Europe's patent office skips debate on biotech rules

URL: http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nature/journal/v408/n6813/full/408632a0_fs.html

Date accessed: 06 February 2001

Nature 408, 632 - 633 (2000) © Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

07 December 2000

[MUNICH] Member states of the European Patent Office (EPO), meeting last week, disappointed both researchers and opponents of gene patenting when they declined to clarify European rules for the protection of discoveries in biotechnology.

"Considering the European Union's leading political and legislative role in this area, the EPO decided not to start a parallel discussion," said Roland Grossenbacher, president of the EPO.

The meeting did agree that computer programs should not be patented. Critics say this rule drives software companies from Europe to the United States or Japan, where programs can be patented.

The EPO also agreed on steps to increase the efficiency of the European patent system, such as allowing patent applications to be filed in any language.

Categories: 19. General Patent and Biotechnology Information, 44. What is the relationship between the European Patent Office and the patent offices of the individual countries?, 45. European Patent Standards