The Indian Patent Office has put in abeyance new guidelines on examination of computer-related inventions (CRIs) such as software programmes till discussions with stakeholders are completed and contentious issues are resolved.After the guidelines amending relevant provisions were out in August, several associations strongly opposed the move,saying the norms are "detrimental" to the domestic IT sector.According to the Section 3(k) of the Indian Patents Act, a mathematical or business method or a computer programme per se or algorithms are not inventions. Welcoming the order, Software Freedom Law Centre, a non-profit organisation, said irregular patents to software will put shackles on innovation, thus potentially affecting startups.