Passing this on for readers in Ireland — this sounds like an interesting event. From the FSFE-IE mailing list:
On the morning of Friday November 18th, IFSO is organising an event hosted by MEP Proinsias De Rossa about preventing software patents in the EU. Topics covered will be:
- An analysis of the software patent directive;
- a discussion of Free Software and computer security;
- an introduction to IFSO/FSFE and their work;
- the future of legislative obstacles to the development and distribution of software.
The event will be held in the European Parliament Office in Ireland, and spaces are limited. Participants are therefore asked to register their intent to attend. See here for more details.