EU software patent law faces axe

The software patent bill has been thrown out
The European Parliament has thrown out a bill that would have allowed software to be patented.
Politicians unanimously rejected the bill and now it must go through another round of consultation if it is to have a chance of becoming law.

During consultation the software patents bill could be substantially re-drafted or even scrapped.

The bill was backed by some hi-tech firms, saying they needed protections it offered to make research worthwhile.


source: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4274811.stm