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Story: EU vote 'widens loopholes' in software patent directive

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Some MEPs may genuinely believe the outrageous lies coming from the proponents of the directive, but it is becoming harder and harder to credit them with that much stupidity:

Proponent: "This directive will not change what is or isn't patentable and will exclude 'pure' software and biz method patents".

Opponent: "Duh! - it codifies current EPO practice, yes. Now please go look at the c. 40,000 'pure' software and biz method patents that practice has
already generated".

Maria Rossi (and many others): "The directive, combined with the case law, is an effective deletion of the Article 52 exclusions".

EESC: "This directive is a piece of legal casuistry: the EU Parliament is being taken for a ride".

Polish Government: "Is this true?"

PPO et al: "Well.... yes."

EICTA: "But we need patent protection for our inventions and if you don't give us a 20 year monopoly on every last detail of every aspect of the computable, and every trivial idea that enters our heads, the European economy will collapse."

IBM: "Yeah man, we invest millions inventing stuff like this: http://wiki.ffii.org/UkWebPatentsEn ".

Microsoft: "Yep - if it IsNot for software patents, for our remarkable intellectual achievements, we'd be doomed".

Bessen,Maskin,Hunt,PWC,DB,...,Common Sense: "WTF are you guys smoking?!!"

Is this only the first piece of EU legislation, drafted deliberately to deceive the legislators and the public, and proclaimed to achieve the exact opposite of what it will in fact achieve, that can we expect?

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