EU patent laws

[insomnia]

This sounds bad

EU Governments, Parliament To Face Off on Patent Bill

By Constant Brand

Associated Press
03/07/05 9:31 AM PT

The proposal, approved by EU research and industry ministers, sets rules allowing software that is part of a mechanical device -- such as a mobile phone -- to be patented. It is now slated to go back to the EU assembly for a second reading. It is uncertain if the Parliament will vote for the bill or demand further changes.

http://linuxinsider.com/story/41133.html

Seems it will be vey hard to stop it now...
How do you expect this might to change things in the near future?

[dishawjp]

It does look bad right now, but even MS is getting disgusted with the way patents are currently being issued. Take a look at this:

http://www.theregister.com/2005/03/11/ms_patent_reform/

and this:

http://www.theregister.com/2005/03/11/m ... _business/

This software patent madness has to stop somewhere and copyrights that last for 70 years after the death of the author are also ridiculous. I do hope that Europe does not adopt software patents and hope that eventually the US will wake up and seriously limit the software patents it issues.

Jim Dishaw

[Tux]

I trust you will be writing to your MEP to ensure the parliament can inflict maximum damage on the legislation...