Editing Software patent (section)

===Debate===
There is a [[software patent debate|debate]] over the extent to which software patents should be granted, if at all. Important issues concerning software patents include:

* Whether software patents should be allowed, and if so, where the boundary between [[patentable subject matter|patentable]] and non-patentable software should lie;<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.out-law.com/page-4814|title=Software patents in Europe: debunking the myths|first=John|last=Gray|publisher=OUT-LAW News|date=2004-08-19}}</ref>
* Whether the [[inventive step and non-obviousness]] requirement is applied too loosely to software;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipo.gov.uk/response-inventive.pdf|title=Public consultation on level of the inventive step required for obtaining patents|publisher=[[UK Intellectual Property Office]]|access-date=2007-06-05|archive-date=2012-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104231807/http://www.ipo.gov.uk/response-inventive.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> and
* Whether patents covering software discourage, rather than encourage, innovation;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.patenthawk.com/blog/2005/04/patent_economics_part_4_incent.html|title=Patent Economics: Part 4 – Incentives|format=blog entry|publisher=Patenthawk|date=2005-04-17|access-date=2012-10-09|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906032234/http://www.patenthawk.com/blog/2005/04/patent_economics_part_4_incent.html|archive-date=2012-09-06|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Whether software based on mathematical methods may be allowed if the mathematics or algorithm in question is complicated enough and may not be implemented with pencil and paper.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.managingip.com/pdfs/Events/IndiaIP2013_15.15_Akhilesh%20Gupta.pdf |title=The India Patents Act, 1970 and Software Patentability |date=7 March 2013 |website=www.managingip.com |access-date=2020-03-27 |archive-date=2016-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417223948/http://www.managingip.com/pdfs/Events/IndiaIP2013_15.15_Akhilesh%20Gupta.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>