On July 6, 2005, the European Parliament will vote on the European Commission’s proposed “Directive on computer-implemented inventions”. The Directive is meant to harmonize patent laws concerning software and its interaction with hardware.

The European Commission and other proponents of the Directive believe that such harmonization is critical to greater European innovation and competitiveness, and will stimulate economic growth and job creation. However, some other groups are diametrically opposed to the Directive.

David Carr is a British graduate in law and a practicing solicitor. An active and respected commentator on IP and Competition issues he writes regularly for CNEintprop.org and is also the legal affairs spokesman for the UK’s free market and civil liberties group the Libertarian Alliance. A passionate defender of IP he will speak on the stark choices that Europe now faces.