WebProNews

An overwhelming majority vote by the European Parliament defies the intense lobbying of big business interests.

In a 648-14 vote with 18 abstentions, the EU rejected the software patent directive. Its passage would have given companies uniform patent protection throughout the European Union.

The vote to turn down the directive won't likely be tested again. The head office of the EU, composers of the original legislation, do not plan to draft another version.

The decision leaves patent decisions with the various national patent offices throughout Europe, a model that directive advocates saw as leaving patent issues open to various interpretations.

The proponents of the legislation, firms like Nokia and Siemens, also wanted to have a clearer definition of what types of software could be patented.

Opponents saw the measure as one that could stifle innovation, as critics of US patent law have similarly complained in America. But the EU drafters said its measure stopped short of patenting business methodologies or computer programs.

The vote was further complicated by the attachment of 178 amendments to the bill. Lawmakers tabled all of the amendments before voting on the bill itself.

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.