UK Patent Office releases brochure on software patents
The UK Patent Office recently released a brochure [.pdf] regarding software patents and the need for a Directive "…to clarify the situation and prevent a drift towards the more liberal patenting regime of the United States."
The brochure seems to be aimed at explaining the forthcoming Directive and its impact on software patentability. It explains that the Directive "…aims to clarify the current situation, but retain the status quo: It is not about making all software patentable."
Perhaps its no suprise that I don’t feel the need to create a special rule for software. My personal opinion is that software, like all inventions, should be tested by the statutory requirments. If a software invention meets the requirements, it should be considered patentable.
The UK brochure has been as subject of discussion on at least one anti-software-patents message board.
UPDATE: ZDNet UK published an article on the brochure and its rapid criticism by the anti-software patent community.
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