From phm@a2e.de Thu, 8 Jun 2000 06:49:10 +0200 (CEST)
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 06:49:10 +0200 (CEST)
From: PILCH Hartmut phm@a2e.de
Subject: [Patents] Who, how and when?

> Where can I learn who, how and when will be deciding on
> "patentibility" of "software" in Europe?

Very good questions.

You should be able to get the answers on 

	http://www.freepatents.org
	http://swpat.ffii.org
	http://no-patents.prosa.it

etc.  But I'm afraid there is no dedicated webpage which makes these
things very clear.  

As far as I know:

  * EU-Directive "before summer", probably beginning of July
  * later discussion in European council, pass through European parlament
    may take somewhere from 3 months to 10 years 
  * November: change of European Patent Convention by intergovernmental
    conference 

We're trying to find out more details by phoning to politicians these
days.  We must know focus the lobbying efforts correctly.

-phm





