IPO publishes enhanced guidance on patent applications and AI inventions

Article summary

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has published guidance for the examination of patent applications in relation to artificial intelligence (AI) inventions. The guidance is set out in two parts, which lay out the legal framework and how this will be applied, and also set out scenarios for practical illustrations based on an abridged patent specification with basic analysis demonstrating how the IPO would apply the guidance. The IPO notes that patents are available for AI inventions in all fields of technology, an AI invention is not excluded but is patent-eligible where the task performed by the invention reveals a technical contribution to the known art, and when a ‘technical contribution’ is likely to be made, among other things.