27/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - The Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) is an umbrella group for more than 3000 SMEs supported by Microsoft and eBay. It has welcomed the adoption by the European Commission of a Council recommendation asking for a negotiating mandate for the creation of a special court to settle European patent disputes and, over time, Community patents as well (see EUROPE 9864). “This is a small victory for SMEs who have long been fighting for a European patent system. Innovative entrepreneurs have demanded many times before concrete action towards reducing costs and simplifying the processes that allow them to protect their patents in court. Today's announcement is one of many actions that should be put in place to achieve these goals,” commented ACT chairperson Jonathan Zuck in a press release. (M.B./transl.fl)