15/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, the European Information and Communications Technology Association (EICTA) states that it is “crucial efficiently to protect high-tech with patents to encourage investment in innovation and R&D” and to face up to world competition. It lends its “full support” to the Council's common position on the proposed directive on the patentability of computer-developed inventions, which was adopted at the March Competitiveness Council (EUROPE 8903). The European Parliament's committee on legal affairs is to debate the issue at the end of April ahead of a second reading planned for the July plenary session.