From fermigie@math.jussieu.fr Wed, 16 Jun 1999 11:50:01 +0200 (MET DST)
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 11:50:01 +0200 (MET DST)
From: Stefane Fermigier fermigie@math.jussieu.fr
Subject: [Patents] Unofficial answer from the EC.

Forwarded message:
>> From chdioux@club-internet.fr Wed Jun 16 11:46:11 1999
>> 
>> Bonjour,
>> 
>> 
>> Dans votre dernier article des NNL, vous disiez:
>> 
>> Le 16-Jun-99 redaction@linux-center.org disait:
>> > 
>> >    Revue de presse
>> >    [Auteurs: [1]Thierry Stoehr, [2]Laurent Faucheux, [3]Jean-Marie
>> >    Gouarn, [4]Stfane Fermigier.]
>> > "En revanche, les gouvernements
>> >    europens veulent pouvoir faire breveter les logiciels, comme
>> >    l'accorde la convention de Munich sur le droit d'auteur. Pour
>> >    certaines associations, une telle mesure menacerait les diteurs
>> >    indpendants ainsi que le dveloppement des logiciels libres. Rponse
>> >    le 25 juin."
>> >    
>> >    Il ne s'agit pas de conditionnel : la menace est relle, et la
>> >    dcision doit en effet tre prise le 25 juin prochain.
>> 
>> Pour information, et paralllement  une brve entrevue sur le
>> sujet avec mon dput suivie de la remise d'un petit dossier explicatif, j'ai
>> pu obtenir par d'autres canaux la rponse suivante d'un spcialiste du
>> sujet  la Commission Europenne.
>> 
>> Malheureusement, il s'agissait d'une rponse prive, et je ne peux pas
>> mentionner le nom de ma source.
>> J'ai toutefois pens utile de vous la communiquer, pour le cas o elle pourrait
>> vous etre d'une quelconque utilit.
>> 
>> Trs sincrement,
>> 
>> Christophe Dioux
>> chdioux@club-internet.fr
>> 
>> 
>> ******* QUOTE *********
>> In response to your questions relating to Commission activities
>> concerning the protection of inventions related to computer programmes:
>> 
>> Computer programmes are not patentable as such in Europe (under the
>> EPC - European Patent Convention), although an artificial legal
>> construction is accepted in that software is patentable as part of a
>> larger invention including hardware.
>> 
>> The patent system is far from optimal for the software market, amongst
>> others because the life cycle of a software product is about as long as
>> the time it takes to process a patent application.
>> 
>> However:
>> 
>> Software is patentable in the USA and Japan, which makes it difficult
>> for European suppliers who have not engaged in patenting to enter these
>> markets.
>> 
>> There are (large) differences among EU Member States in the practice and
>> jurisprudence of patenting computer programmes, which is hampering the
>> internal market.
>> 
>> This makes it necessary for the Commission to reflect upon harmonisation
>> of patenting of computer programmes, and probably to propose a
>> Directive.  This reflection process is in its first fase, a draft
>> proposal is not to be expected before late fall, more probably early
>> next year.
>> 
>> A proposal would take account of the different industrial interests.
>> European industry is not so eager for full-fledged patent protection for
>> software, although people from industry generally realise the need for
>> some form of patent protection and for harmonisation in the internal
>> market.
>> 
>> ********* UNQUOTE ****************
>> 
>> 





