The answer to this question is unquestionably yes. Indeed, the
European Patent Office (EPO) has, perhaps more than for any other
technology area, promoted its practice proactively in expectation
of the wave of AI applications that they hope is to come.
However, there are particular considerations in relation to
preparing AI patent applications which stand the best possible
chance in Europe. Below, we introduce just some of these concepts,
but do keep an eye out for our up-coming series of articles, in
which we will be exploring these concepts - and others - in much
greater detail.
AI as Computer Implemented Inventions
The EPO's approach to computer implemented inventions, or
CIIs, has developed over many years and can perhaps now be
considered to be approaching a steady-state (recent case law in
relation to simulations notwithstanding).
