Business Method and Software Patents - Court of Appeal

Thanks to Society of Computers and Law for the prompt notification of this decision (thanks also to them for their part in organising the inspiring and stimulating policy think tank Decentring Internet Regulation over the last couple of days).

Lord Justice Jacob has delivered a full analysis of the present UK provisions regarding patenting of software and business methods - which, of course, has involved consideration of the EPC and decisions of the EPO Boards of Appeal. Writing this about to board a plane back from said conference, I will refrain at least for now for detailed comment on the decision - although it does include interesting points on statutory and treaty interpretation, and the links between the UK courts and the EPO, all key interests of our project. I also like the suggestion that the EPO Enlarged Board should look at the matter, and the ECJ style reference questions framed. Remains to be seen what happens.