EU under pressure as patent vote looms

Pressure is mounting ahead of tomorrow's vote by MEPs on the European Parliament's stand on software patent legislation in Europe. The formative directive in question, which sets the framework for the granting or denial of patents for 'computer-implemented inventions', has already had a fraught passage through the various bureaux at the EU since controversy erupted over how it deals with the patenting of software. During its drawn-out baptism, battle lines have been drawn between the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, and public and industry opinion has polarised between the two. ...more

German companies create the wall of sound

A group of German companies claim to have built the first commercial wall of sound. They say they have produced a material which at just 7mm thick can become a wall mounted speaker. Bayer MaterialScience, Siemens and polyurethane specialist Puren say that the new 'pursonic' material can be fitted to walls, carpets and ceilings. ...more

Microsoft sues Lucent over patent dispute

A complex legal case involving Lucent Technologies suing Dell and Gateway has just got more complicated. Microsoft has entered the legal fray to file a lawsuit regarding the patents central to the case. The patents relate to audio and video coding technologies and a touch-screen document editing system. ...more

Google's YouTube strikes deal with hundreds of media companies

Google may be frustrated in efforts to strike comprehensive deals to put videos from major media companies such as NBC or Viacom on YouTube, but it is signing up hundreds of smaller media partners, The New York Times reported on Friday. Without specifying how many of those deals have been signed since their site was acquired by Google last fall, YouTube officials say they are adding more than 200 mostly small media companies or sites a quarter, according to the Times. Some of the partnerships have been announced publicly. ...more

Google's pre-Katrina New Orleans map data under fire

Google is being called to account over its use of pre-Hurricane Katrina images of New Orleans on its map portal maps.google.com. ...more