Software patents

Software patents are forbidden in Europe (following the Munich Convention)
Software patents are legal in the US (and in Japan)
European Patent Office (EPO) is trying to pass software patents with some tricks
(like """"effect"""" in computer program)
(IBM case)

A proposal Directive in favor of Sofware Patents in EU 
check http://petition.eurolinux.org/ 

Implementing idea -> the idea itself (cf. algorithm, method...)
Viscosity of research (danger for the innovation)
Reuse in Software Engineering impossible (with Software Patents)
Free Software License (""RAND"" / RF case)
Monopoly 
Market