Patent decision

BL number

O/157/11

Concerning rights in

GB0907503.7

Hearing Officer

Dr J Houlihan

Decision date

12 May 2011

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

Oracle International Corporation

Provisions discussed

PA 1977, section 1(2)

Keywords

Excluded fields (refused)

Related Decisions

None

Summary

The invention in question relates to a data approvals system and method for managing data during the process of approving a transaction in a computerized system. The applicants argued that the invention provides a flexible and more reliable computer which functions at a high level of architecture above low level data handling applications and that this makes a technical contribution to the operation of a computer. The Hearing Officer applied the four point “Aerotel/Macrossan” test, as modified by Re. Symbian, and took account of the “signposts” for determining technical contribution detailed in Re. AT&T Knowledge Ventures & CVON Innovation’s Ltd. He found that the invention did not provide an impact on the technical infrastructure of the computer and therefore would not make a computer technically more flexible or more reliable. He held that the invention lay solely in the field of excluded subject matter and refused the application as relating to a computer program, as such, under section 1(2) of the Act.

Full decision O/157/11 58Kb