13/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - At the initiative of MEP Olga Zrihen (Belgian Socialist), the internet section of the French PS TemPS réels and the Virtueller Ortsverein (VOV), the virtual section of the German SPD, a demonstration is scheduled for 17 May at 13h00 before the premises of the Irish Permanent Representation to the EU against the proposed compromise on software patentability that the Irish Presidency hopes to present the same day to the Competitiveness Council (see also yesterday's EUROPE, p.9 on the subject of protests voiced by Italian Liberal Marco Cappato). In a press release, Olga Zrihen announced that, during the demonstration, CD-Roms containing free software will be distributed "mainly to Irish diplomats" to inform them of the "existence of a free and European alternative to the monopoly of the US company Microsoft". We note that, at the same time, Microsoft is officially sponsoring the Irish Presidency, Ms Zrihen said with indignation, stressing that the Irish proposal of compromise "rejects all progress proposed by the European Parliament at first reading, which corresponds to the requests made by Microsoft".