Today is the World Day Against Software Patents – 24 September. If you’ve not already signed the petition, go do it now, please. Especially if you’re in Europe, but also if you’re in the US or other swpat-suffering nation.
Programs are protected by copyright and the underlying harmonies should no more be protectable by patents than music, or other natural matters.
Watch out: the site requires Javascript and Cookies to work, else it will either do nothing, or junk your signature form. Repeatedly. Grrr. (Slightly narked email sent to webmaster.)