According to reports in FT.com, the European Commission will
launch a two month public consultation from next week, with a view
to agreeing its policy on the suitability of software for patent
protection.
The issue has already divided industry opinion among those
wanting to follow the comparatively liberal approach of the US to
granting patents, those wanting no change to the present EU law
that only grants patents to software having a technical effect, and
those seeking a compromise between the current US and European
approaches.
The Commission’s web site will host a consultation paper with
specific questions for gathering opinion on the matter from member
states and interested parties, such as software businesses.
Agreement on the form of a new Community Patent has also
apparently been reached this week.
