It is surprising that any software can be patented because patents by definition apply to products, which are reproduced or manufacturing processes. Here is a quote from the UK IPO site:
Some computer-implemented inventions are patentable whilst others are not. This is because software straddles the technological and business worlds. It uses technology, that is, computers, but often for non-technical purposes. Whether a computer-implemented invention is patentable depends on the contribution the invention makes. For example, if it provides improved control of a car braking system, it is likely to be patentable, but if it merely provides an improved accounting system, it is probably not patentable.
Online technology is bringing international patenting together and the US is now falling into line with the UK. For any inventors out there, good books are Dummies and David Pressman plus Amazon have a great little ebook on DIY patenting online internationally./div>
My advice is if you think you have something worth patenting have a go at patenting it yourself, at the very least you will learn and save yourself many thousands. These days you can do the whole patenting process online, internationally. Even applying for a US Provisional patent is not the cheapest way to go, apply for a UK patent and you get a year to pay any fees and your UK Filing Date is good for your Non-Provisional US Patent. Therefore if nobody is interested in a year, just abandon your patent and it has cost you nothing. If someone is interested the royalty advance can pay the fees. A great cheap Amazon ebook which explains all this is DIY Patent Online - you can read some of it free. They also have a website but aren't trying to sell their services, just telling you how to patent without an attorney who must love them!/div>
My advice is if you think you have something worth patenting have a go at patenting it yourself, at the very least you will learn and save yourself many thousands. These days you can do the whole patenting process online, internationally. Even applying for a US Provisional patent is not the cheapest way to go, apply for a UK patent and you get a year to pay any fees and your UK Filing Date is good for your Non-Provisional US Patent. Therefore if nobody is interested in a year, just abandon your patent and it has cost you nothing. If someone is interested the royalty advance can pay the fees. A great cheap Amazon ebook which explains all this is DIY Patent Online - you can read some of it free. They also have a website but aren't trying to sell their services, just telling you how to patent without an attorney who must love them!/div>
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(untitled comment)
Some computer-implemented inventions are patentable whilst others are not. This is because software straddles the technological and business worlds. It uses technology, that is, computers, but often for non-technical purposes. Whether a computer-implemented invention is patentable depends on the contribution the invention makes. For example, if it provides improved control of a car braking system, it is likely to be patentable, but if it merely provides an improved accounting system, it is probably not patentable.
Online technology is bringing international patenting together and the US is now falling into line with the UK. For any inventors out there, good books are Dummies and David Pressman plus Amazon have a great little ebook on DIY patenting online internationally./div>
Patent it yourself
Patent it yourself
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