Patent decision

BL number

O/091/13

Concerning rights in

GB 0813340.7

Hearing Officer

Mrs S E Chalmers

Decision date

26 February 2013

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

Intuit Inc.

Provisions discussed

PA 1977, Section 1(2)

Keywords

Excluded fields (refused)

Related Decisions

None

Summary

The invention relates to a method for dynamically configuring a subset of modules of a software product based on the features purchased. The user receives an identifier corresponding to the purchase and this purchase information is stored on a server. The user then makes an access request for the software using the identifier and the server provides configuration instructions to enable the purchased software. In response to another access request made at a later date, a newer version of the configuration instructions will be provided. For example, the updated configuration instructions might allow access to modules not enabled in the software as purchased or might result in an updated version of a given module that was already enabled by the original configuration instructions.

The Hearing Officer applied the four step test set out in Aerotel/Macrossan in the light of the Symbian and Halliburton judgements and the AT&T signposts. She found the invention as claimed is excluded under Section 1(2) because it relates solely to excluded matter, namely to a computer program and a business method as such. The application was refused.

Full decision O/091/13 51Kb