Swpat directive passed by 4 votes. Effect of amendments not yet clear.

First indications are that the Irish presidency has secured political 
approval for a new draft of the controversial software patents directive 
in a meeting of the Council of Ministers today -- by 4 votes.


Belgium (5), Denmark (3), Italy (10), Spain (8) and Austria (4) refused
to support the new text.

Estonia (3) voted against.

That made 33 votes refusing to support the text -- a mere 4 votes short
of the 37 needed to block it.


The support of Germany, with 10 votes, was crucial.

The Irish were only able to get their proposal through with the support
of Germany, which had been previously been pressing for much tighter
restrictions.

It is believed that an amendment was found to satisfy German concerns,
but the details are still emerging.


Until the text of the new amendment can be analysed, it is still to be
definite as to what the consequences of today's vote will be.

More information to follow when we have it.



James Heald, FFII.