Brussels, 20/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission adopted a proposal of directive on the patentability of computer software, which has been under preparation since 1997. Seeking a balance between the protection of innovations and free competition on the flourishing software market (EUR 39 billion in 1998), the proposal satisfies neither the major software production companies such as Microsoft, which would have liked a more extended patent, nor their adversaries...