On Fri, 08 Apr 2005 09:44:59 -0300 Humberto Massa wrote:
> Sven Luther wrote:
>
> > patents are problematic, and upto recently there where no software
> > patents in europe, so i don't really care. I am not sure about the
>
> AFAIK software patents are still not effective in Europe (as in you
> cannot sue anyone for them yet, even if you can register some). Can
> anyone from EU confirm this?
On 7 March 2005, the European Council Presidency (Luxembourg) sadly
adopted the software patent "agreement" of 18 May 2004.
In order to do so, the Presidency violated the Council own rules.
http://wiki.ffii.org/Cons050307En
This basically means that the text will go back to the European
Parliament for a second reading in which there are few possibilities to
reject it (if I recall correctly, a qualified majority is needed).
However, the directive is still to be approved by the Parliament *and*
then implemented in Eureopean Union member states.
Consequently, if I understand correctly, software patents are still
unenforceable in EU.
P.S.: we must do something to avoid this disaster! please, help!
--
:-( This Universe is buggy! Where's the Creator's BTS? ;-)
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