Brian Kahin, University of Michigen mentioned these two studies during the Future of WIPO meeting last week in Geneva. There's still time to tender for the first study, but in any case, there should be an opportunity to take part in the studies.
1. Study into effects of allowing patents claims for computer-implemented inventions, DG InfoSoc Time-limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate: 30.9.2004. Time: 16.00. Description/object of the contract: The Commission has proposed a directive (COM(2002) 92; (2002) 47 COD) which would provide a legal basis for the patenting of 'computer-implemented inventions'. This directive has been widely debated and interpreted as a possible solution for the legal ambiguity and lack of certainty that surrounds the patenting of computer programs, until now excluded under the European Patent Convention, though, in practice, granted by both the European Patent Office and by some national patent offices. The main objective of this study is to set up an independent longitudinal survey to understand the effect of computer-implemented inventions on the software sector under a technical, economic and legal point of view. http://ted.publications.eu.int/official/Exec?DataFlow=call_one_detail.dfl&am... mplate=TED/result_one_detail.xsl&TableName=TED_EN&Query=ND:%22142264%202004% 22&Lang=EN&StatLang=EN)
2. Call for tenders - what are patents actually worth?, DG Internal Market The deadline for submitting tender documents is 10.8.2004. The European Commission has published a call for tenders for a study evaluating the knowledge economy, and in particular, the value of patents for today's economy and society.
The study will provide an overall picture of the effect that patents have on the economy and society of the EU. An assessment of the advantages and disadvantages will be obtained, along with an evidence-based conclusion as to the merits or otherwise of patents.
In this way, the study will assist the work of DG Internal Market in implementing suitable patent policies in order to achieve its objectives described above. Specifically, it will inform EU policies relating to the development of the knowledge economy, the support of SMEs [small and medium sized enterprises] and the proper functioning of the internal market as regards patent policies. http://dbs.cordis.lu/cgi-bin/srchidadb?CALLER=NHP_EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&S... RCN=EN_RCN_ID:22270