Linked by David Adams on Tue 4th Apr 2006 15:19 UTC, submitted by anonymous
A company called eSoft was recently granted a patent for "systems and methods for selecting, ordering, installing, managing, updating, and if necessary, uninstalling software applications." Their first step has been to sue their major competitors, but it appears that online software update systems of all kinds could be covered by this patent, which would mean that Windows
Update, OS X Software Update, Redhat's up2date, and YUM, among others, would be infringing.
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Member since:2006-03-23
From Marlor:
So, an unelected body can overrule the European Parliament and introduce software patents anyway. Welcome to European "democracy".
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Ok, I'm no expert on the EU system, but I think unless the individual countries do something to enforce the law, the commission is just blowing in the wind. And if the parliment voted against so strongly against it, it's hardly likely the individual countries will do anything about it. But it's definitely something to keep an eye on. And thank goodness for the protests against them. Btw, the EU had a lot of trouble just deciding on how to write out the laws in different languages - so it's really not the most empowered organization in the world.
Member since:2005-11-14
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Member since:
2005-07-09
The European Parliament voted against software patents with a margin of 648 votes to 14. However, this means nothing, since the EU Commission can totally ignore the European Parliament's vote. The EU Commission is still aiming for Software Patents to be introduced this year: http://wiki.ffii.de/ComPat060118En
So, an unelected body can overrule the European Parliament and introduce software patents anyway. Welcome to European "democracy".