Title
Drawing a Line in the Patent Subject Matter Sands: Does Europe Provide A Solution to the Software & Business Method Patent Problem?
Department/School
Ethics and Business Law
Date of this version
2011
Document Type
Article
Keywords
patent law, intellectual property, patent trolls, patent subject matter, In re Bilski, Bilski v. Kappos, business methods, software, invention, European Patent Convention, European Patent Office
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1676898
Abstract
In 2010 the Supreme Court decision in Bilski v. Kappos had the potential to completely rewrite patent subject-matter law for business methods and computer-related inventions. Earlier, the EPO’s Enlarged Board of Appeal delivered a decision on the same subject that had the potential to produce similar changes in Europe. Neither decision provided more than incremental change. Our research explains why patent systems on both sides of the Atlantic are unable or unwilling to produce comprehensive subject matter reform for business methods and software.
Volume
34
Issue
2
Published in
Boston College International and Comparative Law Review
Citation/Other Information
Marsnik, S. J., & Thomas, R. E. (2011). Drawing a Line in the Patent Subject Matter Sands: Does Europe Provide a Solution to the Business Method and Software Patent Problem? Boston College International and Comparative Law Review, 34(2). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1676898