European Software Patents Directive Passes while Community Patent Regulation Fails

The European Council approved the Software Patents Directive which will now be sent back to the European Parliament for another vote in the Fall where reversing the Council's vote may be difficult.  The Community Patent Regulation, on the other hand, died when Spain demanded all 20 translations of the claims be considered legally binding and ministers would not compromise by leaving the issue for courts to decide.  For more information, see http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-5215020.html, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3726375.stm, and http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/editorial/8695760.htm; and monitor European Patent Attorney Axel H Horns' Blog on Intellectual Property Law.