The GIMP developers are proud to announce the release of version 2.2.6 of the GNU Image Manpulation Program. This is a bug-fix release in the stable GIMP 2.2 series. For a detailed list of problems fixed in the 2.2 tree, please have a look at:

http://developer.gimp.org/NEWS-2.2

The source code for GIMP is available from ftp.gimp.org or one of the mirrors listed at:

http://gimp.org/downloads/

We would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention on software patents. Software patents are a threat to Free Software and could make future GIMP development impossible. Image processing is a patent minefield. Important techniques and formats are covered by broad and trivial patents that are harming progress and alternative implementations, such as free-software content authoring tools, like the GNU Image Manipulation Program.

The European commission has just passed its directive on software patents, violating democratic rules and procedures to the sole benefit of big non-European corporation and Ireland and to the detriment of small and medium sized businesses (which comprise 99% of the European software industry) and free software.

The European parliament will now be taking the last stand against software patents in a voting for which an absolute majority is needed. Such a majority is hard to come by in a parliament with a low attendance level. But not all is lost yet as long as you decide it is time to make a difference and take action. This is our last opportunity to fend off software patents worldwide, there will be no second chance for the foreseeable future.

Signing petitions will not suffice. Contact your local EU representatives and educate them why software patents are a bad idea in the first place and why they must attend that parliament session to vote against them. Make it clear that they need to stop the machinations of the EU council and reaffirm the power of the EU parliament, the only democratically elected EU institution. For in-depth information and starting points to get active visit the software patent page of the FFII http://swpat.ffii.org/ and http://NoSoftwarePatents.com/

Sven