Converting/Splitting Code - Open to Closed

[SamBC]

----- Original Message -----
From: "none" <chloehoffman at hotmail.com>

> As for software being unpatentable in the EU, I would not state the
> proposition so categorically. Certainly, the EU is stricter on
software
> patent applications but nevertheless regularly allows and upholds in
its
> legal institutions software-related patents. I suggest taking a look
at the
> following link: http://www.epo.co.at/case_law/english/I_A_1-1.htm
> (and following pages) for a good review of relevant EPO (European
Patent
> Office) case law. There is some disparity among the various European
> countries themselves although Germany and the UK are pro-software
patents
> from my understanding with colleagues there. Further, Japan is very
> pro-software patents. So the reality is that software patents are in
all
> major markets in the world (leaving aside the arguments pro and con
for
> those kinds of patents in the first place).

I read your reference, and it seems to me that this only states that "a
software component does not prevent a patent as such" - but there has to
be a component, and a significant one, which is 'technical' - so a
system in which computers are used in control will be covered by patent,
but a system which is contained entirely of and within a computer
software system is non-patentable.


IANAL


SamBC