I have received the following from the Green Party:

"I can confirm that the Green Party is opposed to the EU proposals on software patenting, and supports open source operating systems such as Linux. The GP also wishes to see an end to the effective Microsoft monopoly in many software applications.

Margaret Wright, our lead candidate for the European Election, attended a meeting in Brussels last month, at which the Federation of European Green Parties took this view.

yours sincerely,

John Matthissen Campaign Co-ordinator"