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.