- 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.
- Harrison IP 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.
- In the field of electronic engineering we have experience in handling subject matter from single semiconductor devices through to complete network infrastructures. Recent examples of subject matter handled by this firm include field effect transistors, diodes, radio frequency, internet and satellite systems, amplifiers, resonators, radar systems micro electromechanical devices, battery management systems, wireless sensor networks and gaming machines. We also handle applications in the field of computer related hardware including processor design, and memory devices.
Our expert attorney in this area is Sean Thomas.