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With words as “deceptively”, “undemocraticly” and even “dangerously” tries Linus Torvalds European governments awake shake. The Linux-gurus is concerned about a proposal for an EU-software patent and move therefore its signature under an open letter at European politicians. Other ondertekenaars its Michael Widenius of MySQL and Rasmus Lerdorf, present agreements at Yahoo.

Torvalds says to fear that software patent the end will mean of the small developer. Only also the economy in the general walks danger. “On first view appears a first-rate protection to offer for an inventor; in reality can the opposite possible be”, falls to read in the letter.

Especially for programmers in the new EU-member countries its software patent disastrous, says the Linux-inventor. By chance Poland rejected not last week the European proposal. The reasons are the potential high expenses connected submitting of a first-rate: until at least 50,000 Euro. Also for the 'protection' of code is a first-rate superfluous, says Torvalds, for the existing copyright-legislation is sufficient.

The timing of the writing is no coincidence. Later on this week representatives of the European governments meet about the affair. Torvalds and assistant want that the proposal then at the same time are fired. “For the interest of Europe may such deceptive, dangerous and democratic illegitiem proposal never the viewpoint of the member countries become.”