Software Patents in Europe: MEPs reply

Two days ago, I received a second reply to the mails I had been sending out to Belgian MEPs. The first one was from Bart Staes, who, being a representative of the Flemish Greens, reaffirmed that he, together with the other Greens in the European Parliament, opposed Software Patents. I knew that, of course (it's why I voted for him on the last elections), but I still thought it important to let him know he's not off base in this particular subject. You wouldn't want your MEPs to start thinking they're somehow wrong when they receive information from lobbyists from 'the other side', and no longer from us.

I thought I had received another reply from Dirk Sterkcx, but in looking through my mails, I found out that this was apparently not the case (or I already deleted it, though I don't think I did).

The reply I received on wednesday was from Anne Léger, an assistant to Philippe Busquin. It was a very short email:

Geachte Heer,

Philippe Busquin dankt u voor uw mail mbt de patentproblematiek die hem
toelaat een compleet beeld te krijgen van het gegeven om een gefundeerde
positie in te nemen.

Met vriendelijke groeten,

[signed]

Which translates approximately to:

Dear Sir,

Philippe Busquin thanks you for your mail regarding the patent issue
which allows him to have a complete view on the situation in order to
form a well-founded opinion. 

Regards,

[signed]

Now, I'm happy about this; perhaps even more so than I was about the mail from Bart Staes. Judging by the email from Mr. Busquin's aide, it would appear that he's not yet formed his opinion; to know that the work I did to contact the Belgian MEPs—including the Walloon ones, whom I can never vote into parliament and whom I mailed in Dutch rather than French—could influence the opinion of MEPs, even if only one, made it all worthwhile.

If you're European and you haven't yet mailed your representatives regarding the Patent issue, it might be a good idea to do so. There is still time, if not much; and it doesn't have to take a long time. Just make sure you write a personal email, though, not a form letter used by possibly tens or hundreds of other people.