Patent decision

BL number

O/154/18

Concerning rights in

GB1616731.4

Hearing Officer

Mr H Jones

Decision date

9 March 2018

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

Landmark Graphics Corporation

Provisions discussed

Sections 1(2)(c)

Keywords

Excluded fields (allowed)

Related Decisions

O/112/18, O/138/18, O/140/18, O/143/18, O/148/18

Summary

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for prospecting, drilling or developing an oilfield by forecasting production data, although the Hearing Officer construed it in substance as a method for forecasting production data. The Hearing Officer heard arguments from the applicant on the standard of proof required by examiners in objecting to inventions relating to excluded subject-matter, on how the Office approach to assessing technical contribution as required by Aerotel may be inconsistent with the Courts and on how the inventions were similar to the invention set out in Vicom and Halliburton which had been found to be patentable. The Hearing Officer found that the invention was not excluded under section 1(2) and remitted the application back to the examiner to conclude examination.

Full decision O/154/18 219Kb