Patent decision

BL number

O/282/06

Concerning rights in

GB0418292.9

Hearing Officer

Mr P Marchant

Decision date

3 October 2006

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

Bruce Bradford Scott Thomas and Lester Ware Preston III

Provisions discussed

PA 1977 section 1(2

Keywords

Excluded fields (refused)

Related Decisions

None

Summary

The invention relates to insurance contracts which cover hitherto uninsurable losses associated with an insured risk. For example if an automobile is damaged, an insurance policy will normally cover the direct cost of repair or replacement, but will not cover the lost time and expense of dealing with the repair or the cost of alternative transport. The “collateral coverage” contract of the invention provides for insurers to offer extra cover which pays out an extra amount in addition to the principal insurance pay out. For example the insured may contract to receive 10% extra on top of the principal sum when an insurance policy pays out. An extra premium is paid for the collateral coverage and may be calculated using a mathematical relationship, for example, 10% extra premium for 10% collateral coverage. The hearing officer found that the invention was excluded from patentability by section 1(2)(c) since it relates to a method for doing business as such, and refused the application.

Full decision O/282/06 31Kb