25th Aug 2023
Decision T0270/20 relates to an appeal against the (EPO) Examining Division’s decision to refuse European patent application 17382762.7 directed to the calculation and execution of an aircraft flight plan using machine learning techniques. The Examining Division had taken a predominantly negative view of the application, arguing that the subject matter of the claims was not technical, and therefore not inventive (lack of Inventive Step under Article 56 EPC), or if technical, not adequately disclosed (insufficiency under Article 83 EPC). The Appeal Board took the opposite view, arguing that the Examining Division had erred and ordering the case to be remitted back for further examination.
11th Aug 2022
The amount of data generated in life sciences is increasing exponentially. This has largely been precipitated by the advent of “-omics” technologies which facilitate high-throughput measurement of all molecules of a certain type from a biological sample. Whereas once a PhD project may have been concerned with analysing the expression of a single gene, nowadays a PhD project more likely involves collecting information about the expression of all genes in multiple cell types and conditions. This has left researchers data-rich, but not necessarily information-rich. However, machine learning approaches can be used to interrogate these large datasets for trends or patterns to provide information.
18th Jan 2022
In this insight, we will aim to demystify AI and explain some of the commonly used concepts underpinning its implementation.
29th Jan 2021
AI is increasingly used in all areas of businesses to give companies an edge over their competitors, and the music industry is no exception. One example of such a use over the past few decades is how people have used AI to write music. This involves feeding an AI large amounts of data from music and the AI learning what musical characteristics and patterns a listener will enjoy. AI has even been able to create music to fit a specific genre.
9th Apr 2020
rocery delivery service Ocado was forced to temporarily suspend parts of its online service last month due to coronavirus (Covid-19). The panic buying induced by the virus resulted in a tenfold increase demand.[1][2] However, even before this unprecedented surge Ocado has been steadily growing over recent years. A quick Google search shows the impressive growth of Ocado’s share price since its initial public offering. Investment in technology and intellectual property (IP) have played a major role in this growth.
20th Mar 2020
In a report of 12 March 2020 titled Digital technologies take top spot in European patent applications, the European Patent Office reports overall European patent applications were up by 4% in 2019 compared to 2018. Best performer in 2019 was digital communications with an almost 20% rise pushing medical technologies off the top filing technology spot for the first time since 2006.
23rd Oct 2018
The latest edition of the EPO’s Guidelines for Examination in Europe will enter into force on 1 November 2018. We look at some significant changes.