[speedgoose]

Either those patents are invalid or they are not French.

Article L611-10:

... 2. Ne sont pas considérées comme des inventions au sens du premier alinéa du présent article notamment :

a) Les découvertes ainsi que les théories scientifiques et les méthodes mathématiques ;

b) Les créations esthétiques ;

c) Les plans, principes et méthodes dans l'exercice d'activités intellectuelles, en matière de jeu ou dans le domaine des activités économiques, ainsi que les programmes d'ordinateurs ;

d) Les présentations d'informations.

https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI0000...

DeepL translation:

2. The following in particular shall not be regarded as inventions within the meaning of the first paragraph of this Article

a) discoveries as well as scientific theories and mathematical methods ;

b) aesthetic creations

c) plans, principles and methods for carrying out intellectual activities, games or economic activities, as well as computer programs;

d) Information presentations.

[jcranmer]

My suspicion is that software is no less patentable in France (or the EU as a whole) than it is in the US. Which is to say, throw in a generic processor and it's kosher enough to get granted. (Even in the US, Alice says that "do it on a computer" isn't enough to get granted but... that's exactly what happens, and given the long, long list of European patents in the video codec space, it's clearly happening just as much in the EU).

[speedgoose]

My suspicion is that patent offices are accepting obvious invalid patents for money.

[jcelerier]

or, like everyone, they make mistakes.

[lmm]

People find it harder to notice mistakes that gain them money, and easier to notice mistakes that cost them money. It's almost magical.