RE: Fighting Software Patents

[Steve Boyce <SteveB@hbs.com>]

I don't think this was posted yet, apologies if it was:

The UK government is currently running a consultation exercise on software
patents.  Quote: "There is a big debate going on about whether software or
ways of doing business should be protectable by patents. In the United
States they generally are; in Europe, software can be patented only if it
gives rise to a "technical effect"and business methods as such cannot be
patented at all... Ministers have asked the Patent Office to raise
awareness, encourage discussion and collect views - your views."

http://www.patent.gov.uk/about/ippd/consultation/index.htm  

Steve