From steve.probert@patent.gov.uk  Fri Nov 17 11:01:18 2000
Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 11:01:18 +0000
From: Steve Probert steve.probert@patent.gov.uk
Subject: [Patents] A not so direct answer

> So: direct question to Steve Probert

>  Could the vote on the procedure decide to separate modifications to
>articles 52.2 and 33 from the rest of the proposed change.

I'm not sure that I'm qualified to answer the question.  I would not be
surprised if the simple technical answer was yes.  But there are
politics involved here, and that is not my field.  For example, if some
of the contracting parties would like to unpick some of the other issues
that have already been agreed, they are not likely (it seems to me) to
agree to amend the rules of procedure to make it easier for other
countries to unpick one specific amendment without at the same time
having the same privilege of unpicking their (other) issues.  Presumably
you would need to find a simple majority of countries who all wanted to
unpick the computer program amendment, but none of whom want to unpick
any other amendment.

I'm happy to leave the politics to the experts.


-- 

Steve Probert
Deputy Director
The Patent Office




