Patent decision

BL number

O/287/21

Concerning rights in

GB1413475.3

Hearing Officer

Mrs C L Davies

Decision date

20 April 2021

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

Apple Inc.

Provisions discussed

PA 1977 Section 1(2)(b), (c) and (d)

Keywords

Excluded fields (refused)

Related Decisions

None

Summary

The invention relates to an editing tool for use on a computer in which a graphical user interface includes a number of user interface controls available for selection by a user as required. The user interface controls are presented to the user on-screen as an animated fan-fold arrangement from which individual interface controls can be selected.

Applying the Aerotel/Macrossan 4 step test and the ‘AT&T signposts’, the Hearing Officer found that the invention is a program for a computer, as such, and a presentation of information as such, and is therefore excluded from patentability under Sections 1(2)(c) and 1(2)(d) of the Act. The Hearing Officer did not go on to consider Section 1(2)(b), aesthetic creation. The application was refused under section 18(3).

Full decision O/287/21 99Kb