[Patents] EUROPEAN BOARD VOTES TO ALLOW SOFTWARE PATENTS

[Steve Probert steve.probert@patent.gov.uk]

>......But note that the votes of the 3 countries above, unhoped for not so
> long ago, show that we can lobby effectively on these issues.

Time for a note of caution.  The UK position, clearly stated prior to the 
vote being taken, is that it would be premature to amend the EPC until we 
know the outcome of the Commission's deliberations on the subject.   As most 
people already know, the Commission is expected to produce a proposal on the 
subject of software patents imminently.  Consequently, the UK delegation did 
not express an opinion either way on the substance of the amendment.  Rather 
the UK voted that the amendment should not be put to the November Conference.

Steve Probert
(Deputy Director, UK Patent Office)