European Parliament Leaders Unite In Opposition To Software Patent Directive

by Ulrika Lomas, for LawAndTax-News.com, Brussels

21 February 2005

Following the European Commission's intransigence in the face of the call by the Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee for the debate on the Software Patent Directive to be restarted, the Conference of Presidents has stepped in to deal the controversial legislation a new blow.

Earlier this month, the European Parliament's JURI committee asked the EC to present a new proposal on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions in Europe. However, speaking to the media following the 19-1 vote, an EC spokeswoman observed that:

"It was only one committee. In order for the committee's opinion to be adopted by the parliament it has to be voted by plenary."

Responding to this on Thursday, the parliament's Conference of Presidents made use of its right to ask the Commission to withdraw the draft legislation.

The EU executive's response to this new development is as yet unknown, but its next move will undoubtedly be watched with interest by both opponents and supporters of the controversial legislation.

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