The Register has parsed through a new item from the European Patent Convention. Here are some of the details.

The revised European Patent Convention (EPC) finally came into effect today – nearly a decade after it was first agreed that an overhaul of the system was needed.

Many amendments can now be adopted by the Organisation's Administrative Council itself, without the need for the member states to hold a full diplomatic conference

There are already some early voices if criticism. The countries involved will have little or no role in the decisions made, so the system might remain open to abuse. See this:

Many amendments can now be adopted by the Organisation's Administrative Council itself, without the need for the member states to hold a full diplomatic conference...

Speaking of tactless abuse, how about this possible case of abuse from the news?

MercExchange holds patents relating to internet auctions, and on Tuesday a court in Virginia found eBay had infringed some of its patents. The company was awarded $30m from eBay.

There are also patents on basic ideas like online shopping, not to mention Amazon's one-click shopping and other junk patents. ⬆