The subject of software patents has been keeping advocates and opponents equally busy. The pro-patent proposal to the EU parliament by the EU Commission had very little chance of success, but it was approved by the EU Council with only minor changes. One reason for this was that Germany’s Minister of Justice, Brigitte Zypries, changed her stance on the subject. She had previously promised to abstain, which would effectively have torpedoed the proposal. In October, all parliamentary parties in the German parliament came down against software patents, but they were unable to agree on a motion. It is hard to say if a motion would influence the German government’s stance on the subject. Although the Ministry of Justice would not be obligated by a motion, it would exert considerable pressure.

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