They're on again - they're off again. Lets hope this is settled now.

Despite what appears to be a big-budget lobbying effort by the pro-patent fraternity, Hon Simon Power announced today that he wouldn't be modifying the proposed Patents Bill hence software will be unpatentable once the Bill passes into law.

In what could be seen as a David and Goliath struggle, New Zealand is coming down on the side of the Davids and removing the ability of companies to patent software.

In making its recommendation on the change to the Patents Bill, the Commerce select committee accepted the argument that software patents can stifle innovation and competition.