TITLE

The European Patent Convention. A Commentary, first published

by Dr Romuald Singer. Revised English Edition.

AUTHOR(S) SURNAME, FORENAME

Lunzer, Raph

Places & Countries of PUBLISHERS    YEAR
Publication

London        Sweet & Maxwell    1995

PAGES    ISBN        BINDING    PRICE

cxliii+1074    0-421-52540-1    Hbk    £140.00

We mention, although this is not the place to discuss the question, that there is general agreement that the European patent Office (EPO) might grant a patent for a software related invention where the same application might be refused by the British Patent Office (BPO). They both work to similarly worded laws but different Judges interpret what the laws mean. It appears that the EPO will accept an application if the claims made for a patent application have a technical effect, while the BPO will reject a patent application if the claims made are for something that is capable of being performed by a mental act. Inevitably there is an overlap (the same words are applicable to both offices) and claims capable of dual interpretation need careful handling and (as always) wording for a patent to be granted. Interestingly a patent granted by the EPO is valid and effective in the UK. While a computer program as such can be patented hardly anywhere in the world, all those that create,

trade in or use computer programs need to be aware of what patents have been granted both to benefit from existing technology and to avoid the penalties arising from infringement. this is a legal textbook that is important to Information Systems Engineers who stand to benefit from the system it describes.
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