Moves to beef up patent regime gather strength

The European Union's troubled attempts to set up a cheap, reliable and efficient patent regime for businesses and researchers were given a fresh boost 12 )ctober 2006, after the European Parliament threw its weight behind efforts to improve the region's patent litigation system.

MEPs adopted a resolution on the future of European patents by 494 votes in favour, 109 against and 18 abstentions, in which they want to postpone any decision on whether to approve the Community accession to the European Patent Litigation Agreement (EPLA), and called for 'significant improvements' of the text. During the debate held in Strasbourg on 28 September 2006, Commissioner McCreevy advocated the ratification of the Agreement saying it would make the European patent system more effective.

European Patent Office: Litigation of European patents http://www.european-patent-office.org/epo/epla/index.htm

European Parliament: Info, 12.10.06: MEPs ask for more democratic control over patent procedures http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/052-11590-284-10-41-909-20061011IPR11564-11-10-2006-2006-false/default_en.htm

Wikipedia: European Patent Litigation Agreement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Patent_Litigation_Agreement

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