"It is not the policy of the EPO to require or examine source codes […]. Moreover, given the length and complexity of source code listings, which can often stretch to hundreds of pages, it would be quite impossible to examine them." —European Patent Office

THE core idea behind patent systems is innovation. Originally anyway. Once upon a time this was envisioned as a legal framework that promotes invention rather than litigation. But António Campinos and the person who put him in charge (Battistelli) aren't scientists and they never cared about science. All they care about is money.

"Software developers generally dislike and object to patents in their trade/profession/domain."This is how the EPO promotes software patents in Europe (using silly hype and buzzwords). Yesterday it wrote: "Three panel discussions await you at our upcoming event on "Global patenting & emerging technologies": Supporting innovation in #AI Challenges in patenting #blockchain & its applications #InternetOfThings & standard-essential patents [...] #Blockchain technology is being applied to an ever-increasing variety of technical fields. Let’s discuss the impact on IP at our conference on the topic: http://bit.ly/EPOblockchain18 [...]"

As far as we can tell, the EPO leads the way in exploiting buzzwords and hype to do illegal things and trash its founding document. The EPO no longer serves innovation; it's all about litigation, taxation, and coercion. Software developers generally dislike and object to patents in their trade/profession/domain.

IP Kat's longtime proponents of software patents have meanwhile returned. Yesterday there were 3 posts (all links omitted intentionally), all of them from Bristows' Annsley Merelle Ward. This blog has again turned into a propaganda platform for patent trolls courtesy of those who work for them. Just watch what agenda it's promoting. Or whose... these are the same people who push hard for the UPC, the wet dream of patent trolls.

Whether the EPO is beyond redemption remains to be seen. ⬆