§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to introduce software patents; and if she will make a statement. [141954]
§ Ms Hewitt[holding answer 4 December 2003]Patents have been granted for some forms of software in the UK and elsewhere for many years. My Department has continued to support proposals to clarify the law on the patentability of software-related inventions across Europe. We will continue to work towards that objective, but we have no plans to extend patent protection to cover all software.