Patent decision

BL number

O/160/22

Concerning rights in

GB1915390.7

Hearing Officer

Mr B Buchanan

Decision date

24 February 2022

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

Equifax Inc.

Provisions discussed

Patents Act 1977, section 1(2)(c)

Keywords

Excluded fields (refused)

Related Decisions

None

Summary

The claimed invention relates to a means for controlling access to an interactive computing system, using a neural network to determine a risk factor such as a credit score, based upon consumer credentials. The interactive computer system may provide financial services such as loans, credit cards and banking. The agent argued that the training of the neural network, which results in a monotonic relationship between inputs and outputs and the use of a resultant risk factor in determining access control provide a technical contribution. They also argued that the claim was not limited to a credit score or accessing financial services. The Hearing Officer applied the four step Aerotel/Macrossan test to determine whether there was a technical contribution and considered the AT&T signposts. The contribution was not found to provide the required technical effect and the claimed invention was found to relate solely to a program for a computer and a method for doing business as such, so the application did not meet the requirements of section 1(2)(c). The application was refused under section 18(3).

Full decision O/160/22 460Kb