SWPAT: EU and US to counsel harmonization - exploration meeting
The pressure on the EU to adopt the software patent directive, which would force courts of EU member states to follow EPO practice and which would also force them to be dependent on the European Court of Justice, has been compounded by another facet: On 3 and 4 February an EU patent delegation will discuss further harmonization of patenting practice with colleagues at the (US Patent & Trademark Office.
This appears to be the conclusion of the agenda of the next meeting of the WORKING PARTY FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (PATENTS) of the Council of the European Union on 26 January, which prepares for a meeting with the USPTO:
Like any good guest, they will probably want to bring along a small gift: the adoption of a Common Position software patent directive on the which would allow the EPO to take the next step towards adoption of US practice in patent examination.
