Legal Updates

Intellectual Property: Ground Breaking Decision - Patentability of Computer Programs – Practice Notice Issued by Patent Office

Following the Court of Appeal’s decision in the case of Aerotel Ltd v Telco Holdings Ltd (and others) and Macrossan’s Application [2006] EWCA Civ 1371, the Patent Office has issued a Practice Notice on Patentability of Computer Programs and Business Methods which details how the Patent Office will determine whether an invention relating to a computer program or business method is patentable or not.

This case is regarded as a definitive statement of how the law on patentable subject matter is now to be applied in the UK. Visit for more information http://www.patent.gov.uk/press/press-release/press-release-2006/press-release-20061103.htm Email: [email protected]

© RT COOPERS, 2006. This Briefing Note does not provide a comprehensive or complete statement of the law relating to the issues discussed nor does it constitute legal advice. It is intended only to highlight general issues. Specialist legal advice should always be sought in relation to particular circumstances.