That's really not that crappy of a comparison - that's EXACTLY what it would be like. In fact, while this is not directly related to software patents it is a good example of how patent offices worldwide are doing a poor job and that the system is broken, a person in Australia has a patent on the WHEEL! (That info is from the audio link in my sig to hear why software patents are bad)
Hope you can make it to Brussels T.U.B. I wish I could, but I'm in the states
Even worse, I have no website to put a protest page on, and even if I did it wouldn't be one getting heavy traffic
So, I can only do this and hope other people can hear the message.
Oh yeah, and good luck on the exam - that is pretty ironic