I knew something bad would happen today, and here it is: The European Union has approved software patents. It's really too bad that Germany's loud resistance to software patenting turned out to be a load of hooplah; now European open and small-time software developers will face the wrath of big corporate patent-gobblers and their paid political henchmen left and right.

I'll say; now perfectly legitimate open source groups will have to move "underground" and try to avoid the swinging axe of patent infringment suits brought by "da big boyz." So much for a flourishing European software environment. What worries me is that so much of the best open source ware comes from Europe; I suppose this will get shut down as companies like Microsoft file patents on wiki and blog technology or even--/.'s patent watch is simply terrifying to behold. There's a great wiki set up here that is apparently providing up-to-date info on the developments.

Hail, hail, Germany. I was so pleased to finally get to read this story on Ars Technica about Germany's refusal to adopt the software patent system. So far, Europe has managed to avoid stepping into the quagmire of software patents. This avoidance, naturally, will lead not only to cleaner boots but faster and more efficient software innovation and competition. I especially love the quotation from Federal Department of Justice Minsterial Director Elmar Hucko:

I was so relieved to read on the RIAA's website about their noble fight against censorship in this country. RIAA continues to fight hard on both federal and state levels to block well intentioned, but seriously misguided, efforts. How noble! How magnanimous! And here I was thinking the RIAA was nothing but a pack of revolting, money-sucking mobsters with one hand in the cookie jar and the other on a billy club. It's great to know that even the RIAA is willing to take time out from bribing senators and representatives and suing 12-year olds to do some pro-bono work for the good of the country.

RIAA is working with state legislators in all 50 states to ensure that the rights of artists are preserved for the enjoyment of everyone. Thank you, RIAA! Yes, it is very important that shock jocks and thugs have the right to say the f-word on nationally syndicated radio networks--and Janet Jackson ought to be able to bare her boobs anytime, anywhere she wants! And kids ought to be able to buy cigarettes and booze if they want! Freedom of speech is a must, especially when it's so profitable. Ka-ching!

Oh, man. I know there was some reason I couldn't sleep last night (I'm up at 6:30 a.m. if that's any indication)--Paypal has refused to provide service to Freenet. Freenet was using Paypal as a means to accept contributions. Now, what would persuade a greedy little company like Paypal to refuse service to a wonderful organization like Freenet? My thoughts--they were tipped off. I bet in the next few weeks the RIAA/MPAA will make a move against Freenet, and Paypal wanted to step clear.

For those who don't know about Freenet, it's truly a wonderful bit of peer-to-peer networking. Indeed, I think it has some of the best commercial potential of any P2P service yet devised. The system is beautiful. Basically, it creates a partition on your drive that is inaccessible to you or anyone else; it's actually an encrypted piece of the Freenet. If you want a file, say, the latest Madonna mp3, you do a search and Freenet pulls the file together from all of the bits and pieces strewn across the partitions of other freenet users' hard drives. That's assuming that the Madonna mp3 is popular enough to make it to the freenet; the system automatically deletes the least popular files.