05.26.11

Europe Has Judges Weigh in on Software Patents

Posted in Europe, Patents at 5:10 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Importing failed systems?

Summary: The issue of software patentability is brought up again, despite the fact that Europeans (not European patent lawyers) have already decided that they do not want software parents

THE debate about software patents in Europe has been intense recently. Replying to a former MEP who is a lot more sane than the peanut gallery, the FFII stresses that “Software patents can indeed be used to stifle access for the blind to international copyrighted works, also DRM,” adding that according to a patents booster:

Judges debate and fail to agree on diagnostic methods, business methods and computer software patentability at IPO Brussels conference

This is not something which we expected. Was this announced? Was it on the agenda? Why are they even faced with these issues? Europe does not want and does not need software patents, which continue to plague the United States and cause issues there — issues that are well understood and thoroughly documented, even today. More patents bring more business to patent lawyers and judges, but they harm developers and customers everywhere. Monopoly does not encourage progress, it only hinders it. █

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