Bear in mind that it may come back, and that it not being passed doesn’t stop the EU Patent Office from issuing more software patents (they’ve been issuing some, which is strictly speaking against the current rules). So yes, it’s better than the original one going through, but possibly not as good as the amended version going through.
Rob
I am all too aware that it may come back, but at least it hasn’t been passed this time.
What worries me is the apathy among so many ICT companies combined with the pro-patent stance of some “representative” organisations
M
Robsays
Not too surprising; for big companies, software patents are great. And many smaller companies don’t really seem to have any idea what they are.
Rob
I wouldn’t agree entirely. Software patents work in favour of Microsoft and *some* other corporations, but they actually work against a lot of other big companies.
With regard to smaller companies education is really the key.
The US has allowed patents to be granted for the most ridiculous aspects of software. We cannot allow EU countries to follow suit.
Rob says
Bear in mind that it may come back, and that it not being passed doesn’t stop the EU Patent Office from issuing more software patents (they’ve been issuing some, which is strictly speaking against the current rules). So yes, it’s better than the original one going through, but possibly not as good as the amended version going through.
blacknight says
Rob
I am all too aware that it may come back, but at least it hasn’t been passed this time.
What worries me is the apathy among so many ICT companies combined with the pro-patent stance of some “representative” organisations
M
Rob says
Not too surprising; for big companies, software patents are great. And many smaller companies don’t really seem to have any idea what they are.
blacknight says
Rob
I wouldn’t agree entirely. Software patents work in favour of Microsoft and *some* other corporations, but they actually work against a lot of other big companies.
With regard to smaller companies education is really the key.
The US has allowed patents to be granted for the most ridiculous aspects of software. We cannot allow EU countries to follow suit.