New EU-Wide Patent System Approved

Dupple writes "There's a two page article over on IT World detailing a new patent system passed by the European Parliament that will unify the patent process across most countries in the EU. Quoting: 'Parliament adopted all three proposed regulations needed to form the new patent system on Tuesday: the regulation on a Unitary Patent, the language regime and the formation of a new unified patent court system. Not all European Union member states want a part in the new system: Italy and Spain refused to participate, although they may join at any time. The new system will cut the cost of obtaining a patent in the participating countries by up to 80 percent, the Parliament said. The patents will be made available in English, French and German and applications will have to be made in one of those three languages. Not everyone was pleased with the newly adopted regulation though. MEPs opposing the adopted text are concerned the new system is going to be bad for innovation and business, and by voting for the text, the Parliament is giving away powers, they said. The new regulation "means the European Parliament will abdicate all its political powers to an organization ... that is outside of the E.U.," said Christian Engström, Pirate Party member of parliament, adding that he still wanted a European patent as long as it did not hamper innovation as he believes the proposal in its current form does.'"

Comments

rounded corners?

[ganjadude]

Does this mean I can get the EU patent on rounded corners?

joking but seriously I hope that they have some kind of common sense approach over there.

Re:rounded corners?

[Daniel Dvorkin]

but seriously I hope that they have some kind of common sense approach over there

Don't hold your breath. The patent system worldwide is in desperate need of reform, but every change we've seen so far has been in favor of moneyed interests and against people who actually do hard intellectual work. Both of TFAs are frustratingly light on details, but honestly I'll be kind of shocked if the new system doesn't follow that trend.

Re:rounded corners?

[maxwell demon]

Both of TFAs are frustratingly light on details

But there is a mention of a Pirate Party member being against it. I think this is a good indication that the change is not for the better.

FSFE responds

[Anonymous Coward]

European Parliament adopts deeply flawed unitary patent, gives up power over innovation policy

So what's the word on software?

[erroneus]

Software patents have got to go. And with them, inventions that "can be implemented in software" also need to go. I saw nothing in either link talking about software patents.

Re:So what's the word on software?

[maxwell demon]

Software patents have got to go. And with them, inventions that "can be implemented in software" also need to go. I saw nothing in either link talking about software patents.

From the scarce information in the articles (and the FSFE response linked by this comment I conclude that it basically gives the European Patent Office the power to decide what is patentable. Which almost certainly means software patents will be possible.

Let's socialize technology instead

[bluefoxlucid]

Here's an idea: All technology is property of the Government.

If you do something and decide to keep it trade-secret, the Government might decide it looks nice and they'll tear it down to figure out how it works, then publish it. If you submit it to the Government, they'll keep it secret. For like, 20 years. Worst of all, if the Government likes something and can't functionally figure it out, they might just show up and ask.

Patent submission is free. There is no patent court.

Patents on medicine and HIV cure

[YurB]

A recent TED talk showed me how far patents can go. Patenting obvious things which give convenience is bad. But patenting something which saves lives is... I don't know apropriate word for this. But this is reality. And we must be changing that.