overvieweurope (epc)united statesconclusion copyright © katzarov s.a.23/01/2007 patent protection...
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![Page 1: OVERVIEWEUROPE (EPC)UNITED STATESCONCLUSION Copyright © KATZAROV S.A.23/01/2007 Patent Protection for Software and for Software Based Business Methods](https://reader036.vdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062619/551547d15503465e608b631d/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
Patent Protection for Software and for Software Based
Business MethodsA General Overview and Comparison
between European and United States Approaches
Olivier Sacroug
European Patent AttorneyKatzarov SA
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Software Protection: Copyright or Patent?– Copyright : automatic and free protection of a
literary work.– Patent : protects a function, independently of
the grammatical construction of the lines of code.
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Copyright– Advantages:
• Free• No disclosure of the source code required
– Disadvantages:• No real protection of the function
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Patents– Advantages:
• Protects the idea behind the software
– Disadvantages:• Favours big corporations (?)• Inhibits competition and innovation (?)
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Copyright– Protects against piracy
• Patent– Protects against imitation
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
Is Software patentable in Europe (EPC)?
NO!
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
Are Software Inventions patentablein Europe (EPC)?
Yes, if…
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Article 52(1) EPC– European patents are granted for inventions
that :• are new• involve an inventive step• are susceptible of industrial application
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Article 52(2) EPC– “programs for computers” are not to be
regarded as “inventions” (because they lack a technical character)
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Article 52(3) EPC– exceptions listed in Article 52(2) have to be
interpreted narrowly
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Interpretation of the Boards of Appeal– computer-implemented inventions can be
patented if they involve an inventive technical contribution to the prior art
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Computer-implemented Inventions– Any invention the performance of which
involves the use of a computer, computer network or other programmable apparatus and having one or more features which are realised wholly or partly by means of one or several computer programs.
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• 4 types of Computer-implemented Inventions– Technical processes describable without
computer/software features.– Problem can not be solved completely without
computer implementation.– Solution exclusively in the area of software.– Invention is a computer implementation of a non-
technical process.
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• T 208/84 & T26/86– a software for controlling or carrying-out a
technical process is patentable
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• T 1173/97 & T935/97– computer programs stored on a data carrier
are patentable if there is a “further technical effect” (i.e., one going beyond the normal physical effect)
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• T 258/03– a patent can not be granted if there is no
technical contribution to the prior art
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Non-patentable computer-implemented inventions– Internet retailing method– fixed-odds betting system (EP 1 139 245)– business methods
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Patentable computer-implemented invention– an invention enabling the detection of the
proper functioning of an ABS control unit(EP 771 280)
– computer-controlled process for operating a robot arm
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Patentable computer-implemented invention– computer-controlled process for enhancing a
graphic display– computer-controlled process for controlling
data storage between memories– computer-controlled process for routing
diverse calls through a telephone exchange
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
Are Business Methods patentablein Europe (EPC)?
NO!
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Article 52(2) EPC– “rules and methods for … doing business” are
not to be regarded as “inventions”
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• T 931/95– pure business methods as such are not
patentable
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Conclusion– Patent protection of software is possible in
Europe, but it is necessary to identify a technical effect.
– Business methods are rejected by the European examiners.
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
Is Software patentable in the U.S.A.?
YES!
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Software:– Same as any other invention– Must be new, useful, non-obvious– Approximately 16’000 software-related
U.S. patents each year
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Acceptable software-related inventions:– Computer aided design software– Insurance and financial software systems– Debuggers– Operating systems– E-commerce solutions– Compilers– Business methods– etc.
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Non-acceptable inventions:– Mathematical laws (e.g. Fourrier transform)– Laws of nature
Processes based on these laws and implemented by computer programs are patentable, if new, useful and non-obvious.
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Important for any patent application in the U.S.A.– Describe the best mode– Cite relevant prior art, including competing
solutions
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Important in particular for software patent applications in the U.S.A.– Use flowcharts– File early in the development process or
submit source code (duty of disclosure)
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Trends of U.S. Companies– Aggressive patenting of software development– Litigation increase (more than 2’500 lawsuits
each year)– Huge damages (up to several millions dollars)– Negotiations (97% settle prior to trial)
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
Are Business Methods patentablein the U.S.A.?
Yes, but…
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Business method patents:– Highly scrutinized by the U.S. examiners– Long delays– Small percentage of U.S. patents
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Conclusion– File– File early– Disclose everything that you know– Be ready to negotiate
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
• Conclusion– Software patents in Europe: Yes, if…– Business method patents in Europe: NO!
– Software patents in the U.S.A.: YES!– Busin. meth. patents in the U.S.A.: Yes, but…
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
Questions?
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OVERVIEW EUROPE (EPC) UNITED STATES CONCLUSION
Copyright © KATZAROV S.A. 23/01/2007
Olivier Sacroug
Katzarov SAEuropean Patent & Trademark Attorneys
Geneva and Basel
[email protected]: +41 22 342 66 30Fax: +41 22 342 66 15
www.katzarov.com
Thank You!