EU Reopens Software Patent DebateEU Reopens Software Patent Debate

MUNICH, Germany — The European Union Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, Charlie McCreevy, launched an initiative on Monday (Jan. 16) to establish a consistent European patent system, a move which would re-open the debate on the desirability of software patents.

As a part of his inititative, the commissioner launched a public consultation on how future action in patent policy to create an EU-wide patent system could take in account "stakeholder's needs".

With his thrust, McCreevy invited private citizens as well as commercial enterprises to participate in an internet consultation that will run until March 31, 2006. The results of the internet debate are set to be the basis for a hearing on the issue scheduled for June 13.

Many large international enterprises have voiced their interest in software patents, saying it would provide for consistency across the technology domain and provide protection to software firms. And in the past, McCreevy has lobbied for the patentability of software.

However, a draft directive related to this issue was dismissed by the European Parliament last summer.

Opponents of software patents have said they would not be in the public's best interest and could result in a multitude of dubious process and software patent claims and litigation. They now fear that McCreevy's latest approach is an attempt to establish software patents by the back-door.