Written question asked by Adam Price (Plaid Cymru) on Monday, 27 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 4 November 2003. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Tuesday, 4 November 2003 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the European Software Patent Directive.

Answer: Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the European Software Patent Directive. [135283] Ms Hewitt: The Government's policy remains the same as that announced in 2001 after a public consultation on the patentability of software. The Government's conclusion from that consultation was to reaffirm the principle that patents are for technological innovations. Software should not be patentable where there is no technological innovation, and technological innovations should not cease to be patentable merely because the innovation lies in software. However, the consultation also concluded that business methods should remain unpatentable. Subsequently, we have supported the introduction by the European Commission of a draft Directive on the Patentability of Computer-Implemented Inventions, in order to clarify the legal position across the European Union. Discussions on this Directive are on-going and I await the outcome of further discussions between the EU institutions on its progress.

Secondary information