ARTICLE · 29 MAY 2008

Patently Obvious? Getting Protective Over Software Programs

DLA Piper UK LLP

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The debate over whether and to what extent it should be possible to patent software and computer-implemented inventions has heated up again following the decision in Astron Clinica and others Applications [2008] EWHC 85 (Pat).

United KingdomIntellectual Property

Richard Taylor

The debate over whether and to what extent it should be possible to patent software and computer-implemented inventions has heated up again following the decision in Astron Clinica and others Applications [2008] EWHC 85 (Pat). This key court decision brought into question how the law should be applied in the UK.

What The Ruling Said

Those with an interest in software development will no doubt have been intrigued by the High Court's ruling in Astron Clinica which said that the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) was wrong to refuse patent claims for computer programs. Five companies: Software 2000 (laser printing), Astron Clinica (cosmetic surgery imagery), Inrotis (identifying proteins in drug therapy), SurfKitchen (mobile internet services) and Cyan Technology (chip programming) have seen their appeals upheld by the High Court in May 2007 after their individual claims were

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