Hi-tech sector lobbies for Europe-wide patents

IRELAND’s hi-tech sector lobbied MEPs in Brussels yesterday asking them to support Europe-wide patenting of computer implemented inventions.

The campaign has pitted multinationals like Microsoft and Nokia against open source softwear supporters who are against the Directive which is due to come before the European Parliament in two week’s time.

Ireland is a world leader in the area of information technology with over 100,000 people working in it at present. The sector is predicted to double in size over the next five years.

Kathryn Raleigh, director of ICT Ireland, which represents over 300 companies, said the legislation was essential to the future growth and health of the industry.

It will harmonise and codify across Europe the patenting process that is already operating but the main change will be if a patent is contested, the courts in all member states will interpret it in the same way.

The patenting system through the European office in Munich is working well and contrary to what objectors claim, works in favour of small and medium-sized industries, she said. “It gives SMEs the most effective way to compete with large multinationals. In Ireland these companies account for 20% of the 30,000 computer implemented invention patents at present and this is growing.”

However if some of the amendments due to come before the Parliament next month succeed, it would be disastrous for the industry, said Brian Deane, director of Ceatec, a Dublin-based software developer.

Ireland was at a crucial stage of changing from manufacturing to knowledge-based industry and needs the protection offered by the legislation as proposed by the member states, he said.

Ms Raleigh added: “It would act against innovation and take away the incentive we need to promote innovation.”

Some open source software supporters fear it will patent the most basic of software elements, making it impossible for small operators to develop products.

Pure software is not patentable in Europe as it currently is in the US.

Ms Raleigh said America was now rethinking its policy and considering changing to the European system.

ICT’s case got a boost in the Parliament this week when the Legal Affairs Committee voted against a raft of amendments that would change the proposed directive.