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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?

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

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