Patent decision

BL number

O/193/13

Concerning rights in

GB1103237.2

Hearing Officer

Mr P Thorpe

Decision date

14 May 2013

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

Language Line Services, Inc

Provisions discussed

Patents Act 1977 Section 1(2)

Keywords

Excluded fields (refused)

Related Decisions

None

Summary

The application relates to a method and apparatus for determining the competency of human language interpreters. More specifically the invention, which is computer based, evaluates the proficiency of language interpreters, including in terms of determining if they have knowledge of specific technical terms in a certain field, for example medicine. The invention seeks to provide a standardised test of language ability that then certifies an interpreter’s language ability and determines the necessary language training requirements. The system can also provide subject specific training.

Applying the Aerotel/Macrossan test, the hearing officer decided that the contribution made by the invention fell solely within excluded matter. The application was refused as being a method of doing business and a progam for a computer.

Full decision O/193/13 68Kb