以下內容轉自http://www.nosoftwarepatents.com/en/m/intro/index.html

Under the influence of the patent system and big industry lobbyists, the European Union is on the verge of making a huge mistake: to pass a law that would legalize software patents.
在某些專利組織和大公司的游說下，歐盟準備通過一項法律使軟件專利權得以合法化，這將是一個很大的錯誤。

"Chances are that patents on software, common practice in the US and on the brink of being legalised in Europe, in fact stifle innovation. Europe could still alter course."
Deutsche Bank Research
軟件擁有專利權在美國很普遍，如果在歐洲將得以合法化將會僵化軟件的革新進程。

Without software patents, Europe could save costs, foster innovation, enhance security, and create jobs. Thanks to Linux and other open-source software, Europe has the chance to gain independence from Microsoft and other large American companies. However, if the EU allows software patents, then that's the beginning of the end for Linux. Not only for Linux. It's just a prominent example.
如果不受軟件專利權的制約，歐洲的軟件產業不僅可以節約成本，而且可以促進革新，增加安全性能并且增加就業機會。由于Linux和其它一些開源軟件的出現，使得歐洲的軟件可以獨立于像微軟和其它一些美國大公司。但是如果歐盟通過軟件專利權的法律，這就意味著Linux開始走向滅亡。Linux只是一個典型的例子，其它軟件也會面臨同樣的命運。

mplayer網站就是在這種背景下關閉的。它在網頁上說：

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.
歐洲議會將最后對軟件專利權的法律作出投票表決，必須獲得絕對多數才能通過。但是由于出席率不高，絕對多數票是很難獲得的。

這是它的號召：

This is our last opportunity to fend off software patents worldwide, there will be no second chance for the foreseeable future. Contact your local EU representatives and educate them why software patents are bad and why they must attend that parliament session to vote against them.
這是最后的機會保衛自由軟件，已經沒有第二次機會。請聯系本地的歐盟代表說服他們軟件專利權有多么的不好并且不要投票支持該項法律。