Alex Hudson wrote:
As the patents stand, I'm pretty sure that they couldn't be filed in Europe via the EPO, but I could be wrong, I haven't checked them out that thoroughly.
I've just read them briefly, and I see no reason why the EPO wouldn't accept them. According to their caselaw, these applications are technical enough to avoid the "computer program as such" exclusion.
Anyway, the first US application has a WO (international/PCT) counterpart (two, actually): WO 02/17070 WO 02/17597 which designate the EPC countries, so it's possible this application will lead to a European patent.
Arnoud