[plug] EU patents

[garry]

This is good.

From: http://theinquirer.net/?article=31943

Software will not be part of EU patents

Sudden change of heart

By Nick Farrell 
<javascript:__doPostBack('article_body$lnkEmailForm','')>: Thursday 25 
May 2006, 07:11

  
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*THE* European Commission has performed a U turn and said that its 
European Patent Office will exclude software from patentability.

The move, which has stunned software publishers, is a sudden departure 
from the EC's previous stance.

Last year the EC wanted the EPO would continue to grant software patents 
that make a technical contribution.

The concept did not find favour with the European Parliament's decision 
to reject the idea and there was some thoughts that it would try and 
change the Parliament's mind.

Now for no apparent reason, the EC has decided to stick the European 
Parliament's version of the law.