preferred drive for gaining environmental improvements in eco-design) and does not impose too much administrative burden to industry and increase prices for consumers; - the Commission's proposal for registration, evaluation, and authorization of chemical substances (REACH) will be discussed in the European Parliament in Autumn; issues at stake here: striking the right balance between Chemical producers and Downstream users and, in general, improving the overall workability of the REACH system; - the European Parliament will deal with the directive on the Patentability of Computer-implemented inventions (CIIs) in second reading. It is crucial for companies of all sizes, research institutions and individual inventors that adequate patent protection is provided for their inventions. We recommend supporting the Council common position without imposing further restrictions to the scope of patentability and undermining the climate for innovation in Europe. We hope that we will be able to count on your support and engagement in order to find the right solutions to these issues. Wishing you every success in your election, and looking forward to welcoming you to Brussels.
- EICTA
