IBM evangelises Euro patents

WHILE THE EU says it has no plans to change its patent system, IBM seems to have other ideas.

Joff Wild at I.A.M. has been following IBM as it pushes for an European Interoperability Patent (EIOP) which it thinks will solve all patent conflict in the old country.

David Kappos, vice-president of IP Law at IBM said that EIOP offers an opportunity for Europe to lead the way by creating a patent businesses work these days.

If Big Blue gets its way, the EIOP would be an EU-wide patent granted by the EPO that would be open. EIOP owners would not go to court in cases of infringement. Anyone who wants one, could get a licence of right so long as a fee was was paid. If a fee could not be agreed, then the matter would go to the courts, which would adjudicate on what amount would be reasonable.

It means that no one would worry about having their business being shut down due too an expensive IP case.

The EIOP is a bit more friendly to the open saucers and the anti-software patent campaigners such as the FFII and the Green Alliance.

Kappos said that the reason for this is that these groups are indicative of trends within the software industry towards open innovation and collaborative development. µ