Patent decision

BL number
O/330/07
Concerning rights in
GB0402956.7
Hearing Officer
Mr H Jones
Decision date
7 November 2007
Person(s) or Company(s) involved
Autonomy Corporation Ltd
Provisions discussed
PA 1977 section 1(2)
Keywords
Excluded fields (allowed)
Related Decisions
None

Summary

The application relates to a method for generating links related to the content of an active window displayed on a computer screen and for embedding an icon representing these links within, for example, the title bar of the window. The application also discloses how a summary of one of these links is displayed when a cursor is moved over it, and how more than one icon representing different categories of links may be embedded into the active window. Applying the four step test set out in Aerotel/Macrossan, the hearing officer found that the contribution made by the invention fell solely within the meaning of a program for a computer and the application was refused. The hearing officer found that the addition of an icon conveniently positioned for accessing relevant documents extended beyond the nature of the information displayed or the manner in which it is presented, and that the invention was not excluded as mere presentation of information.

Full decision O/330/07 PDF document34Kb