Apparently, not in New Zealand.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/08/in-historic-vote-new-zealand-bans-software-patents/ / patent bill passed vote New Zealand's Parliament five years of debate banned software patents relevant clause patent bill states computer program not an invention get around the wording of the TRIPS intellectual property treaty requires patents available for any inventions products or processes in all fields of technology processes patentable computer program merely way implementing patentable process patent claims that cover computer programs not allowed some leeway computer programs directly tied to improved hardware bill includes example better washing machine improvements are implemented with a computer program the actual contribution new improved operating washing machine gets clothes cleaner uses less electricity patent awarded Member of Parliament deeply involved debate Clare Curran quoted head heads software firms complaining patenting process allowed obvious things patented in general software patents are counter-productive quoted one developer near impossible software developed without breaching some of the hundreds thousands patents granted around the world for obvious work heavyweight heavy weight heavyweights new economy in software development head of New Zealand's Institute IT Professionals Paul Matthews celebrated passage bill tweeting "Software patents are now disallowed in New Zealand #Historic #Awesome #Yay Matthews new law new patent applications existing software patents continue apply stand New Zealand open question other countries will take up New Zealand's example outright ban on software patents in the US seems unlikely given the large corporation corporations tech oppose unprecedented concern about patent trolls six bills introduced Congress addressing issue in last several months. /
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