The proposed legislation will not allow US patent holders any power in European Courts. It only applies to EU patents. US inventors can file for patents in the EU right now and sue. All this proposal will do is drag the EU standards for patents down to the level of the US.

@Jeff Money of course, if US software patents became enforceable in the EU, US software companies could look forward to a royalty bonanza and power over their European rivals. As the patent regime in Europe is still largely sane, most European software companies do not have a software patent portfolio to fight back with. Also the US is a large exporter of IP in general, making it the state departments default attitude that more US style IP law should be fought for at every turn.

@11 sadly, like most artists theres no such option.
Why more artists dont do something to make it easy to reward them I dont know. But for those interested this review has a direct link to an mp3 of east.
http://www.herohill.com/2008/01/reviews-weather-station-east.htm