[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.