Once again proof of the stupidity and/or corruption of the EU Commissions and Councils. For how else could one explain such nonsense? There are not many European companies that could have an interest in software patents. But American companies are certainly ready to ram their idiotic patents through Europe and kick competitors out of the market.
There is no macroeconomic need for blocking patents - and that is precisely what software patents are.
That this decision also clearly goes against the decision of the elected representatives of the people - parliament - apparently bothers no one anymore ...
At heise online news there is the original article.