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By Ingrid Marson, News.com
Posted on ZDNet News: Jul 6, 2005 1:12:00 PM

The European Parliament has rejected a controversial measure that would have legalized software patents in the European Union.

A government representative said that 648 out of 729 members of the European Parliament voted Wednesday to reject the proposal, called the Computer Implemented Inventions Directive, which would have widened the extent to which software could be patented .

The Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure, or FFII, described the decision as a "great victory for those who have campaigned to ensure that European innovation and competitiveness is protected from monopolization of software functionalities and business methods."


Previous coverage:
Protesters march
in Brussels

While many software developers have spoken out against the directive from the start, large companies have lobbied in its favor, often via campaign groups such as the Business Software Alliance, CompTIA and the Campaign for Creativity.

These groups and the companies behind them, such as Microsoft and IBM, have put significant money and effort into arguing their cause.

The future of the directive is currently unclear. It is possible that a revised version could be debated in the future. But back in March, Charlie McCreevy, a member of the European Commission, said the Commission would not resubmit a new directive if the Parliament chose to reject the current version.

Ingrid Marson of ZDNet UK reported from London.

  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 269 Talkback(s)
There really are!
http://www.patent.gov.uk/about/ippd/issues/cii-faq.htm

Not completely true. The software is patentable if it... (Read the rest)
Posted by: osreinstall Posted on: 07/15/05 You are currently: Logged In | Log out
Great News! Tim Patterson   | 07/06/05
Never over... figgle   | 07/06/05
figgle I agree with you on the "arrogance doesn't count" over there sergiovf@...   | 07/07/05
Man, this is great. And almost unanimous. DonnieBoy   | 07/06/05
This is the beginning of a new era Can you hear me   | 07/06/05
This good voska   | 07/06/05
Whew that was a close one. Kamikaze_Ohka   | 07/06/05
The value of freedom and democracy. Vily Clay   | 07/06/05
Uh... John E Wahd   | 07/06/05
Watched way too many episodes of Star Trek No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
Bush hits Iraq for no reason – Iraq hits back. Star Trek? (NT) Vily Clay   | 07/06/05
I hear you are going on the second run! osreinstall   | 07/06/05
osreinstall, you as always came to say nothing. (NT) Vily Clay   | 07/06/05
Back off man tic swayback   | 07/06/05
Who runs IBM? Boot_Agnostic   | 07/06/05
Want to go deeper? Vily Clay   | 07/06/05
Don't take that too far. Anton Philidor   | 07/06/05
Should people leave in illusion because it’s easier (like in “Matrix”)? NT Vily Clay   | 07/06/05
Greetings earthling, we are here to... Colonel_Panic   | 07/06/05
Don’t worry Panic –I know that you have to say nothing. Anything else? (NT) Vily Clay   | 07/07/05
good thought G Fedorchuk   | 07/10/05
If blind men do not see colors - it doesn’t mean they do not exist. (NT) Vily Clay   | 07/10/05
Now fix the EU patent office Nigel Johnstone   | 07/06/05
Hey bitty and Anton! Linux User 147560   | 07/06/05
European companies relocating... Anton Philidor   | 07/06/05
Why move? tic swayback   | 07/06/05
Companies don't like being vulnerable... Anton Philidor   | 07/06/05
Is that a huge concern? tic swayback   | 07/06/05
Remember that patents cover ideas... Anton Philidor   | 07/06/05
That's why you'd move to Europe tic swayback   | 07/06/05
Patently Incorrect? NonCartoonist   | 07/07/05
And *THAT*, Mr. Philidor is precisely the problem... SysAn63   | 07/07/05
Hiding? Nigel Johnstone   | 07/06/05
... to China, and India Nigel Johnstone   | 07/06/05
Do not confuse IP rights with patentability... The King's Servant   | 07/07/05
It's a sad day. Judas I.   | 07/06/05
What has changed? cashaww   | 07/06/05
So called "bottom line" FirstNLastN   | 07/06/05
Yeah, yer right. Judas I.   | 07/06/05
That's right! He, he... FirstNLastN   | 07/06/05
I think the words Freedom and Liberty and being used Laff   | 07/06/05
It's called "growing up" Spoon Jabber   | 07/06/05
Not growing up voska   | 07/06/05
Uh ... Spooner? Judas I.   | 07/06/05
Hey, Spoon, I just thought of sumthin' else: Judas I.   | 07/07/05
Good one! Spoon Jabber   | 07/08/05
Only Republicants were scared, Spooner. Judas I.   | 07/08/05
Sorry, not my intention Spoon Jabber   | 07/08/05
Ah they are both guilty mate! osreinstall   | 07/08/05
Spooner and osreinstall ... Judas I.   | 07/08/05
I was chumming for the usuals osreinstall   | 07/08/05
Osreinstall, some of the decoder ring stuff ... Judas I.   | 07/08/05
Butterball, your cracking on me. osreinstall   | 07/08/05
How about lengua99   | 07/09/05
This is a Republic lengua99   | 07/09/05
No Spoon my old friend I don't think so.... Laff   | 07/07/05
But, you and I aren't scared, right? Spoon Jabber   | 07/08/05
Heh heh heh...I'm not going to get into the whole Laff   | 07/11/05
Matter of trust John L. Ries   | 07/07/05
You 're welcome. Anton Philidor   | 07/06/05
The grass is always greener.....? Spoon Jabber   | 07/06/05
Typical American answer... UserName101   | 07/08/05
Not true! Spoon Jabber   | 07/08/05
Come back to the reality. Vily Clay   | 07/08/05
Thanks for the wake up call! Spoon Jabber   | 07/08/05
I you care about … just watch the movie (Alex Jones); if not – watch Bush. Vily Clay   | 07/08/05
You complain about the USA lengua99   | 07/09/05
There ARE smart people on this planet! BitTwiddler   | 07/06/05
There are some very smart people in power in the US too kas_z   | 07/07/05
All men are selfish pa2004   | 07/06/05
Well that just makes sense voska   | 07/06/05
Attacking US corporations only damages European businesses... Anton Philidor   | 07/06/05
Capitalism versus State Sponsored Monopolies tic swayback   | 07/06/05
Money made by licensing ideas... Anton Philidor   | 07/06/05
Sounds like Socialism to me tic swayback   | 07/06/05
Supply and DEMAND! becksdark   | 07/07/05
Don't confuse capitalism Yagotta B. Kidding   | 07/06/05
More double-speak definitions on what Capitalism is from those 2! osreinstall   | 07/06/05
OS, I think you're confused tic swayback   | 07/06/05
I was replying to you in an accusation. osreinstall   | 07/06/05
I have to disagree tic swayback   | 07/07/05
Thinking about it more.... tic swayback   | 07/07/05
Not true Tic osreinstall   | 07/07/05
What is property? John L. Ries   | 07/07/05
Not only exaggeration but also desperation! osreinstall   | 07/07/05
Copyright and Patent reform tic swayback   | 07/07/05
To what should one have legal title? John L. Ries   | 07/07/05
Tic you have to do your homework osreinstall   | 07/07/05
This is not hard John osreinstall   | 07/07/05
Simply not possible tic swayback   | 07/07/05
Still allergic to effort? osreinstall   | 07/07/05
You ask the impossible, or at least the improbable tic swayback   | 07/07/05
Tic if it was fair to you, it would be unfair to everyone else. osreinstall   | 07/07/05
I'll gladly pay if I can find the author tic swayback   | 07/07/05
Just keep looking osreinstall   | 07/07/05
Give it up tic Dave F_z   | 07/07/05
Dave you always give credit where due. osreinstall   | 07/07/05
Two things.. Dave F_z   | 07/07/05
And I will disagree some more osreinstall   | 07/07/05
OS--have you no concern for the future? tic swayback   | 07/07/05
Assumptions are easy Dave F_z   | 07/07/05
I already suggest changes osreinstall   | 07/07/05
OS your proposal is not good enough tic swayback   | 07/08/05
For Tic osreinstall   | 07/10/05
Dave you are completely wrong osreinstall   | 07/07/05
os - you delude yourself Dave F_z   | 07/07/05
More bull from Dave osreinstall   | 07/08/05
Money made by extortion... John L. Ries   | 07/07/05
Who's attacking? John L. Ries   | 07/07/05
I have a novel idea... The King's Servant   | 07/07/05
The EU's loss, and everyone else's gain No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
No you couldn't.. Patrick Jones   | 07/06/05
Good point, prior art even works for US companies that can not afford to DonnieBoy   | 07/06/05
Sorry but no.. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
why.. Patrick Jones   | 07/06/05
Who said you get to see... No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
I can file the legal briefs myself.. Patrick Jones   | 07/06/05
Good luck, you'll need a lot of it. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
I don't think they passed the first to file legislation yet. DonnieBoy   | 07/06/05
New here, aren't you? Yagotta B. Kidding   | 07/06/05
Losses Letophoro   | 07/06/05
But at the same time... tic swayback   | 07/06/05
There's harmony in enforcing US patents... Anton Philidor   | 07/06/05
Define "harmony" tic swayback   | 07/06/05
Harmony is indeed good Nigel Johnstone   | 07/06/05
Yes, European companies still need to bone up on the dirty tricks that are DonnieBoy   | 07/06/05
So your point is it cost's money to play in the big league? No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
why voska   | 07/06/05
Penny Ante Yagotta B. Kidding   | 07/06/05
No, the point is that only big players are allowed with patents. DonnieBoy   | 07/06/05
Small software companies in the EU will have more difficulty... Anton Philidor   | 07/06/05
NO matter the outcome Linux User 147560   | 07/06/05
Don't need them don't want them Nigel Johnstone   | 07/06/05
Of course you can borrow from the US if your country is lacking. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
What borrowing are you talking about? Letophoro   | 07/06/05
No he can't Linux User 147560   | 07/06/05
They don't lose a thing. They can file for US pantents if they want. DonnieBoy   | 07/06/05
Sure, if you can afford it. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
Which is it? Patrick Jones   | 07/06/05
I mean to do it overseas No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
Even with patents.. Patrick Jones   | 07/06/05
Defending isn't expensive... No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
Oh please.. Patrick Jones   | 07/06/05
Patrick your ignorance on the subject is showing. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
I have never given birth.. Patrick Jones   | 07/06/05
Nope! osreinstall   | 07/06/05
Where was the patent allegedly infringed? The King's Servant   | 07/07/05
This is civil law, different rules osreinstall   | 07/07/05
No Jamaican living in Jamaica... The King's Servant   | 07/07/05
You are a wishful thinker osreinstall   | 07/07/05
So now you advocate IP infringement? B.O.F.H.   | 07/06/05
Not that easy. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
If prior art is shown, you lose! B.O.F.H.   | 07/06/05
BOFH, off on your tirade again? Sad, sad, sad... No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
If you don't understand Intellectual Propert Law, why do yo ukeep posting? B.O.F.H.   | 07/06/05
Dude Linux User 147560   | 07/06/05
Dude??? Is that your brother or something? No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
You can't stop us selling to you Nigel Johnstone   | 07/06/05
Gee, I suggest you read the WTO. No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
AllofMp3 Nigel Johnstone   | 07/06/05
Sure there are crooks waiting to be caught... No_Ax_to_Grind   | 07/06/05
70% of disputed US patents are overturned Nigel Johnstone   | 07/06/05