European Union industry ministers have backed a controversial proposal to harmonise rules on patenting software, despite a call by the European Parliament to withdraw the measure.
The EU software patent would expand the range of software subject to patent rules in Europe, a step that major hi-tech firms have welcomed. Critics say that the move would stifle innovation and tighten the grip of computer giants on the software industry.
The Internal Market Commissioner, Charlie McCreevy, said yesterday that he would work to secure a compromise acceptable to MEPs and EU governments.
"I will now engage constructively with both the European Parliament and the EU Council to reach a compromise," he said. All the major political groups in the European Parliament united last month to demand that Mr McCreevy should withdraw the proposal, which was first proposed by the Prodi commission.
MEPs want the measure to take greater account of the interests of small computer firms, the open source software community and independent software developers.
Ms Monica Frassoni, co-president of the Greens in the European Parliament, accused EU ministers of ignoring the wishes of elected representatives and bowing to pressure from big business.
Ireland is among the strongest advocates of an EU software patent, which big computer firms say is necessary to create legal clarity within the industry.
