Brussels, 24/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - The Member States must reach political agreement on the proposed directive on inventions developed by computer, stresses the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE), which is urging the States to do so at a forthcoming Council. In a press release, Philippe de Buck, Secretary General of UNICE, states that the Council's agreement “brings the necessary clarification to what may or may not be patented”, and will help to support European innovation in the new technologies sector. According to the European employer organisation, software, like business methods, are clearly excluded from the scope of the legislative proposal. Only technological innovations incorporated into an IT programme and satisfying the patentability criteria can be patented. These criteria are: novelty, inventive nature and industrial applicability (see EUROPE of 19 January, p.14).