selectparks - EU Software Patent Directive Rejected..

A few days ago I posted a rant about Game Design and patents, mentioning the day when it would be decided whether such silliness would be legally protected in the EU court of justice. That day was today, and the news is good: 648 votes to 14 in favour of turfing the directive altogether making the commission and US software giants feel a little bit disappointed with themselves.

This is the first time a directive has been thrown out of Parliament at a second reading ever.

It turns out that the ammendments of former French PM and Rapporteur, Rocard were simply too popular with MEP's (and a gazillion software developers). These ammendments sought to clarify strategically placed ambiguities in the directive that would allow for software, game designs and business methods .. let's just say Ideas.. , to be considered patentable.

Software patent proponents chickened out at the prospect that if these ammendments become law, they will never have another chance to spread their badness. So all the US lobbyists are on AirForce13 back home with their proverbial tails between their similarly proverbial legs.

While patent lawyers massage their own feet tonight, there will be much merriness in the Shire. In the end, it's a good day for indie game developers here in the EU. We can get on with making games without chainsaw weilding lawyers hiding under the bed.