Volume Of Submissions Delaying EU Software Patent Directive Vote

by Robin Pilgrim, for LawAndTax-News.com, London

10 July 2003

An unexpectedly high volume of industry submissions is the main factor behind the delayed vote on the proposed EU software patent directive, according to the UK Patent Office.

Speaking to Electronics Weekly news on Wednesday, a Patent Office spokesman revealed that: 'It is the volume of views that need to be considered,' adding that:

'The alternative was to rush through a draft directive on some arbitrary schedule.'

An European Parliament vote on the directive was due to take place before the summer recess, but has been rescheduled in order to allow the Legal Affairs Committee to take account of all of the views expressed.

This delay will doubtless be welcomed by European software developers, who fear that the directive will create a software patent regime similar to that in place in the United States. They have argued that passing the directive would expose smaller developers to a barrage of lawsuits from their larger, and more importantly, patent-holding rivals.

According to reports, the next parliamentary session suitable for discussion of the draft software patent directive is in the early autumn.

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