European Council Approves Software Patents

A. S. Bradbury writes "ZDNet reports that the EU Council has voted to pass changes to European patent law that will allow the patentability of software. See the FFII for more coverage. Currently, the FFII states 'The Irish Presidency's proposal was passed, with support from Germany, France and most of the other countries whose ministers had publicly promised to oppose or at least abstain. The only no vote came from Spain (to be confirmed), Italy and a few others abstained.' As you may remember, Germany had previously promised to vote against software patents. The FFII news page seems to have been showing growing support in European countries for the FFII and other organisations fighting against software patents, but unfortunately that wasn't enough. So, what now? The European elections are approaching, which means MEPs might be more willing to listen to our views than normal. Slashdot has covered software patents in Europe before."

Comments

Let me just be the first to say

[Anonymous Coward]

Ha, ha. Looks like the 'enlightened' European community doesn't think like a slashbot after all.

First Patent

[Anonymous Coward]

Man, only in the EU can I get First Patent!

I say we boycott...

[Chris_Stankowitz]

We should boycott software from Feb. 31st to the Ides of march! if we don't use any software for that day, the EU will......

What the hell am I talking about?

So where do I apply...

[Fallen Kell]

Ok, now that software is patentable, where do I apply for a process which decodes digital content which has been encoded in MPEG2 standard? And while we are at it, what about a process that converts 3 numbers which range in values from 0-255, into visible light? Or better still, converts a group of eitht(8) ones(1's) and zeros(0's) into human readable text and numbers?

Finally!

[lacrymology.com]

My patent papers are in for the following ideas that I invented:

1) A method for translating program source code into a machine runnable format.

2) A method for displaying a computer's file system (see earlier patent for details) based on the top of a typical desk.

3) A number system based solely on the numbers 1 and 0.

4) A method for having sex with a computer (you know it'll happen one day... and when it does... I'm rolling in the cash)

-m

Re:Finally!

[lacrymology.com]

" And by publishing your inventions at this stage, you have just invalidated your patents."

That's OK, I have a million more... how about an input device for a computer consisting of small tabs on which alpha-numeric characters are printed? How about a system for controlling, or operating if you will, the internal hardware of a computer system? I have a million more... all of which are certain to make me filthy rich!
-m

Too late

[FunWithHeadlines]

"But with all the thievery of intellectual property, and all the monopolizing tactics of the biggest corporations, maybe this is the protection that the individual/small corporate developers need?"

Too late, I already patented that idea. Pay up!

The world keeps getting dumber

[mamer-retrogamer]

I'm moving to international waters... who'll join me!? We can even raise the old jolly roger. ARRR!!!

Thanks to the new patent laws...

[exp(pi*sqrt(163))]

...we can expect to see the ailing European software industry rise from the ashes like a phoenix and produce software that will rival that of the US where software patents have resulted in the best software in the world.

Er...wait...what am I saying?

We'll just have to ask Monty Python...

[macshune]

GO AWAY, OR I SHALL PATENT YOU ANOTHER TIME!

crap. good thing i live in the united states, no software patents here!!!!:)

Slashdot applies for European Patent

[Deaper]

In a surprising development, internet news site Slashdot has become one of the first companies to apply for a European Software patent. The patent, describing the proccess of "seeing into the mysterious future by becoming a Slashdot subscriber", has caused much controversy over karma whoring. In response to the controversy, one Slashdot reader said "Imagine a beowulf cluster of karma whoring /. subscribers rushing to apply for various patents at the announcement that EU software patents have been approved."

In related news Slashdot is reportedly in the proccess of filing for another EU patent for the beowulf cluster.

Full Story at 10:00

Re:Slashdot applies for European Patent

[Cheeze]

Full story at 9:00 for Slashdot subscribers.

In other news

[Anonymous Coward]

France, Germany, and the Netherlands reported larger-than-expected budget surpluses, and the BSA is auditing every local and state government in Spain.

Not all bad news, though. Microsoft reported that its cash reserves decreased 0.0023% in the last day alone.

Re:Let me be first first American to say:

[n1ywb]

Right, because France, Spain, Germany, Britain, Portugal, etc. have never had worldwide plundering self-interested empires in the past. We started it. Okay.

Game: What Would You Patent?

[gerf]

I'm going to patent the Windows 2000 source code that is all over the internet! (disclaimer: I never downloaded or looked at any part of that code)

Anyone else?

Blocking by IP address?

[Dwonis]

Hey, how does one set up Apache to exclude a list of countries from access to a site?