'one-click-sucks' - the background

It seemed as a gleam of hope, when the European Parliament defeated the directive for software patents 2005, but the problem is still on the agenda. Along with the 'European Patent Litigation Agreement' (EPLA), which was adopted in October 2006, the threat of software patents came on the table again 'via backdoors'.

That's why subnet picked up the topic and started the project 'one-click-sucks' to show the absurdity of software patents. The title refers to the patent on 'one-click-shopping', which is held by Amazon in the US. The implementation of software patents in the European Union would not only endanger the Free-Software-Movement and small and medium-sized enterprises but also have influence on our everyday (net)life. When you navigate through the net you don't move in a free and unbureaucratic cyberspace anymore but hop from patent to patent using patented technologies.

Although in the European Union patenting software is excluded by the EPC ('European Patent Convention') explicitly, up to now there exist more than 30.000 software patents in the EU. How this could be and which consequences are coming along with that will be shown here.

About the project

one-click-sucks is a project about software patents. When you navigate through the net you don't move in a free and unbureaucratic cyberspace anymore but hop from patent to patent using patented technologies. By adding a little plugin to your Firefox-Browser it will show you what the online-world could be like if already existing software patents would be executed consequently. Just install and find out!

Furthermore one-click-sucks gives you some background information on the topic and informs you about the consequences of patents and the current situation in Europe.