|
Metamorphosis is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit foundation based in Skopje, Macedonia. Its main goals are development of democracy and prosperity by promoting knowledge-based economy and information society.
|
|
Home  News European Parliament Turns Around EPLA Resolution
|
|
|
|
European Parliament Turns Around EPLA Resolution |
|
|
|
16.10.2006. |
In a new resolution on patent policy adopted with 494 to 109 votes on October 12, 2006, the European Parliament has stressed ongoing concerns with the patent granting practice of the European Patent Office and a lack of democratic control over the patent system. It is relatively silent about the EPLA, the draft treaty that set the ball rolling. The Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII) welcomes the overall result.
The main proponents of the original pro-EPLA draft resolution, Klaus-Heiner Lehne MEP (EPP-ED) and Sharon Bowles MEP (ALDE), were forced to give in and negotiate a compromise between the EPP-ED, PES and ALDE groups. After several dissenting MEPs in these and other groups stood up and filed a total of 10 amendments to the compromise text, they had to give in further and Lehne even filed an amendment to his own compromise. In the end, their groups supported about half of the tabled amendments.
The adopted result is a far cry from the first drafted resolution text, which almost unequivocally supported the EPLA. This circulated draft resulted in a counter-resolution by the PES, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL expressing concerns about the EPLA's weak points such as litigation costs and the lack of the patent establishment's accountability and judicial independence.
The ensuing negotiations ended with an almost aimless compromise text accepted by the EPP-ED, PES and ALDE negotiators, and the PES withdrew its signature from the EPLA-critical resolution. Finally amendments were tabled to this compromise resolution by the Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL, PES, EPP-ED and a group of dissenting EPP-ED/PES/ALDE MEPs lead by Zvěřina MEP. Several of the key amendments were adopted.
"We're 80% happy with the result" comments Jonas Maebe, FFII board member. "The main unfortunate artefact left in the adopted resolution is the fact that it promotes accession of the EU to the European Patent Convention, which would delegate most patent-related responsibilities to the civil servants of the Commission and member states. Overall our main concerns are however addressed and we would like to congratulate the many MEPs and assistants who worked very hard for this result."
Erik Josefsson, reporting from the European Parliament in Brussels, concludes: "Many MEPs are happy we have helped them find a common ground. We are particularly proud that the EP is keeping an eye on the EPO. And the message is clear: don't mess up innovation in the EU."
Source: Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure
(4300 hits/посети) |
|
