Poland Intervenes Again To Delay Vote On Software Patent Directive

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

27 January 2005

Poland has once again thwarted the European Commission's plans to have the controversial draft Directive on the Patentability of Computer-Implemented Inventions (also known as the Software Patent Directive) rubber-stamped.

According to reports, the legislation was on the agenda to be voted through without discussion at Monday's meeting of the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries, until the Polish government requested its removal.

The situation is almost identical to that which occurred late last year (following Poland's withdrawal of its approval for the legislation), when the EC tried to sneak the matter onto the agenda of another Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting.

The draft Directive is now expected to reappear on the agenda of the External Relations Council's next meeting, on January 31.

Meanwhile, it emerged earlier this month that a group of 61 MEPs from 13 member states have called for the debate on the Directive to be restarted, arguing that such a move is necessary on the grounds of new elections and extension of the European Union to 25 members.

Recommended