Software and Business Methods

Inventions involving software or business methods may be patentable in the UK, Europe, USA or elsewhere.

In the UK and Europe, software inventions are patentable if the invention makes a technical contribution with respect to the state of the art. For example, software inventions which improve the operation of computer hardware, provide a control system for the operation of a peripheral devices or improves the technical performance of hardware or software may be patentable. In the USA inventions do not need to have technical character to be patentable. Therefore a much broader range of inventions can be protected including business methods.

Gilholm Harrison has extensive experience in advising universities, SMEs and large companies on the patentability of software and business method inventions and in drafting and prosecuting patent applications for those inventions. We have particular expertise in the areas of image processing, financial systems, point of sale systems, encryption, internet security, online sales, computer modeling , operating systems and software control systems.

For further information on obtaining patent protection for your software or business method inventions please contact Simon Black in Glasgow, Heather Regan-Addis in Manchester or John McDonough in York.