Software patent bill thrown out

[Corey]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4655955.stm

The European Parliament voted 648 to 14 to reject the Computer Implemented Inventions Directive.

[Intrigued]

Ah, ha!

*strokes chin whiskers*

[gbrown]

We've had a BUNCH of discussions over on the PLATO system about all those patents and the like that were approved in the US but were for software features that existed on PLATO as far back as the mid 70's. Things like "record keeping in a game showing high scores" or something like that had a patent applied for. Some of those patents are right up there with the folks that tried to patent a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB111266108673297874-INjgYNolad4o5uoaXyGb6qGm5,00.html) .

[Corey]

Agreed. :)