The Software Patent Mess

by The Cutter Business Technology Council

Patents on software have been granted in the US since the early 1980s. Prior to that, such patents were technically possible but rare. In a recent decision, the European Union ruled that no EU patents would be granted on software (i.e., EU member countries could not grant such patents, nor could they enforce such patents granted by other governments). The divergence of the US and EU on this matter could have important consequences on the relative ability of the two great powers to compete.

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The Software Patent Mess October 2005

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