Some of Europe's biggest software companies have joined forces to form the European Software Association, a new industry body set up specifically to lobby the European Commission and Parliament on behalf of the software industry.

Other similar lobby groups already exist, but according to the newly formed ESA (not to be confused with the European Space Agency), they work on a global stage, while this group will keep its focus strictly European.

The group says issues it will concern itself with include open source software, privacy, and funding for research and development.

The Register