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Patents

14 February 2008
Issue: 7308 / Categories: Case law , Law digest , Data protection , Other practice areas
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Astron Clinica Ltd and others v Comptroller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks [2008] EWHC 85 (Pat), [2008] All ER (D) 190 (Jan)

Claims to computer programmes are not necessarily excluded by Art 52 of the Convention on the Grant of European Patents 1973.

 

In a case where claims to a method performed by running a suitably programmed computer or to a computer programmed to carry out the method are allowable, then, in principle, a claim to the programme itself should also be allowable (the claim must be drawn to reflect the features of the invention which would ensure the patentability of the method which the programme is intended to carry out when it is run).

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

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Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
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