MEPs vote to tighten up rules on patentability of computerised inventions
MEPs in the European Parliament's legal affairs committee have given their support to a proposal from the Commission on the patentability of computer implemented inventions. Such inventions do not cover ordinary software programs, but rather solutions for devices such as mobile phones, intelligent household appliances, engine control devices, machine tools and computer program related inventions. The committee approved the draft legislation on 17 June by 20 votes to 8, but a number of amendments were made to the original text with the aim of clarifying and tightening up the wording of the proposed directive. The committee decided that, in order to be patentable, a computerised invention should involve a technologically inventive step and have a clear industrial application. Furthermore, MEPs argued that a computerised invention should not be regarded as making a technical contribution just because it involves the use of computer technology, otherwise patents could be granted for every simple computer program. The committee also requested that the Commission produce a report in the future on how the new directive has been taken into account by the European Patent Office and whether the European Patent Convention should be revised. A final amendment calls on the Commission to monitor the impact of the legislation on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).