YESTERDAY we wrote about mysterious moves in the Czech Republic, whose presidency is sponsored by Microsoft. We've already shown this presidency peddling Microsoft Office, not to mention its role in helping OOXML. Now it's promoting a back door to software patents in Europe.

Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra, responsible for EU affairs, has pledged to work towards devising an EU-wide Community patent. Describing the existing system as "fragmented and inefficient," he said Europe's intellectual property infrastructure is stifling innovation and holding back progress on the Lisbon Agenda.

"They [EPO examiners] claim that the organisation is decentralising and focusing on granting as many patents as possible to gain financially from fees generated." —Expatica, European Patent Office staff on strike