The European Commission is once again attempting to
introduce a Europe-wide software patenting system.
Its plans lay in tatters in 2005 when the European Parliament
rejected the proposal, with fears that big business would squeeze
smaller developers in the technology development market.
The open source community was also against the proposals, on the
broad grounds that such a patenting system would act against
collaborative development, and encourage regular US-style patent
litigation in the European market.
After the European Parliament vote, the existing system of
national patents prevailed, but it was expected that the Commission
would try once more for a European patenting system.
Internal market and services commissioner Charlie McCreevy said,
"Patents are a driving force for promoting innovation, growth and
competitiveness, but the single market for patents is still
incomplete.
“Our consultation showed that the EU simply must deliver, in
particular on the Community patent and sound litigation
arrangements, because in today's increasingly competitive global
economy Europe cannot afford to lose ground in an area as crucial
as patent policy,” said McCreevy.
McCreevy said Europe's current patent system is considerably
more expensive than the US and Japanese systems. A Community patent
would be far more attractive than the present system, he claimed,
which is a bundle of national patents.
A European patent designating 13 countries is 11 times more
expensive than a US patent and 13 times more expensive then a
Japanese patent, said McCreevy.
More information on the Commission’s plans is available
here
European patents to cause another stir
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