Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited v Commissioner of
Patents [2020] FCA 778
Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
(ATA) appealed to the Federal Court from an Australian
Patent Office decision that four of its innovation patents (the
Patents) for electronic gaming machines
(EGMs) should be revoked to failing to define
patentable subject matter. The Federal Court allowed the appeal,
finding that the EGMs were patentable subject matter.
Background
EGMs, also called "slot machines", are a combination
of hardware and software components. The hardware includes cabinets
with video display screens, a "slot" or other vending
device to receive money or other forms of credit, and various
internal electronics, including an internal computer to operate
software to operate the EGM. The internal computer, commonly called
a "game controller", runs software to visually display
reels with symbols on the screen and simulate movement of the
reels, in order to
