CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="client-nojs vector-feature-language-in-header-enabled vector-feature-language-in-main-page-header-disabled vector-feature-sticky-header-disabled vector-feature-page-tools-pinned-disabled vector-feature-toc-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-main-menu-pinned-disabled vector-feature-limited-width-clientpref-1 vector-feature-limited-width-content-enabled vector-feature-custom-font-size-clientpref-1 vector-feature-appearance-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-night-mode-enabled skin-theme-clientpref-day vector-toc-available" lang="en" dir="ltr"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <title>Software patent - Wikipedia</title> <script>(function(){var className="client-js vector-feature-language-in-header-enabled vector-feature-language-in-main-page-header-disabled vector-feature-sticky-header-disabled vector-feature-page-tools-pinned-disabled vector-feature-toc-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-main-menu-pinned-disabled vector-feature-limited-width-clientpref-1 vector-feature-limited-width-content-enabled vector-feature-custom-font-size-clientpref-1 vector-feature-appearance-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-night-mode-enabled skin-theme-clientpref-day vector-toc-available";var cookie=document.cookie.match(/(?:^|; )enwikimwclientpreferences=([^;]+)/);if(cookie){cookie[1].split('%2C').forEach(function(pref){className=className.replace(new RegExp('(^| )'+pref.replace(/-clientpref-\w+$|[^\w-]+/g,'')+'-clientpref-\\w+( |$)'),'$1'+pref+'$2');});}document.documentElement.className=className;}());RLCONF={"wgBreakFrames":false,"wgSeparatorTransformTable":["",""],"wgDigitTransformTable":["",""],"wgDefaultDateFormat":"dmy", "wgMonthNames":["","January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"wgRequestId":"64403000-aedc-4e13-acb2-e61730eda191","wgCanonicalNamespace":"","wgCanonicalSpecialPageName":false,"wgNamespaceNumber":0,"wgPageName":"Software_patent","wgTitle":"Software patent","wgCurRevisionId":1250008536,"wgRevisionId":1250008536,"wgArticleId":76266,"wgIsArticle":true,"wgIsRedirect":false,"wgAction":"view","wgUserName":null,"wgUserGroups":["*"],"wgCategories":["CS1 errors: generic name","Webarchive template wayback links","Pages using cite court with unknown parameters","All articles with dead external links","Articles with dead external links from December 2021","Articles with short description","Short description is different from Wikidata","All accuracy disputes","Articles with disputed statements from April 2023","Wikipedia articles in need of updating from January 2022","All Wikipedia articles in need of updating", "Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2015","All articles containing potentially dated statements","All articles with unsourced statements","Articles with unsourced statements from November 2008","Commons category link is on Wikidata","Commons category link from Wikidata","CS1 maint: location missing publisher","Software patent law"],"wgPageViewLanguage":"en","wgPageContentLanguage":"en","wgPageContentModel":"wikitext","wgRelevantPageName":"Software_patent","wgRelevantArticleId":76266,"wgIsProbablyEditable":true,"wgRelevantPageIsProbablyEditable":true,"wgRestrictionEdit":[],"wgRestrictionMove":[],"wgNoticeProject":"wikipedia","wgCiteReferencePreviewsActive":false,"wgFlaggedRevsParams":{"tags":{"status":{"levels":1}}},"wgMediaViewerOnClick":true,"wgMediaViewerEnabledByDefault":true,"wgPopupsFlags":0,"wgVisualEditor":{"pageLanguageCode":"en","pageLanguageDir":"ltr","pageVariantFallbacks":"en"},"wgMFDisplayWikibaseDescriptions":{"search":true,"watchlist":true,"tagline": false,"nearby":true},"wgWMESchemaEditAttemptStepOversample":false,"wgWMEPageLength":70000,"wgRelatedArticlesCompat":[],"wgCentralAuthMobileDomain":false,"wgEditSubmitButtonLabelPublish":true,"wgULSPosition":"interlanguage","wgULSisCompactLinksEnabled":false,"wgVector2022LanguageInHeader":true,"wgULSisLanguageSelectorEmpty":false,"wgWikibaseItemId":"Q913351","wgCheckUserClientHintsHeadersJsApi":["brands","architecture","bitness","fullVersionList","mobile","model","platform","platformVersion"],"GEHomepageSuggestedEditsEnableTopics":true,"wgGETopicsMatchModeEnabled":false,"wgGEStructuredTaskRejectionReasonTextInputEnabled":false,"wgGELevelingUpEnabledForUser":false};RLSTATE={"ext.globalCssJs.user.styles":"ready","site.styles":"ready","user.styles":"ready","ext.globalCssJs.user":"ready","user":"ready","user.options":"loading","ext.cite.styles":"ready","skins.vector.search.codex.styles":"ready","skins.vector.styles":"ready","skins.vector.icons":"ready","ext.wikimediamessages.styles":"ready" ,"ext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.noscript":"ready","ext.uls.interlanguage":"ready","wikibase.client.init":"ready","ext.wikimediaBadges":"ready"};RLPAGEMODULES=["ext.cite.ux-enhancements","mediawiki.page.media","site","mediawiki.page.ready","mediawiki.toc","skins.vector.js","ext.centralNotice.geoIP","ext.centralNotice.startUp","ext.gadget.ReferenceTooltips","ext.gadget.switcher","ext.urlShortener.toolbar","ext.centralauth.centralautologin","mmv.bootstrap","ext.popups","ext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.init","ext.visualEditor.targetLoader","ext.echo.centralauth","ext.eventLogging","ext.wikimediaEvents","ext.navigationTiming","ext.uls.interface","ext.cx.eventlogging.campaigns","ext.cx.uls.quick.actions","wikibase.client.vector-2022","ext.checkUser.clientHints","ext.growthExperiments.SuggestedEditSession","wikibase.sidebar.tracking"];</script> <script>(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.loader.impl(function(){return["user.options@12s5i",function($,jQuery,require,module){mw.user.tokens.set({"patrolToken":"+\\","watchToken":"+\\","csrfToken":"+\\"}); }];});});</script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=ext.cite.styles%7Cext.uls.interlanguage%7Cext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.noscript%7Cext.wikimediaBadges%7Cext.wikimediamessages.styles%7Cskins.vector.icons%2Cstyles%7Cskins.vector.search.codex.styles%7Cwikibase.client.init&only=styles&skin=vector-2022"> <script async="" src="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=startup&only=scripts&raw=1&skin=vector-2022"></script> <meta name="ResourceLoaderDynamicStyles" content=""> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=site.styles&only=styles&skin=vector-2022"> <meta name="generator" content="MediaWiki 1.44.0-wmf.4"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin-when-cross-origin"> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:standard"> <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=1120"> <meta property="og:title" content="Software patent - Wikipedia"> <meta property="og:type" content="website"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//upload.wikimedia.org"> <link rel="alternate" media="only screen and (max-width: 640px)" href="//en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_patent"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/x-wiki" title="Edit this page" href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png"> <link rel="icon" href="/static/favicon/wikipedia.ico"> <link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" href="/w/rest.php/v1/search" title="Wikipedia (en)"> <link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" href="//en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=rsd"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_patent"> <link rel="license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="Wikipedia Atom feed" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:RecentChanges&feed=atom"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//meta.wikimedia.org" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//login.wikimedia.org"> </head> <body class="skin--responsive skin-vector skin-vector-search-vue mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject mw-editable page-Software_patent rootpage-Software_patent skin-vector-2022 action-view"><a class="mw-jump-link" href="#bodyContent">Jump to content</a> <div class="vector-header-container"> <header class="vector-header mw-header"> <div class="vector-header-start"> <nav class="vector-main-menu-landmark" aria-label="Site"> <div id="vector-main-menu-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-main-menu-dropdown vector-button-flush-left vector-button-flush-right" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-main-menu-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-main-menu-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Main menu" > <label id="vector-main-menu-dropdown-label" for="vector-main-menu-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-menu mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-menu"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Main menu</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-main-menu-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> <div id="vector-main-menu" class="vector-main-menu vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-main-menu-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-unpinned" data-feature-name="main-menu-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-main-menu" data-pinned-container-id="vector-main-menu-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-main-menu-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Main menu</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-main-menu.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-main-menu.unpin">hide</button> </div> <div id="p-navigation" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-navigation" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Navigation </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="n-mainpage-description" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Main_Page" title="Visit the main page [z]" accesskey="z"><span>Main page</span></a></li><li id="n-contents" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents" title="Guides to browsing Wikipedia"><span>Contents</span></a></li><li id="n-currentevents" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Portal:Current_events" title="Articles related to current events"><span>Current events</span></a></li><li id="n-randompage" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:Random" title="Visit a randomly selected article [x]" accesskey="x"><span>Random article</span></a></li><li id="n-aboutsite" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:About" title="Learn about Wikipedia and how it works"><span>About Wikipedia</span></a></li><li id="n-contactpage" class="mw-list-item"><a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us" title="How to contact Wikipedia"><span>Contact us</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-interaction" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-interaction" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Contribute </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="n-help" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Help:Contents" title="Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia"><span>Help</span></a></li><li id="n-introduction" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Help:Introduction" title="Learn how to edit Wikipedia"><span>Learn to edit</span></a></li><li id="n-portal" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Community_portal" title="The hub for editors"><span>Community portal</span></a></li><li id="n-recentchanges" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:RecentChanges" title="A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]" accesskey="r"><span>Recent changes</span></a></li><li id="n-upload" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard" title="Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia"><span>Upload file</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <a href="/wiki/Main_Page" class="mw-logo"> <img class="mw-logo-icon" src="/static/images/icons/wikipedia.png" alt="" aria-hidden="true" height="50" width="50"> <span class="mw-logo-container skin-invert"> <img class="mw-logo-wordmark" alt="Wikipedia" src="/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en.svg" style="width: 7.5em; height: 1.125em;"> <img class="mw-logo-tagline" alt="The Free Encyclopedia" src="/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-en.svg" width="117" height="13" style="width: 7.3125em; height: 0.8125em;"> </span> </a> </div> <div class="vector-header-end"> <div id="p-search" role="search" class="vector-search-box-vue vector-search-box-collapses vector-search-box-show-thumbnail vector-search-box-auto-expand-width vector-search-box"> <a href="/wiki/Special:Search" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only search-toggle" title="Search Wikipedia [f]" accesskey="f"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-search mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-search"></span> <span>Search</span> </a> <div class="vector-typeahead-search-container"> <div class="cdx-typeahead-search cdx-typeahead-search--show-thumbnail cdx-typeahead-search--auto-expand-width"> <form action="/w/index.php" id="searchform" class="cdx-search-input cdx-search-input--has-end-button"> <div id="simpleSearch" class="cdx-search-input__input-wrapper" data-search-loc="header-moved"> <div class="cdx-text-input cdx-text-input--has-start-icon"> <input class="cdx-text-input__input" type="search" name="search" placeholder="Search Wikipedia" aria-label="Search Wikipedia" autocapitalize="sentences" title="Search Wikipedia [f]" accesskey="f" id="searchInput" > <span class="cdx-text-input__icon cdx-text-input__start-icon"></span> </div> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Special:Search"> </div> <button class="cdx-button cdx-search-input__end-button">Search</button> </form> </div> </div> </div> <nav class="vector-user-links vector-user-links-wide" aria-label="Personal tools"> <div class="vector-user-links-main"> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-preferences" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-userpage" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <nav class="vector-appearance-landmark" aria-label="Appearance"> <div id="vector-appearance-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown " title="Change the appearance of the page's font size, width, and color" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-appearance-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-appearance-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Appearance" > <label id="vector-appearance-dropdown-label" for="vector-appearance-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-appearance mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-appearance"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Appearance</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-notifications" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-overflow" class="vector-menu mw-portlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-sitesupport-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FundraiserRedirector?utm_source=donate&utm_medium=sidebar&utm_campaign=C13_en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en" class=""><span>Donate</span></a> </li> <li id="pt-createaccount-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Software+patent" title="You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory" class=""><span>Create account</span></a> </li> <li id="pt-login-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Software+patent" title="You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]" accesskey="o" class=""><span>Log in</span></a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="vector-user-links-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-user-menu vector-button-flush-right vector-user-menu-logged-out" title="Log in and more options" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-user-links-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-user-links-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Personal tools" > <label id="vector-user-links-dropdown-label" for="vector-user-links-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-ellipsis mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-ellipsis"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Personal tools</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="p-personal" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-personal user-links-collapsible-item" title="User menu" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-sitesupport" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FundraiserRedirector?utm_source=donate&utm_medium=sidebar&utm_campaign=C13_en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en"><span>Donate</span></a></li><li id="pt-createaccount" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Software+patent" title="You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-userAdd mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-userAdd"></span> <span>Create account</span></a></li><li id="pt-login" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Software+patent" title="You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]" accesskey="o"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-logIn mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-logIn"></span> <span>Log in</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-user-menu-anon-editor" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-user-menu-anon-editor" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Pages for logged out editors <a href="/wiki/Help:Introduction" aria-label="Learn more about editing"><span>learn more</span></a> </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-anoncontribs" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:MyContributions" title="A list of edits made from this IP address [y]" accesskey="y"><span>Contributions</span></a></li><li id="pt-anontalk" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:MyTalk" title="Discussion about edits from this IP address [n]" accesskey="n"><span>Talk</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </header> </div> <div class="mw-page-container"> <div class="mw-page-container-inner"> <div class="vector-sitenotice-container"> <div id="siteNotice"></div> </div> <div class="vector-column-start"> <div class="vector-main-menu-container"> <div id="mw-navigation"> <nav id="mw-panel" class="vector-main-menu-landmark" aria-label="Site"> <div id="vector-main-menu-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="vector-sticky-pinned-container"> <nav id="mw-panel-toc" aria-label="Contents" data-event-name="ui.sidebar-toc" class="mw-table-of-contents-container vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-toc-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> <div id="vector-toc" class="vector-toc vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-toc-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-pinned" data-feature-name="toc-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-toc" > <h2 class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Contents</h2> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-toc.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-toc.unpin">hide</button> </div> <ul class="vector-toc-contents" id="mw-panel-toc-list"> <li id="toc-mw-content-text" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a href="#" class="vector-toc-link"> <div class="vector-toc-text">(Top)</div> </a> </li> <li id="toc-Background" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Background"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1</span> <span>Background</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Background-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Early_example_of_a_software_patent" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Early_example_of_a_software_patent"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Early example of a software patent</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Early_example_of_a_software_patent-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Jurisdictions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Jurisdictions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Jurisdictions</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Jurisdictions-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Jurisdictions subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Jurisdictions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Australia" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Australia"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>Australia</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Australia-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Canada" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Canada"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2</span> <span>Canada</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Canada-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-China" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#China"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.3</span> <span>China</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-China-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Europe" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Europe"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.4</span> <span>Europe</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Europe-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Germany" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Germany"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.4.1</span> <span>Germany</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Germany-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-United_Kingdom" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#United_Kingdom"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.4.2</span> <span>United Kingdom</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-United_Kingdom-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-India" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#India"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5</span> <span>India</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-India-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Japan" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Japan"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.6</span> <span>Japan</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Japan-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-New_Zealand" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#New_Zealand"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.7</span> <span>New Zealand</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-New_Zealand-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Philippines" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Philippines"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.8</span> <span>Philippines</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Philippines-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Russian_Federation" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Russian_Federation"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.9</span> <span>Russian Federation</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Russian_Federation-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-South_Africa" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#South_Africa"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.10</span> <span>South Africa</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-South_Africa-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-South_Korea" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#South_Korea"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.11</span> <span>South Korea</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-South_Korea-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Thailand" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Thailand"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.12</span> <span>Thailand</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Thailand-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-United_States" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#United_States"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.13</span> <span>United States</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-United_States-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Indonesia" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Indonesia"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.14</span> <span>Indonesia</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Indonesia-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Purpose_of_patents" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Purpose_of_patents"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Purpose of patents</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Purpose_of_patents-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Proposals" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Proposals"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Proposals</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Proposals-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Obviousness" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Obviousness"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Obviousness</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Obviousness-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Criticism" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Criticism"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Criticism</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Criticism-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Criticism subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Criticism-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Compatibility" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Compatibility"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.1</span> <span>Compatibility</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Compatibility-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Computer-implemented_invention_(CII)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Computer-implemented_invention_(CII)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.2</span> <span>Computer-implemented invention (CII)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Computer-implemented_invention_(CII)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Overlap_with_copyright" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Overlap_with_copyright"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.3</span> <span>Overlap with copyright</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Overlap_with_copyright-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Debate" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Debate"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.4</span> <span>Debate</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Debate-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Open_source_software" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Open_source_software"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.5</span> <span>Open source software</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Open_source_software-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Unisys_case" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Unisys_case"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.6</span> <span>Unisys case</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Unisys_case-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Licensing" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Licensing"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.7</span> <span>Licensing</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Licensing-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-External_links-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle External links subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Economic_studies" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Economic_studies"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10.1</span> <span>Economic studies</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Economic_studies-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Books" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Books"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10.2</span> <span>Books</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Books-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Papers_and_presentations" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Papers_and_presentations"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10.3</span> <span>Papers and presentations</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Papers_and_presentations-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Software patent</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 26 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-26" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">26 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA" title="براءة اختراع البرمجيات – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="براءة اختراع البرمجيات" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-az mw-list-item"><a href="https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proqram_t%C9%99minat%C4%B1_patenti" title="Proqram təminatı patenti – Azerbaijani" lang="az" hreflang="az" data-title="Proqram təminatı patenti" data-language-autonym="Azərbaycanca" data-language-local-name="Azerbaijani" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Azərbaycanca</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%84%D1%82%D1%83%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD_%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82" title="Софтуерен патент – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Софтуерен патент" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_de_programari" title="Patent de programari – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Patent de programari" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softwarov%C3%BD_patent" title="Softwarový patent – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Softwarový patent" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softwarepatent" title="Softwarepatent – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Softwarepatent" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softwarepatent" title="Softwarepatent – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Softwarepatent" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%94%CE%AF%CF%80%CE%BB%CF%89%CE%BC%CE%B1_%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%81%CE%B5%CF%83%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%87%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82_%CF%83%CE%B5_%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C" title="Δίπλωμα ευρεσιτεχνίας σε λογισμικό – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Δίπλωμα ευρεσιτεχνίας σε λογισμικό" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patente_de_software" title="Patente de software – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Patente de software" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brevet_logiciel" title="Brevet logiciel – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Brevet logiciel" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%86%8C%ED%94%84%ED%8A%B8%EC%9B%A8%EC%96%B4_%ED%8A%B9%ED%97%88" title="소프트웨어 특허 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="소프트웨어 특허" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hi mw-list-item"><a href="https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%89%E0%A4%AB%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B0_%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5" title="सॉफ्टवेयर एकस्व – Hindi" lang="hi" hreflang="hi" data-title="सॉफ्टवेयर एकस्व" data-language-autonym="हिन्दी" data-language-local-name="Hindi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>हिन्दी</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paten_perangkat_lunak" title="Paten perangkat lunak – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Paten perangkat lunak" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brevetto_software" title="Brevetto software – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Brevetto software" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mk mw-list-item"><a href="https://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%84%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80" title="Патент за софтвер – Macedonian" lang="mk" hreflang="mk" data-title="Патент за софтвер" data-language-autonym="Македонски" data-language-local-name="Macedonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Македонски</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octrooi_op_software" title="Octrooi op software – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Octrooi op software" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%BD%E3%83%95%E3%83%88%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A7%E3%82%A2%E7%89%B9%E8%A8%B1" title="ソフトウェア特許 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="ソフトウェア特許" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patenty_na_oprogramowanie" title="Patenty na oprogramowanie – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Patenty na oprogramowanie" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%8B_%D0%B8_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BC%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5_%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5" title="Патенты и программное обеспечение – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Патенты и программное обеспечение" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sk mw-list-item"><a href="https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softv%C3%A9rov%C3%BD_patent" title="Softvérový patent – Slovak" lang="sk" hreflang="sk" data-title="Softvérový patent" data-language-autonym="Slovenčina" data-language-local-name="Slovak" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenčina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programvarupatent" title="Programvarupatent – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Programvarupatent" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tl mw-list-item"><a href="https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patente_sa_sopwer" title="Patente sa sopwer – Tagalog" lang="tl" hreflang="tl" data-title="Patente sa sopwer" data-language-autonym="Tagalog" data-language-local-name="Tagalog" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tagalog</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-th mw-list-item"><a href="https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%98%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%8B%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9F%E0%B8%95%E0%B9%8C%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C" title="สิทธิบัตรซอฟต์แวร์ – Thai" lang="th" hreflang="th" data-title="สิทธิบัตรซอฟต์แวร์" data-language-autonym="ไทย" data-language-local-name="Thai" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ไทย</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8F" title="Патент на програмне забезпечення – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Патент на програмне забезпечення" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-yue mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%BB%9F%E4%BB%B6%E5%B0%88%E5%88%A9" title="軟件專利 – Cantonese" lang="yue" hreflang="yue" data-title="軟件專利" data-language-autonym="粵語" data-language-local-name="Cantonese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>粵語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%BD%AF%E4%BB%B6%E4%B8%93%E5%88%A9" title="软件专利 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="软件专利" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>中文</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q913351#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div class="vector-page-toolbar-container"> <div id="left-navigation"> <nav aria-label="Namespaces"> <div id="p-associated-pages" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-associated-pages" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-nstab-main" class="selected vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Software_patent" title="View the content page [c]" accesskey="c"><span>Article</span></a></li><li id="ca-talk" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Talk:Software_patent" rel="discussion" title="Discuss improvements to the content page [t]" accesskey="t"><span>Talk</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="vector-variants-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown emptyPortlet" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-variants-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-variants-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Change language variant" > <label id="vector-variants-dropdown-label" for="vector-variants-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">English</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="p-variants" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-variants emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> <div id="right-navigation" class="vector-collapsible"> <nav aria-label="Views"> <div id="p-views" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-views" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-view" class="selected vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Software_patent"><span>Read</span></a></li><li id="ca-edit" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit" title="Edit this page [e]" accesskey="e"><span>Edit</span></a></li><li id="ca-history" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=history" title="Past revisions of this page [h]" accesskey="h"><span>View history</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> <nav class="vector-page-tools-landmark" aria-label="Page tools"> <div id="vector-page-tools-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-tools-dropdown" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-tools-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-tools-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Tools" > <label id="vector-page-tools-dropdown-label" for="vector-page-tools-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Tools</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-tools-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> <div id="vector-page-tools" class="vector-page-tools vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-page-tools-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-unpinned" data-feature-name="page-tools-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-page-tools" data-pinned-container-id="vector-page-tools-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-page-tools-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Tools</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-page-tools.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-page-tools.unpin">hide</button> </div> <div id="p-cactions" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-cactions emptyPortlet vector-has-collapsible-items" title="More options" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Actions </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-more-view" class="selected vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Software_patent"><span>Read</span></a></li><li id="ca-more-edit" class="vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit" title="Edit this page [e]" accesskey="e"><span>Edit</span></a></li><li id="ca-more-history" class="vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=history"><span>View history</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-tb" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-tb" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> General </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="t-whatlinkshere" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:WhatLinksHere/Software_patent" title="List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]" accesskey="j"><span>What links here</span></a></li><li id="t-recentchangeslinked" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:RecentChangesLinked/Software_patent" rel="nofollow" title="Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]" accesskey="k"><span>Related changes</span></a></li><li id="t-upload" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard" title="Upload files [u]" accesskey="u"><span>Upload file</span></a></li><li id="t-specialpages" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:SpecialPages" title="A list of all special pages [q]" accesskey="q"><span>Special pages</span></a></li><li id="t-permalink" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&oldid=1250008536" title="Permanent link to this revision of this page"><span>Permanent link</span></a></li><li id="t-info" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=info" title="More information about this page"><span>Page information</span></a></li><li id="t-cite" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=Software_patent&id=1250008536&wpFormIdentifier=titleform" title="Information on how to cite this page"><span>Cite this page</span></a></li><li id="t-urlshortener" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSoftware_patent"><span>Get shortened URL</span></a></li><li id="t-urlshortener-qrcode" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:QrCode&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSoftware_patent"><span>Download QR code</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-coll-print_export" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-coll-print_export" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Print/export </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="coll-download-as-rl" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=Software_patent&action=show-download-screen" title="Download this page as a PDF file"><span>Download as PDF</span></a></li><li id="t-print" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&printable=yes" title="Printable version of this page [p]" accesskey="p"><span>Printable version</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-wikibase-otherprojects" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-wikibase-otherprojects" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> In other projects </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="wb-otherproject-link wb-otherproject-commons mw-list-item"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Software_patents" hreflang="en"><span>Wikimedia Commons</span></a></li><li id="t-wikibase" class="wb-otherproject-link wb-otherproject-wikibase-dataitem mw-list-item"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q913351" title="Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]" accesskey="g"><span>Wikidata item</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-column-end"> <div class="vector-sticky-pinned-container"> <nav class="vector-page-tools-landmark" aria-label="Page tools"> <div id="vector-page-tools-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> </div> </nav> <nav class="vector-appearance-landmark" aria-label="Appearance"> <div id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> <div id="vector-appearance" class="vector-appearance vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-appearance-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-pinned" data-feature-name="appearance-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-appearance" data-pinned-container-id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Appearance</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.unpin">hide</button> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Patent that covers a computer program</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li::after{content:" · ";font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li:last-child::after{content:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:first-child::before{content:" (";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:last-child::after{content:")";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol{counter-reset:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li{counter-increment:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li::before{content:" "counter(listitem)"\a0 "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li ol>li:first-child::before{content:" ("counter(listitem)"\a0 "}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1246091330">.mw-parser-output .sidebar{width:22em;float:right;clear:right;margin:0.5em 0 1em 1em;background:var(--background-color-neutral-subtle,#f8f9fa);border:1px solid var(--border-color-base,#a2a9b1);padding:0.2em;text-align:center;line-height:1.4em;font-size:88%;border-collapse:collapse;display:table}body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:table!important;float:right!important;margin:0.5em 0 1em 1em!important}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-subgroup{width:100%;margin:0;border-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-left{float:left;clear:left;margin:0.5em 1em 1em 0}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-none{float:none;clear:both;margin:0.5em 1em 1em 0}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-outer-title{padding:0 0.4em 0.2em;font-size:125%;line-height:1.2em;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-top-image{padding:0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-top-caption,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-pretitle-with-top-image,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-caption{padding:0.2em 0.4em 0;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-pretitle{padding:0.4em 0.4em 0;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-title,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{padding:0.2em 0.8em;font-size:145%;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{padding:0.1em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-image{padding:0.2em 0.4em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-heading{padding:0.1em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-content{padding:0 0.5em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-content-with-subgroup{padding:0.1em 0.4em 0.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-above,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-below{padding:0.3em 0.8em;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-collapse .sidebar-above,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-collapse .sidebar-below{border-top:1px solid #aaa;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-navbar{text-align:right;font-size:115%;padding:0 0.4em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-list-title{padding:0 0.4em;text-align:left;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6em;font-size:105%}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-list-title-c{padding:0 0.4em;text-align:center;margin:0 3.3em}@media(max-width:640px){body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .sidebar{width:100%!important;clear:both;float:none!important;margin-left:0!important;margin-right:0!important}}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .sidebar a>img{max-width:none!important}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:none!important}}</style><table class="sidebar nomobile nowraplinks"><tbody><tr><th class="sidebar-title">Computer programs, software and patent law</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Scale_of_justice_2.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Scale_of_justice_2.svg/100px-Scale_of_justice_2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="102" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Scale_of_justice_2.svg/150px-Scale_of_justice_2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Scale_of_justice_2.svg/200px-Scale_of_justice_2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="204" data-file-height="208" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Topics</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content hlist"> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Software patent</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Software_patent_debate" title="Software patent debate">Debate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Software_patents_and_free_software" title="Software patents and free software">Free software</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_software_patents" title="List of software patents">List of patents</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Treaties</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Software_patents_under_TRIPs_Agreement" title="Software patents under TRIPs Agreement">TRIPS Agreement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Computer_programs_and_the_Patent_Cooperation_Treaty" title="Computer programs and the Patent Cooperation Treaty">Patent Cooperation Treaty</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Software_patents_under_the_European_Patent_Convention" title="Software patents under the European Patent Convention">European Patent Convention</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Countries</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Software_patents_under_Canadian_patent_law" title="Software patents under Canadian patent law">Canada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Software_patents_under_United_Kingdom_patent_law" title="Software patents under United Kingdom patent law">United Kingdom</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Software_patents_under_United_States_patent_law" title="Software patents under United States patent law">United States</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Case law</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_decisions_of_the_EPO_Boards_of_Appeal_relating_to_Article_52(2)_and_(3)_EPC" title="List of decisions of the EPO Boards of Appeal relating to Article 52(2) and (3) EPC">European Patent Office</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_UK_judgments_relating_to_excluded_subject_matter" title="List of UK judgments relating to excluded subject matter">United Kingdom</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Related topics</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content hlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Business_method_patent" title="Business method patent">Business methods</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-navbar"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Computer_programs,_software_and_patent_law" title="Template:Computer programs, software and patent law"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Computer_programs,_software_and_patent_law" title="Template talk:Computer programs, software and patent law"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Computer_programs,_software_and_patent_law" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Computer programs, software and patent law"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1246091330"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1202158006">.mw-parser-output .law-sidebar .sidebar-heading{background:#aaddff;color:#000}.mw-parser-output .law-sidebar .sidebar-above{font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .law-sidebar .sidebar-below{padding:0.4em;border-top:1px #aaa solid;font-weight:normal;font-size:smaller}</style><table class="sidebar nomobile nowraplinks hlist law-sidebar"><tbody><tr><th class="sidebar-title">Patent law</th></tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Overviews</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Patent" title="Patent">Patent</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patent_claim" title="Patent claim">Patent claim</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_patent_law" title="History of patent law">History</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Economics_and_patents" title="Economics and patents">Economics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Criticism_of_patents" title="Criticism of patents">Criticism</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Procedural concepts</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Patent_application" title="Patent application">Application</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patent_prosecution" title="Patent prosecution">Prosecution</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patent_opposition_proceedings" title="Patent opposition proceedings">Opposition</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patent_valuation" title="Patent valuation">Valuation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/License#Intellectual_property" title="License">Licensing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patent_infringement" title="Patent infringement">Infringement</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Patentability requirements and related concepts</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Patentable_subject_matter" title="Patentable subject matter">Patentable subject matter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inventor_(patent)" title="Inventor (patent)">Inventorship</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Novelty_(patent)" title="Novelty (patent)">Novelty</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inventive_step_and_non-obviousness" title="Inventive step and non-obviousness">Inventive step and non-obviousness</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Industrial_applicability" title="Industrial applicability">Industrial applicability</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Utility_(patentability_requirement)" title="Utility (patentability requirement)">Utility</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Person_having_ordinary_skill_in_the_art" title="Person having ordinary skill in the art">Person skilled in the art</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Prior_art" title="Prior art">Prior art</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> Other legal requirements</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Sufficiency_of_disclosure" title="Sufficiency of disclosure">Sufficiency of disclosure</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Unity_of_invention" title="Unity of invention">Unity of invention</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> By region / country</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Patent_Cooperation_Treaty" title="Patent Cooperation Treaty">Patent Cooperation Treaty</a> (PCT)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Australian_patent_law" title="Australian patent law">Australia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Canadian_patent_law" title="Canadian patent law">Canada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patent_law_of_China" title="Patent law of China">China</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/European_patent_law" title="European patent law">Europe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/German_patent_law" title="German patent law">Germany</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Japanese_patent_law" title="Japanese patent law">Japan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patent_law_in_the_Netherlands" title="Patent law in the Netherlands">Netherlands</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_States_patent_law" title="United States patent law">United States</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> By specific subject matter</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Biological_patent" title="Biological patent">Biological</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Business_method_patent" title="Business method patent">Business method</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chemical_patent" title="Chemical patent">Chemical</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Insurance_patent" title="Insurance patent">Insurance</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Software</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tax_patent" title="Tax patent">Tax</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading"> See also</th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Patent_analysis" title="Patent analysis">Patent analysis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pirate_Party" title="Pirate Party">Pirate Party</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Patent_law" title="Category:Patent law">Category</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_patent_law_terms" title="Glossary of patent law terms">Glossary</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-navbar"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Patent_law" title="Template:Patent law"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Patent_law" title="Template talk:Patent law"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Patent_law" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Patent law"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>A <b>software patent</b> is a <a href="/wiki/Patent" title="Patent">patent</a> on a piece of <a href="/wiki/Software" title="Software">software</a>, such as a <a href="/wiki/Computer_program" title="Computer program">computer program</a>, <a href="/wiki/Library_(computing)" title="Library (computing)">libraries</a>, <a href="/wiki/User_interface" title="User interface">user interface</a>, or <a href="/wiki/Algorithm" title="Algorithm">algorithm</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Background">Background</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Background"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A patent is a set of exclusionary rights granted by a <a href="/wiki/State_(polity)" title="State (polity)">state</a> to a patent holder for a limited period of time, usually 20 years. These rights are granted to patent applicants in exchange for their disclosure of the inventions. Once a patent is granted in a given country, no person may make, use, sell or import/export the claimed invention in that country without the permission of the patent holder. Permission, where granted, is typically in the form of a <a href="/wiki/License" title="License">license</a> which conditions are set by the patent owner: it may be free or in return for a royalty payment or lump sum fee. </p><p>Patents are territorial in nature. To obtain a patent, inventors must file <a href="/wiki/Patent_application" title="Patent application">patent applications</a> in each and every country in which they want a patent. For example, separate applications must be filed in <a href="/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a>, <a href="/wiki/China" title="China">China</a>, the <a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a> and <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a> if the applicant wishes to obtain patents in those countries. However, some regional offices exist, such as the <a href="/wiki/European_Patent_Office" title="European Patent Office">European Patent Office</a> (EPO), which act as supranational bodies with the power to grant patents which can then be brought into effect in the member states, and an international procedure also exists for filing a single international application under the <a href="/wiki/Patent_Cooperation_Treaty" title="Patent Cooperation Treaty">Patent Cooperation Treaty</a> (PCT), which can then give rise to patent protection in most countries. </p><p>These different countries and regional offices have different standards for granting patents. This is particularly true of software or computer-implemented inventions, especially where the software is implementing a business method. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Early_example_of_a_software_patent">Early example of a software patent</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Early example of a software patent"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On 21 May 1962, a British patent application entitled "<i>A Computer Arranged for the Automatic Solution of <a href="/wiki/Linear_programming" title="Linear programming">Linear Programming</a> Problems</i>" was filed.<sup id="cite_ref-BP-patent_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BP-patent-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The invention was concerned with <a href="/wiki/Out-of-core_algorithm" class="mw-redirect" title="Out-of-core algorithm">efficient memory management</a> for the <a href="/wiki/Simplex_algorithm" title="Simplex algorithm">simplex algorithm</a>, and could be implemented by purely software means. The patent struggled to establish that it represented a 'vendible product'. "The focus of attention shifted to look at the relationship between the [unpatentable] computer program and the [potentially patentable] programmed computer".<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The patent was granted on August 17, 1966, and seems to be one of the first software patents, establishing the principle that the computer program itself was unpatentable and therefore covered by copyright law, while the computer program embedded in hardware was potentially patentable.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Jurisdictions">Jurisdictions</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Jurisdictions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Most countries place some limits on the patenting of inventions involving software, but there is no one legal definition of a software patent. For example, U.S. patent law excludes "abstract ideas", and this has been used to refuse some patents involving software. In Europe, "computer programs as such" are excluded from patentability, thus <a href="/wiki/European_Patent_Office" title="European Patent Office">European Patent Office</a> policy is consequently that a program for a computer is not patentable if it does not have the potential to cause a "technical effect" which is by now understood as a material effect (a "transformation of nature").<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Substantive <a href="/wiki/Law" title="Law">law</a> regarding the patentability of software and computer-implemented inventions, and <a href="/wiki/Case_law" title="Case law">case law</a> interpreting the legal provisions, are different under different jurisdictions. </p><p>Software patents under <a href="/wiki/Multilateralism" title="Multilateralism">multilateral</a> <a href="/wiki/Treaty" title="Treaty">treaties</a>: </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Software_patents_under_TRIPs_Agreement" title="Software patents under TRIPs Agreement">Software patents under TRIPs Agreement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Software_patents_under_the_European_Patent_Convention" title="Software patents under the European Patent Convention">Software patents under the European Patent Convention</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Computer_programs_and_the_Patent_Cooperation_Treaty" title="Computer programs and the Patent Cooperation Treaty">Computer programs and the Patent Cooperation Treaty</a></li></ul> <p>Software patents under national laws: </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Software_patents_under_United_States_patent_law" title="Software patents under United States patent law">Software patents under United States patent law</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Software_patents_under_United_Kingdom_patent_law" title="Software patents under United Kingdom patent law">Software patents under United Kingdom patent law</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Australia">Australia</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Australia"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In Australia, there is no particular exclusion for patents relating to software. The subject matter of an invention is patentable in Australia, if it is a <i>manner of manufacture</i> within the meaning of section 6 of the <a href="/wiki/Statute_of_Monopolies" title="Statute of Monopolies">Statute of Monopolies</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The High Court of Australia has refrained from ruling on the precise definition of manner of manufacture stating that any such attempt is bound to fail for the policy reason of encouraging national development in fields that may be unpredictable.<sup id="cite_ref-102_CLR_252_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-102_CLR_252-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In assessing whether an invention is a manner of manufacture, the High Court has relied on the inquiry of whether the subject of the claims defining the invention has as its end result an <i>artificially created state of affairs</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-102_CLR_252_6-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-102_CLR_252-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In a decision of the Federal Court of Australia, on the patentability of an improved method of representing curved images in computer graphics displays, it was held that the application of selected mathematical methods to computers may involve steps which are foreign to the normal use of computers and hence amount to a manner of manufacture.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In another unanimous decision by the Full Federal Court of Australia, an invention for methods of storing and retrieving Chinese characters to perform word processing was held to be an artificially created state of affairs and consequently within the concept of a manner of manufacture.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Nevertheless, in a recent decision on the patentability of a computer implemented method of generating an index based on selection and weighing of data based on certain criterion, the Full Federal Court of Australia reaffirmed that mere methods, schemes and plans are not manners of manufacture.<sup id="cite_ref-austlii.edu.au_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-austlii.edu.au-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Full Court went on to hold that the use of a computer to implement a scheme did not contribute to the invention or the artificial effect of the invention.<sup id="cite_ref-austlii.edu.au_9-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-austlii.edu.au-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The subject matter of the invention was held to be an abstract idea and not a manner of manufacture within the meaning of the term in the Patents Act. The same Full Federal Court in another decision regarding the patentability of an invention regarding a method and system for assessing an individual's competency in relation to certain criterion, reiterated that a business method or mere scheme were per se are not patentable.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In principle, computer software is still a valid patentable subject matter in Australia. But, in circumstances where patents have been sought over software to merely implement abstract ideas or business methods, the courts and the Commissioner of Patents have resisted granting patent protection to such applications both as a matter of statutory interpretation and policy. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Canada">Canada</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Canada"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Software_patents_under_Canadian_patent_law" title="Software patents under Canadian patent law">Software patents under Canadian patent law</a></div> <p>In <a href="/wiki/Canada" title="Canada">Canada</a>, courts have held that the use of a computer alone neither lends, nor reduces patentability of an invention. However, it is the position of the Canadian Patent Office that where a computer is an "essential element" of a patent's claims, the claimed invention is generally patentable subject matter.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="China">China</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: China"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In China, the starting time of software patent is relatively late. Before 2006, software patents were basically not granted, and software and hardware had to be combined when applying for a patent. With the development of network technology and software technology, China's patent examination system has been constantly updated. Recently, the design idea of the software itself has been allowed to apply for patent separately, instead of requiring to be combined with hardware. However, software patent writing requirements are relatively high. </p><p>Software patents can be written as either a product or a method, depending on the standards of review. However, no matter what form it is written in, it is difficult to highlight the creativity of the scheme, which requires specific case analysis. </p><p>Software that can be patented mainly includes (but is not limited to): </p><p>(1) Industrial control software, such as controlling the movement of mechanical equipment; </p><p>(2) Software to improve the internal performance of the computer, such as a software can improve the virtual memory of the computer; </p><p>(3) External technical data processing software, such as digital camera image processing software. </p><p>It is fair to say that a considerable proportion of software belongs to category (3). </p><p>The patent protection measures can be seen in the patent law and the regulations on the protection of computer software. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Europe">Europe</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Europe"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Software_patents_under_the_European_Patent_Convention" title="Software patents under the European Patent Convention">Software patents under the European Patent Convention</a></div> <p>Within European Union member states, the EPO and other national patent offices have issued many patents for inventions involving software since the <a href="/wiki/European_Patent_Convention" title="European Patent Convention">European Patent Convention</a> (EPC) came into force in the late 1970s. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://new.epo.org/en/legal/epc/2020/a52.html">Article 52</a> <a href="/wiki/European_Patent_Convention" title="European Patent Convention">EPC</a> excludes "programs for computers" from patentability (Art. 52(2)) to the extent that a patent application relates to a computer program "as such" (Art. 52(3)). This has been interpreted to mean that any invention that makes a non-obvious "technical contribution" or solves a "technical problem" in a non-obvious way is patentable even if that technical problem is solved by running a computer program.<sup id="cite_ref-t0469/03_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-t0469/03-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> When the EPO examines a patent application with questionable subject matter eligibility, their approach is to simply<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Accuracy_dispute#Disputed_statement" title="Wikipedia:Accuracy dispute"><span title="Identifying ineligible portions or aspects is not always "simple". (April 2023)">dubious</span></a> – <a href="/wiki/Talk:Software_patent#Dubious" title="Talk:Software patent">discuss</a></i>]</sup> disregard any ineligible portions or aspects and evaluate the rest.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This is notably different from the U.S. approach (see below). </p><p>Computer-implemented inventions that <i>only</i> solve a business problem using a computer, rather than a technical problem, are considered unpatentable as lacking an inventive step (see <a href="/wiki/T_258/03" title="T 258/03">T 258/03</a>). Nevertheless, the fact that an invention is useful in business does not mean it is not patentable if it also solves a technical problem. </p><p>A summary of the developments concerning patentability of computer programs under the European Patent Convention is given in (see <a href="/wiki/G_3/08" title="G 3/08">G 3/08</a>) as a response of the Enlarged Board of Appeal to questions filed by the President of the European Patent Office according to <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://new.epo.org/en/legal/epc/2020/a112.html">Article 112(1)(b)</a> <a href="/wiki/European_Patent_Convention" title="European Patent Convention">EPC</a>.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="margin-left:0.1em; white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items" title="Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers"><span title="The most recent decision G 1/19 of the Enlarged Board of Appeal should ideally be discussed as well. (January 2022)">needs update</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>Concerns have been raised by free software campaigners, such as the <a href="/wiki/Free_Software_Foundation" title="Free Software Foundation">Free Software Foundation</a>, that the <a href="/wiki/Unified_Patent_Court" title="Unified Patent Court">Unified Patent Court</a> will be much more open to patents generally and software patents in particular.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Germany">Germany</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Germany"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In April 2013, the <a href="/wiki/German_Parliament" class="mw-redirect" title="German Parliament">German Parliament</a> adopted a joint motion "against the growing trend of patent offices to grant patents on software programs".<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="United_Kingdom">United Kingdom</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: United Kingdom"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Software_patents_under_United_Kingdom_patent_law" title="Software patents under United Kingdom patent law">Software patents under United Kingdom patent law</a></div> <p>United Kingdom patent law is interpreted to have the same effect as the <a href="/wiki/European_Patent_Convention" title="European Patent Convention">European Patent Convention</a> such that "programs for computers" are excluded from patentability to the extent that a patent application relates to a computer program "as such". Current case law in the UK states that an (alleged) invention will only be regarded as an invention if it provides a contribution that is not excluded and that is also technical. A computer program implementing a business process is therefore not an invention, but a computer program implementing an industrial process may well be. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="India">India</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: India"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In <a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>, a clause to include software patents was quashed by the <a href="/wiki/Indian_Parliament" class="mw-redirect" title="Indian Parliament">Indian Parliament</a> in April 2005.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, following publication of the new guidelines on the examination of computer-related inventions on 19 February 2016, the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade marks accepts applications for software patents, as long as the software is claimed in conjunction with a novel hardware.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> On 30 June 2017, revised guidelines on the examination of computer related inventions were published. This 2017 guidelines provides clarity on patentability of software invention in India, i.e., the claimed computer-related invention needs to be ascertained whether it is of a technical nature involving technical advancement as compared to the existing knowledge or having economic significance or both, and is not subject to exclusion under Section 3 of the Patents Act.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 2019, the Court observed, </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1244412712">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;margin-top:0}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{padding-left:1.6em}}</style><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>In today’s digital world, when most inventions are based on computer programs, it would be retrograde to argue that all such inventions would not be patentable. Innovation in the field of artificial intelligence, blockchain technologies and other digital products would be based on computer programs, however the same would not become nonpatentable inventions – simply for that reason. It is rare to see a product which is not based on a computer program. Whether they are cars and other automobiles, microwave ovens, washing machines, refrigerators, they all have some sort of computer programs in-built in them. Thus, the effect that such programs produce including in digital and electronic products is crucial in determining the test of patentability.</p></blockquote> <p>Patent applications in these fields would have to be examined to see if they result in a “technical contribution”, it added. Further elaborating on the usage of the term ‘per se’ in Section 3(k), the Court said, </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1244412712"><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>The words ‘per se’ were incorporated so as to ensure that genuine inventions which are developed, based on computer programs are not refused patents.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p></blockquote> <p>With respect to the term per se, the joint parliamentary committee had expressed the following view: </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1244412712"><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>In the new proposed clause (k) the words: “per se” have been inserted. This change has been proposed because sometimes the computer programme may include certain other things, ancillary thereto or developed thereon. The intention here is not to reject them for grant of patent if they are inventions. However, the computer programs as such are not intended to be granted patent. This amendment has been proposed to clarify the purpose.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p></blockquote> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Japan">Japan</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Japan"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Software-related inventions are patentable. To qualify as an invention, however, there must be "a creation of technical ideas utilizing a law of nature"<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> although this requirement is typically met by "concretely realising the information processing performed by the software by using hardware resources".<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Software-related inventions may be considered obvious if they involve the application of an operation known in other fields, the addition of a commonly known means or replacement by equivalent, the implementation in software of functions which were previously performed by hardware, or the systematisation of known human transactions.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 1999, the allowance rate for business method patents at the <a href="/wiki/Japan_Patent_Office" title="Japan Patent Office">Japan Patent Office</a> (JPO) reached an all-time high of roughly 35 percent. Subsequently, the JPO experienced a surge in business method patent filings. This surge was met with a dramatic decrease in the average grant rate of business method patents during the following six years; it lingered around 8 percent between 2003 and 2006 (8 percent is extremely low in comparison to the average of 50 percent across all technical fields). A report from 2012 found that the average grant rate since 2006 for business method patents has risen to the current rate of roughly 25 percent.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="New_Zealand">New Zealand</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: New Zealand"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In <a href="/wiki/New_Zealand" title="New Zealand">New Zealand</a> computer programs are excluded from patentability under the Patents Act 2013,<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> but guidelines permitting embedded software were added since the initial Patents Bill.<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> From 2013 computer programs 'as such' are excluded from patentability. The as such wording rules out only those software based patents where novelty lies solely in the software. Similar to Europe.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Philippines">Philippines</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Philippines"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the <a href="/wiki/Philippines" title="Philippines">Philippines</a>, "schemes, rules and methods of performing mental acts, playing games or doing business, and programs for computers" are non-patentable inventions under Sec. 22.2 of Republic Act No. 8293, otherwise known as the "Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines". </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Russian_Federation">Russian Federation</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Russian Federation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the <a href="/wiki/Russian_Federation" class="mw-redirect" title="Russian Federation">Russian Federation</a> according to article #1350 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation the following do not qualify as inventions: </p> <ol><li>discoveries;</li> <li>scientific theories and mathematical methods;</li> <li>solutions concerning only the appearance of products and aimed at meeting the aesthetic needs;</li> <li>the rules and methods of games, intellectual or economic activities;</li> <li>computer programs;</li> <li>solutions consisting only in the presentation of information.</li></ol> <p>However, the article provides for that the patentability of these objects is excluded only in the case when the application for the grant of a patent for an invention concerns these objects <i>as such</i>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="South_Africa">South Africa</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: South Africa"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In <a href="/wiki/South_African_patent_system#Patentable_invention" title="South African patent system">South Africa</a>, "a program for a computer" is excluded from recognition as an invention by section 25(2) of the Patents Act.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, this restriction applies "only to the extent to which a patent or an application for a patent relates to that thing as such"<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and should not prevent, for example, a product, process, or method which may be implemented on a computer from being an invention, provided that the requirements of novelty and inventiveness are met. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="South_Korea">South Korea</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: South Korea"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In <a href="/wiki/South_Korea" title="South Korea">South Korea</a>, software is considered patentable and many patents directed towards "computer programs" have been issued.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 2006, <a href="/wiki/Microsoft" title="Microsoft">Microsoft</a>'s sales of its "Office" suite were jeopardized due to a possible patent infringement.<sup id="cite_ref-cnet_31-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-cnet-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A ruling by the <a href="/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Korea" title="Supreme Court of Korea">Supreme Court of Korea</a> found that patents directed towards automatic language translation within software programs were valid and possibly violated by its software.<sup id="cite_ref-cnet_31-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-cnet-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Thailand">Thailand</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Thailand"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>As like as 52(2) of the European Patent Convention (EPC), section 9 of the Thai Patent Act 1999 states that Thai patent law does not include software (or computer program) from patentability because the computer software is not considered as an “invention”, in which it is not the idea of the product itself. Hence, the software is considered as the manual or instruction that was controlled by users to perform the tasks.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>A software patents law in Thailand has been controversial <a href="/wiki/Software_patent_debate" title="Software patent debate">debates</a> among the economists and national developers’ overtime since there were two significant developments in the international patent law; (1) the European Union's attempt to harmonize national patent laws by the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and Council on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions,<sup id="cite_ref-Pitiyasak,_Saravuth_2002_33-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pitiyasak,_Saravuth_2002-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and (2) the US court decision to expand patent protection to business methods.<sup id="cite_ref-Pitiyasak,_Saravuth_2002_33-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pitiyasak,_Saravuth_2002-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The opinions are divided into two sides. Dr. Tangkitvanich, the IT specialist of Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), raised his concern that Thailand is not in a good stage for a software patent as there were several flaws in patent rights. For example, the business method prevention has high tendency to hinder the growth in innovations especially for the infant software companies.<sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Moreover, the software patent may cause monopoly and innovation problems. “Monopoly will thwart innovations of new software products, particularly open-source software”, said by a group of Thai Economists. However, Dr. Hirapruk who is the Director of Software Park Thailand, on the other hand, provides his support on allowing the computer programs to be patentable: “Thailand had to provide a patent-right protection for computer software to ensure foreign high-tech investors that software producers' creativity would be secured from violations in Thailand”. As a result, Mr. Sribhibhadh, president of the Association of Thai Software Industry, emphasized that there will need to be a clear overview of the impact on the local industry if Thailand really had to fully implement the patent right protections. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="United_States">United States</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: United States"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Software_patents2.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Software_patents2.JPG/220px-Software_patents2.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="174" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Software_patents2.JPG/330px-Software_patents2.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Software_patents2.JPG 2x" data-file-width="386" data-file-height="306" /></a><figcaption>Growth of software patents in US</figcaption></figure> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Software_patents_under_United_States_patent_law" title="Software patents under United States patent law">Software patents under United States patent law</a></div> <p>The first software patent was issued June 19, 1968 to Martin Goetz for a data sorting algorithm.<sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <a href="/wiki/United_States_Patent_and_Trademark_Office" title="United States Patent and Trademark Office">United States Patent and Trademark Office</a> has granted patents that may be referred to as software patents since at least the early 1970s.<sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In <a href="/wiki/Gottschalk_v._Benson" title="Gottschalk v. Benson">Gottschalk v. Benson</a> (1972), the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Supreme_Court" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Supreme Court">United States Supreme Court</a> ruled that a patent for a process should not be allowed if it would "wholly pre-empt the mathematical formula and in practical effect would be a patent on the algorithm itself", adding that "it is said that the decision precludes a patent for any program servicing a computer. We do not so hold."<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 1981, the Supreme Court stated that "a claim drawn to subject matter otherwise statutory does not become nonstatutory simply because it uses a mathematical formula, computer program, or digital computer" and a <a href="/wiki/Claim_(patent)" class="mw-redirect" title="Claim (patent)">claim</a> is patentable if it contains "a mathematical formula [and] implements or applies the formula in a structure or process which, when considered as a whole, is performing a function which the patent laws were designed to protect".<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> When a patent application is examined by the USPTO, the initial threshold question (for each claim) is whether the subject matter is eligible, so this is evaluated separately and prior to the other patentability criteria (novelty, nonobviousness).<sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This is notably different than the European approach (see above). </p><p>Due to different treatment of federal patent rights in different parts of the country, in 1982 the U.S. Congress created a new court (the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Court_of_Appeals_for_the_Federal_Circuit" title="United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit">Federal Circuit</a>) to hear patent cases. Following several landmark decisions by this court, by the early 1990s the patentability of software was well established, and in 1996 the USPTO issued Final Computer Related Examination Guidelines stating that "A <i>practical application</i> of a computer-related invention is statutory subject matter. This requirement can be discerned from the variously phrased prohibitions against the patenting of abstract ideas, laws of nature or natural phenomena" (emphasis added).<sup id="cite_ref-40" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The emergence of the <a href="/wiki/Internet" title="Internet">Internet</a> and <a href="/wiki/E-commerce" title="E-commerce">e-commerce</a> led to many patents being applied for and being granted for business methods implemented in software and the question of whether <a href="/wiki/Business_method_patent" title="Business method patent">business methods</a> are statutory subject matter is a separate issue from the question of whether software is. Critics of the Federal Circuit believe that the non-obviousness standard is partly responsible for the large increase in patents for software and business methods.<sup id="cite_ref-41" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> There have been several successful enforcement trials in the United States, some of which are listed in the <a href="/wiki/List_of_software_patents" title="List of software patents">list of software patents</a> article. </p><p>An issue with software patent intellectual property rights is typically revolved around deciding whether the company or inventor owns it. </p><p>As a matter of law, in the United States, the employee generally owns the IP right unless the employee's inventing skills or task to create the invention is the main specific hiring reason or a specific clause in the employment agreement assigning invention rights.<sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>42<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>A <a href="/wiki/Work_for_hire" title="Work for hire">work for hire</a> created after 1978 has <a href="/wiki/Copyright" title="Copyright">copyright</a> protection for 120 years from its creation date or 90 years from its publication date whichever comes first.<sup id="cite_ref-44" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Patent protection for software lasts 20 years.<sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>45<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Indonesia">Indonesia</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Indonesia"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In Indonesia, software cannot be protected by patents, until the implementation of the Law No. 13 Year 2016, Patent Law in Indonesia.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_46-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> To begin evaluation, it is necessary to distinguish whether or not the application is considered an invention. Under Law No. 14 Year 2001, Article 1 of Patent Law in Indonesia,<sup id="cite_ref-:1_47-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:1-47"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>47<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> application is considered as an invention if the activity is created to solve a particular conflict or problem in the technology sector. Furthermore, it can be executed in the medium of a new process or product or a developmental enhancement in a product or process. According to Law No. 14 Year 2001, Article 7 of Patent Law in Indonesia.,<sup id="cite_ref-:1_47-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:1-47"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>47<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> an application can not be patented as an invention if the product or process contradicts or challenges the current regulations and rules, public order or ethics, and religious morality. In addition, if the application is treated as a method or theory in the scientific or mathematics, argued to be any type of living creatures, with the exception of micro-organisms, or is considered as an essential biological measure to produce plants or animals, the application is not a patentable invention.<sup id="cite_ref-:1_47-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:1-47"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>47<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>As software contains algorithms, it is deemed to be part of the field of mathematics; hence, software cannot be protected by patents in Indonesia. However, one way for the Indonesian Intellectual Property office to grant software patents in Indonesia is if the application has been patented in other nations, which have ratified the <a href="/wiki/Patent_Cooperation_Treaty" title="Patent Cooperation Treaty">Patent Corporation Treaty</a> (PCT). Therefore, in accordance to the regulations under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, a software will have a regional protection among the participating entities of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).<sup id="cite_ref-48" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>An important update was enacted on 26 August 2016, the Law No. 13 Year 2016, Patent Law in Indonesia.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_46-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This update is geared to encourage innovation and growth by augmenting the number of patents within the public and private sector in Indonesia. This update proposes an extension of protection for simple patent, which grants application for patents for new improvements or inventions to existing processes. Intangible inventions can also be patented; under the former law, simple patent is restricted for tangible inventions, which has a positive implication for software patents in Indonesia. Furthermore, these changes provide more protection to the pharmaceutical industry and encourage public access to medical knowledge. This can boost new software ideas and processes within the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector. This update provides a stronger protection of traditional knowledge. In addition, a significant update is the usability of electronic filling and electronic media. Under this new law, application can be made electronically. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Purpose_of_patents">Purpose of patents</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Purpose of patents"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Patentable_subject_matter" title="Patentable subject matter">Patentable subject matter</a></div> <p>For the U.S., the purpose of patents is laid down in the constitutional clause that gives Congress the power to "promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries;" (Article I, Section 8, Clause 8).<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>49<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> For Europe, there is no similar definition. Commonly four patent justification theories are recognised, as laid down for instance by Machlup in 1958,<sup id="cite_ref-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-50"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>50<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> which include justice to the inventor and benefit for society by rewarding inventors. Disclosure is required in return for the exclusive right, and disclosure may promote further development. However, the value of disclosure should not be overestimated: some inventions could not be kept secret otherwise, and patents also prohibit independent reinventions to be exploited. </p><p>There is <a href="/wiki/Software_patent_debate" title="Software patent debate">debate</a> as to whether or not these aims are achieved with software patents. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Proposals">Proposals</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Proposals"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In seeking to find a balance, different countries have different policies as to where the boundary between patentable and non-patentable software should lie. In Europe, a number of different proposals for setting a boundary line were put forward during the debate concerning the proposed <a href="/wiki/Directive_on_the_patentability_of_computer-implemented_inventions" class="mw-redirect" title="Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions">Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions</a>, none of which were found acceptable by the various parties to the debate. Two particular suggestions for a hurdle that software must pass to be patentable include: </p> <ul><li>A computer program that utilises "controllable forces of nature to achieve predictable results".<sup id="cite_ref-51" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-51"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>51<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>A computer program which provides a "technical effect".<sup id="cite_ref-52" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-52"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>52<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <p>In the US, <a href="/wiki/Ben_Klemens" title="Ben Klemens">Ben Klemens</a>, a Guest Scholar at the <a href="/wiki/Brookings_Institution" title="Brookings Institution">Brookings Institution</a>, proposed that patents should be granted only to inventions that include a physical component that is by itself nonobvious.<sup id="cite_ref-53" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-53"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>53<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This is based on Justice <a href="/wiki/William_Rehnquist" title="William Rehnquist">William Rehnquist</a>'s ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court case of <a href="/wiki/Diamond_v._Diehr" title="Diamond v. Diehr">Diamond v. Diehr</a> that stated that "... insignificant postsolution activity will not transform an unpatentable principle into a patentable process."<sup id="cite_ref-54" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-54"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>54<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> By this rule, one would consider software loaded onto a stock PC to be an abstract algorithm with obvious postsolution activity, while a new circuit design implementing the logic would likely be a nonobvious physical device. Upholding an "insignificant postsolution activity" rule as per Justice <a href="/wiki/Rehnquist" class="mw-redirect" title="Rehnquist">Rehnquist</a>'s ruling would also eliminate most <a href="/wiki/Business_method_patent" title="Business method patent">business method patents</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Obviousness">Obviousness</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: Obviousness"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A common objection to software patents is that they relate to trivial inventions.<sup id="cite_ref-55" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-55"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>55<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A patent on an invention that many people would easily develop independently of one another should not, it is argued, be granted since this impedes development. </p><p>Different countries have different ways of dealing with the question of <a href="/wiki/Inventive_step_and_non-obviousness" title="Inventive step and non-obviousness">inventive step and non-obviousness</a> in relation to software patents. Europe uses an 'Inventive step test'; see the <a href="/wiki/Inventive_step_under_the_European_Patent_Convention" title="Inventive step under the European Patent Convention">Inventive step requirement in Europe</a> and, for instance, <a href="/wiki/T_258/03" title="T 258/03">T 258/03</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Criticism">Criticism</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Criticism"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Compatibility">Compatibility</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: Compatibility"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>There are a number of high-profile examples where the patenting of a data exchange standards forced another programming group to introduce an alternative format. For instance, the <a href="/wiki/Portable_Network_Graphics" class="mw-redirect" title="Portable Network Graphics">Portable Network Graphics</a> (PNG) format was largely introduced to avoid the <a href="/wiki/Graphics_Interchange_Format" class="mw-redirect" title="Graphics Interchange Format">Graphics Interchange Format</a> (GIF) patent problems, and <a href="/wiki/Ogg" title="Ogg">Ogg</a> <a href="/wiki/Vorbis" title="Vorbis">Vorbis</a> to avoid <a href="/wiki/MP3" title="MP3">MP3</a>. If it is discovered that these new suggested formats are themselves covered by existing patents, the final result may be a large number of incompatible formats. Creating such formats and supporting them costs money and creates inconvenience to users. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Computer-implemented_invention_(CII)"><span id="Computer-implemented_invention_.28CII.29"></span>Computer-implemented invention (CII)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: Computer-implemented invention (CII)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Software_patents_under_the_European_Patent_Convention" title="Software patents under the European Patent Convention">Software patents under the European Patent Convention</a></div> <p>Under the <a href="/wiki/European_Patent_Convention" title="European Patent Convention">European Patent Convention</a> (EPC), and in particular its Article 52,<sup id="cite_ref-56" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-56"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>56<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> "<a href="/wiki/Computer_programs" class="mw-redirect" title="Computer programs">programs for computers</a>" are not regarded as inventions for the purpose of granting European patents,<sup id="cite_ref-57" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>57<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> but this exclusion from patentability only applies to the extent to which a European patent application or European patent relates to a computer program as such.<sup id="cite_ref-58" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-58"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>58<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As a result of this partial exclusion, and despite the fact that the EPO subjects patent applications in this field to a much stricter scrutiny<sup id="cite_ref-LaubThesis_59-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-LaubThesis-59"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>59<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> when compared to their <a href="/wiki/USPTO" class="mw-redirect" title="USPTO">American counterpart</a>, that does not mean that all <a href="/wiki/Invention" title="Invention">inventions</a> including some <a href="/wiki/Software" title="Software">software</a> are <i><a href="/wiki/De_jure" title="De jure">de jure</a></i> not <a href="/wiki/Patentability" title="Patentability">patentable</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Overlap_with_copyright">Overlap with copyright</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: Overlap with copyright"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Software_copyright" title="Software copyright">Software copyright</a> and <a href="/wiki/Copyright_infringement_of_software" class="mw-redirect" title="Copyright infringement of software">Copyright infringement of software</a></div> <p>Patent and copyright protection constitute two different means of legal protection which may cover the same subject matter, such as computer programs, since each of these two means of protection serves its own purpose.<sup id="cite_ref-60" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-60"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>60<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Software is protected as works of literature under the <a href="/wiki/Berne_Convention_for_the_Protection_of_Literary_and_Artistic_Works" class="mw-redirect" title="Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works">Berne Convention</a>. This allows the creator to prevent another entity from copying the program and there is generally no need to register code in order for it to be copyrighted. </p><p>Patents, on the other hand, give their owners the right to prevent others from using the technology defined by the patent claims, even if the technology was independently developed and there was no copying of a software or software code involved. In fact, one of the most recent EPO decisions<sup id="cite_ref-61" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-61"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>61<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> clarifies the distinction, stating that software is patentable, because it is basically only a technical method executed on a computer, which is to be distinguished from the program itself for executing the method, the program being merely an expression of the method, and thus being copyrighted. </p><p>Patents cover the underlying methodologies embodied in a given piece of software, or the function that the software is intended to serve, independent of the particular language or code that the software is written in. Copyright prevents the direct copying of some or all of a particular version of a given piece of software, but does not prevent other authors from writing their own embodiments of the underlying methodologies. Assuming a dataset meets certain criteria, copyright can also be used to prevent a given set of data from being copied while still allowing the author to keep the contents of said set of data a <a href="/wiki/Trade_secret" title="Trade secret">trade secret</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-62" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-62"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>62<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Whether and how the <a href="/wiki/Numerus_clausus#Law" title="Numerus clausus">numerus clausus principle</a> shall apply to the legal hybrid software<sup id="cite_ref-63" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-63"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>63<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> to provide a judicious balance between property rights of the title holders and freedom rights of computing professionals<sup id="cite_ref-64" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-64"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>64<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and society as a whole,<sup id="cite_ref-65" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-65"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>65<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> is in dispute.<sup id="cite_ref-66" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-66"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>66<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-67" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-67"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>67<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-68" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-68"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>68<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Debate">Debate</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: Debate"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>There is a <a href="/wiki/Software_patent_debate" title="Software patent debate">debate</a> over the extent to which software patents should be granted, if at all. Important issues concerning software patents include: </p> <ul><li>Whether software patents should be allowed, and if so, where the boundary between <a href="/wiki/Patentable_subject_matter" title="Patentable subject matter">patentable</a> and non-patentable software should lie;<sup id="cite_ref-69" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-69"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>69<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>Whether the <a href="/wiki/Inventive_step_and_non-obviousness" title="Inventive step and non-obviousness">inventive step and non-obviousness</a> requirement is applied too loosely to software;<sup id="cite_ref-70" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-70"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>70<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and</li> <li>Whether patents covering software discourage, rather than encourage, innovation;<sup id="cite_ref-71" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-71"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>71<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>Whether software based on mathematical methods may be allowed if the mathematics or algorithm in question is complicated enough and may not be implemented with pencil and paper.<sup id="cite_ref-72" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-72"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>72<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Open_source_software">Open source software</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=28" title="Edit section: Open source software"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Software_patents_and_free_software" title="Software patents and free software">Software patents and free software</a></div> <p>There is <a href="/wiki/Software_patent_debate" title="Software patent debate">strong dislike</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Free_software_community" class="mw-redirect" title="Free software community">free software community</a> towards software patents. Much of this has been caused by <a href="/wiki/Free_software" title="Free software">free software</a> or <a href="/wiki/Open-source_software" title="Open-source software">open source</a> projects terminating<sup id="cite_ref-73" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-73"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>73<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> when the owners of patents covering aspects of a project demanded license fees that the project could not pay, or was not willing to pay, or offered licenses with terms that the project was unwilling to accept, or could not accept, because it conflicted with the <a href="/wiki/Free_software_license" class="mw-redirect" title="Free software license">free software license</a> in use.<sup id="cite_ref-74" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-74"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>74<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Several patent holders have offered royalty-free patent licenses for a very small portion of their patent portfolios. Such actions have provoked only minor reaction from the <a href="/wiki/Free_software_community" class="mw-redirect" title="Free software community">free</a> and <a href="/wiki/Open_source_community" class="mw-redirect" title="Open source community">open source</a> software communities for reasons such as fear of the patent holder changing their mind or the license terms being so narrow as to have little use.<sup id="cite_ref-75" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-75"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Companies that have done this include <a href="/wiki/Apple_Inc." title="Apple Inc.">Apple</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-76" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>76<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/IBM" title="IBM">IBM</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-77" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-77"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>77<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Microsoft" title="Microsoft">Microsoft</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-78" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-78"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>78<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Nokia" title="Nokia">Nokia</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-79" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-79"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>79<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Novell" title="Novell">Novell</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-80" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-80"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>80<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Red_Hat" title="Red Hat">Red Hat</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-autogenerated1_81-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-autogenerated1-81"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>81<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and <a href="/wiki/Sun_Microsystems" title="Sun Microsystems">Sun</a> (now <a href="/wiki/Oracle_Corporation" title="Oracle Corporation">Oracle</a>).<sup id="cite_ref-82" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-82"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>82<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 2005, Sun Microsystems announced that they were making a portfolio of 1,600 patents available through a patent license called <a href="/wiki/Common_Development_and_Distribution_License" title="Common Development and Distribution License">Common Development and Distribution License</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-83" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-83"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>83<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 2006, Microsoft's <a href="/wiki/Microsoft%E2%80%93Novell_agreement" class="mw-redirect" title="Microsoft–Novell agreement">pledge not to sue</a> Novell <a href="/wiki/Linux" title="Linux">Linux</a> customers, <a href="/wiki/OpenSUSE" title="OpenSUSE">openSUSE</a> contributors, and free/open source software developers over patents<sup id="cite_ref-84" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-84"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>84<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and the associated collaboration agreement with Novell<sup id="cite_ref-85" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-85"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>85<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> was met with disdain from the <a href="/wiki/Software_Freedom_Law_Center" title="Software Freedom Law Center">Software Freedom Law Center</a><sup id="cite_ref-86" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-86"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>86<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> while commentators from the Free Software Foundation stated that the agreement would not comply with <a href="/wiki/GPLv3" class="mw-redirect" title="GPLv3">GPLv3</a>. Meanwhile, Microsoft has reached similar agreements with <a href="/wiki/Dell" title="Dell">Dell</a> and <a href="/wiki/Samsung" title="Samsung">Samsung</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-87" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-87"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>87<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> due to alleged patent infringements of the Linux operating system. Microsoft has also derived revenue from Android by making such agreements-not-to-sue with Android vendors.<sup id="cite_ref-88" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-88"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>88<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Unisys_case">Unisys case</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=29" title="Edit section: Unisys case"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the late 1990s, Unisys claimed to have granted royalty free licenses to hundreds of <a href="/wiki/Nonprofit_organization" title="Nonprofit organization">not-for-profit</a> organizations that used the patented <a href="/wiki/LZW" class="mw-redirect" title="LZW">LZW</a> compression method and, by extension, the <a href="/wiki/Graphics_Interchange_Format" class="mw-redirect" title="Graphics Interchange Format">GIF</a> image format. However, this did not include most software developers and Unisys were "barraged" by negative and "sometimes obscene" emails from software developers.<sup id="cite_ref-89" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-89"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>89<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Licensing">Licensing</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=30" title="Edit section: Licensing"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Software_license" title="Software license">Software license</a></div> <table class="wikitable floatright" style="width:600px;"> <caption>Total US software patent counts by class of invention as of 2015<sup id="cite_ref-90" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </caption> <tbody><tr> <th>US class </th> <th>Description </th> <th>Total patents issued </th></tr> <tr> <td align="right">700 </td> <td>Data Processing: Generic Control Systems or Specific Applications </td> <td align="right">26042 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">701 </td> <td>Data Processing: Vehicles, Navigation, and Relative Location </td> <td align="right">38566 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">702 </td> <td>Data Processing: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing </td> <td align="right">27130 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">703 </td> <td>Data Processing: Structural Design, Modeling, Simulation, and Emulation </td> <td align="right">10126 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">704 </td> <td>Data Processing: Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics, Language Translation, and Audio Compression/Decompression </td> <td align="right">17944 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">705 </td> <td>Data Processing: Financial, Business Practice, Management, or Cost/Price Determination </td> <td align="right">38284 </td></tr> <tr> <td>706 </td> <td align="right">Data Processing: Artificial Intelligence </td> <td>9161 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">707 </td> <td>Data Processing: Database and File Management or Data Structures </td> <td align="right">47593 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">708 </td> <td>Electrical Computers: Arithmetic Processing and Calculating </td> <td align="right">9993 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">709 </td> <td>Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Multicomputer Data Transferring </td> <td align="right">56001 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">710 </td> <td>Electrical Computers and Digital Data Processing Systems: Input/Output </td> <td align="right">23991 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">711 </td> <td>Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Memory </td> <td align="right">34025 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">712 </td> <td>Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Processing Architectures and Instruction Processing (e.g., Processors) </td> <td align="right">10461 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">713 </td> <td>Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Support </td> <td align="right">30695 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">714 </td> <td>Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery </td> <td align="right">38532 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">715 </td> <td>Data Processing: Presentation Processing of Document, Operator Interface Processing, and Screen Saver Display Processing </td> <td align="right">25413 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">716 </td> <td>Computer-Aided Design and Analysis of Circuits and Semiconductor Masks </td> <td align="right">13809 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">717 </td> <td>Data Processing: Software Development, Installation, and Management </td> <td align="right">17336 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">718 </td> <td>Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Virtual Machine Task or Process Management or Task Management/Control </td> <td align="right">7615 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">719 </td> <td>Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Interprogram Communication or Interprocess Communication (Ipc) </td> <td align="right">5456 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">720 </td> <td>Dynamic Optical Information Storage or Retrieval </td> <td align="right">3877 </td></tr> <tr> <td align="right">725 </td> <td>Interactive Video Distribution Systems </td> <td align="right">12076 </td></tr> <tr> <td>726 </td> <td>Information Security </td> <td>21144 </td></tr> <tr> <th> </th> <th align="right">Total </th> <th>525270 </th></tr></tbody></table> <p>Patenting software is widespread in the US. As of 2015<sup class="plainlinks noexcerpt noprint asof-tag update" style="display:none;"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit">[update]</a></sup>, approximately 500,000 patents had issued in the 23 classes of patents covering "computer implemented inventions" (see table). </p><p>Many software companies <a href="/wiki/Cross-licensing" title="Cross-licensing">cross license</a> their patents to each other. These agreements allow each party to practice the other party's patented inventions without the threat of being sued for <a href="/wiki/Patent_infringement" title="Patent infringement">patent infringement</a>. <a href="/wiki/Microsoft" title="Microsoft">Microsoft</a>, for example, has agreements with <a href="/wiki/IBM" title="IBM">IBM</a>, <a href="/wiki/Sun_Microsystems" title="Sun Microsystems">Sun</a> (now <a href="/wiki/Oracle_Corporation" title="Oracle Corporation">Oracle</a>), <a href="/wiki/SAP_AG" class="mw-redirect" title="SAP AG">SAP</a>, <a href="/wiki/Hewlett-Packard" title="Hewlett-Packard">Hewlett-Packard</a>, <a href="/wiki/Siemens" title="Siemens">Siemens</a>, <a href="/wiki/Cisco_Systems" class="mw-redirect" title="Cisco Systems">Cisco</a>, <a href="/wiki/Autodesk" title="Autodesk">Autodesk</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-91" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-91"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>91<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and recently <a href="/wiki/Novell" title="Novell">Novell</a>. Microsoft cross-licensed its patents with Sun, despite being direct competitors, and with Autodesk even though Autodesk has far fewer patents than Microsoft. </p><p>The ability to negotiate cross licensing agreements is a major reason that many software companies, including those providing <a href="/wiki/Open-source_software" title="Open-source software">open source</a> software, file patents. As of June 2006, for example, <a href="/wiki/Red_Hat" title="Red Hat">Red Hat</a> had developed a <a href="/wiki/Patent_portfolio" title="Patent portfolio">portfolio</a> of 10 issued US patents, 1 issued European patent, 163 pending US patent applications, and 33 pending international PCT (<a href="/wiki/Patent_Cooperation_Treaty" title="Patent Cooperation Treaty">Patent Cooperation Treaty</a>) patent applications. Red Hat uses this portfolio to cross license with proprietary software companies so that they can preserve their freedom to operate.<sup id="cite_ref-autogenerated1_81-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-autogenerated1-81"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>81<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Other patent holders are in the business of inventing new "computer implemented inventions" and then commercializing the inventions by licensing the patents to other companies that manufacture the inventions. <a href="/wiki/Walker_Digital" title="Walker Digital">Walker Digital</a>, for example, has generated a large patent portfolio from its research efforts, including the basic patent on the <a href="/wiki/Priceline.com" title="Priceline.com">Priceline.com</a> reverse auction technology. US universities also fall into this class of patent owners. They collectively generate about $1.4 billion per year through licensing the inventions they develop to both established and start up companies in all fields of technology, including software.<sup id="cite_ref-92" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-92"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>92<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Still other patent holders focus on obtaining patents from original inventors and licensing them to companies that have introduced commercial products into the marketplace after the patents were filed. Some of these patent holders, such as <a href="/wiki/Intellectual_Ventures" title="Intellectual Ventures">Intellectual Ventures</a>, are privately held companies financed by large corporations such as Apple, Microsoft, <a href="/wiki/Intel" title="Intel">Intel</a>, <a href="/wiki/Google" title="Google">Google</a>, etc. Others, such as <a href="/wiki/Acacia_Research" title="Acacia Research">Acacia Technologies</a>, are publicly traded companies with institutional investors being the primary shareholders.<sup id="cite_ref-93" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-93"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>93<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The practice of acquiring patents merely to license them is controversial in the software industry. Companies that have this business model are pejoratively referred to as <a href="/wiki/Patent_troll" title="Patent troll">patent trolls</a>. It is an integral part of the business model that patent licensing companies sue infringers that do not take a license. Furthermore, they may take advantage of the fact that many companies will pay a modest license fee (e.g. $100,000 to $1,000,000) for rights to a patent of questionable validity, rather than pay the high legal fees ($2,000,000 or more) to demonstrate in court that the patent is invalid.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="What are median license fees and litigation costs? Consider also the lower cost of ex parte and inter partes reexam. (November 2008)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=31" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237033735">@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}</style><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/45px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/59px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Software_patents" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Software patents">Software patents</a></span>.</div></div> </div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Open_Invention_Network" title="Open Invention Network">Open Invention Network</a> (OIN)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Linux_Foundation#Patent_Commons_Project" title="Linux Foundation">Patent Commons Project</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Piano_roll_blues" title="Piano roll blues">Piano roll blues</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Social_networking_patents" class="mw-redirect" title="Social networking patents">Social networking patents</a></li></ul> <div style="clear:right;" class=""></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=32" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-BP-patent-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-BP-patent_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1041539562">.mw-parser-output .citation{word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}</style><span class="citation patent"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://worldwide.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=GB1039141">GB 1039141</a>, "A computer arranged for the automatic solution of linear programming problems by British Petroleum, Patrick Vincent Slee and Pauline Margaret Joyce Harris"</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Apatent&rft.number=1039141&rft.cc=GB&rft.title=A+computer+arranged+for+the+automatic+solution+of+linear+programming+problems+by+British+Petroleum%2C+Patrick+Vincent+Slee+and+Pauline+Margaret+Joyce+Harris"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFBellido2017" class="citation book cs1">Bellido, Jose (2017). <i>Landmark Cases in Intellectual Property Law</i>. Hart Publishing.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Landmark+Cases+in+Intellectual+Property+Law&rft.pub=Hart+Publishing&rft.date=2017&rft.aulast=Bellido&rft.aufirst=Jose&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span><br /></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBeresford2000" class="citation book cs1">Beresford, K (2000). <i>Patenting Software under the European Patent Convention</i>. London: Sweet & Maxwell. p. 4.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Patenting+Software+under+the+European+Patent+Convention&rft.place=London&rft.pages=4&rft.pub=Sweet+%26+Maxwell&rft.date=2000&rft.aulast=Beresford&rft.aufirst=K&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span><br /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKretschmer2003" class="citation journal cs1">Kretschmer, Martin (4 July 2003). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/elj/jilt/2003_1/kretschmer/">"Software as Text and Machine: The Legal Capture of Digital Innovation"</a>. <i>Journal of Information Law & Technology (JILT)</i>. Centre for Intellectual Property Policy and Management, Bournemouth University.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Journal+of+Information+Law+%26+Technology+%28JILT%29&rft.atitle=Software+as+Text+and+Machine%3A+The+Legal+Capture+of+Digital+Innovation&rft.date=2003-07-04&rft.aulast=Kretschmer&rft.aufirst=Martin&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.warwick.ac.uk%2Ffac%2Fsoc%2Flaw%2Felj%2Fjilt%2F2003_1%2Fkretschmer%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDhenne2016" class="citation book cs1">Dhenne, M. (2016). <i>Technique et droit des brevets. L'invention en droit des brevets</i>. France: LexisNexis. pp. 82 and following. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9782711024100" title="Special:BookSources/9782711024100"><bdi>9782711024100</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Technique+et+droit+des+brevets.+L%27invention+en+droit+des+brevets&rft.place=France&rft.pages=82+and+following&rft.pub=LexisNexis&rft.date=2016&rft.isbn=9782711024100&rft.aulast=Dhenne&rft.aufirst=M.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Patents Act 1990</i> (Cth) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act//pa1990109/s18.html">s 18</a> Patentable inventions</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-102_CLR_252-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-102_CLR_252_6-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-102_CLR_252_6-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>National Research Development Corp v Commissioner of Patents</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/HCA/1959/67.html">[1959] HCA 67</a>, (1959) 102 <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Law_Reports" title="Commonwealth Law Reports">CLR</a> 252, <a href="/wiki/High_Court_of_Australia" title="High Court of Australia">High Court</a> (Australia).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>International Business Machines Corp v Commissioner of Patents</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/FCA/1991/811.html">[1991] FCA 811</a>, 105 <a href="/wiki/Australian_Law_Reports" title="Australian Law Reports">ALR</a> 388, <a href="/wiki/Federal_Court_of_Australia" title="Federal Court of Australia">Federal Court</a> (Australia).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>CCOM Pty Ltd v Jie-jing Pty Ltd</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/FCA/1994/396.html">[1994] FCA 396</a>, (1994) 51 <a href="/wiki/Federal_Court_Reports" class="mw-redirect" title="Federal Court Reports">FCR</a> 260, <a href="/wiki/Federal_Court_of_Australia" title="Federal Court of Australia">Federal Court (Full Court)</a> (Australia).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-austlii.edu.au-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-austlii.edu.au_9-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-austlii.edu.au_9-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Research Affiliates LLC v Commissioner of Patents</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/FCAFC/2014/150.html">[2014] FCAFC 150</a> (10 November 2014), <a href="/wiki/Federal_Court_of_Australia" title="Federal Court of Australia">Federal Court (Full Court)</a> (Australia).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Commissioner of Patents v RPL Central Pty Ltd</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/FCAFC/2015/177.html">[2015] FCAFC 177</a> (11 December 2015), <a href="/wiki/Federal_Court_of_Australia" title="Federal Court of Australia">Federal Court (Full Court)</a> (Australia).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr03627.html"><i>Examination Practice Respecting Computer-Implemented Inventions – PN 2013-03</i></a>, Canadian Intellectual Property Office, March 8, 2013</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Examination+Practice+Respecting+Computer-Implemented+Inventions+%E2%80%93+PN+2013-03&rft.pub=Canadian+Intellectual+Property+Office&rft.date=2013-03-08&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cipo.ic.gc.ca%2Feic%2Fsite%2Fcipointernet-internetopic.nsf%2Feng%2Fwr03627.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-t0469/03-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-t0469/03_12-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.epo.org/law-practice/case-law-appeals/recent/t030469eu1.html"><i>DECISION of 24 February 2006, Case Number: T 0469/03 – 3.5.01</i></a>, European Patent Office, Boards of Appeal, 24 February 2006, pp. Reasons 5.1 to 5.3</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=DECISION+of+24+February+2006%2C+Case+Number%3A+T+0469%2F03+%E2%80%93+3.5.01&rft.pages=Reasons+5.1+to+5.3&rft.pub=European+Patent+Office%2C+Boards+of+Appeal&rft.date=2006-02-24&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.epo.org%2Flaw-practice%2Fcase-law-appeals%2Frecent%2Ft030469eu1.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="/wiki/Guidelines_for_Examination_in_the_European_Patent_Office" title="Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office">Guidelines for Examination in the EPO</a>, section <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelines/e/g_vii_5_4.htm"><span class="allcaps" style="text-transform:uppercase;">g</span>-<span class="allcaps" style="text-transform:uppercase;">vii</span>, 5.4</a> </span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://endsoftpatents.org/pages/unitary-patent/">"End Software Patents"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=End+Software+Patents&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fendsoftpatents.org%2Fpages%2Funitary-patent%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span><br /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/europes-unitary-patent.en.html">"Europe's "unitary patent" could mean unlimited software patents"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Europe%27s+%22unitary+patent%22+could+mean+unlimited+software+patents&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gnu.org%2Fphilosophy%2Feuropes-unitary-patent.en.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span><br /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://en.swpat.org/wiki/EU_unitary_patent_and_Unified_Patent_Court">"EU unitary patent and Unified Patent Court"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=EU+unitary+patent+and+Unified+Patent+Court&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fen.swpat.org%2Fwiki%2FEU_unitary_patent_and_Unified_Patent_Court&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFErmert2013" class="citation web cs1">Ermert, Monika (22 April 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ip-watch.org/2013/04/22/german-parliament-sends-message-stop-granting-software-patents">"German Parliament Sends Message: Stop Granting Software Patents"</a>. <i>Intellectual Property Watch</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">April 29,</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Intellectual+Property+Watch&rft.atitle=German+Parliament+Sends+Message%3A+Stop+Granting+Software+Patents&rft.date=2013-04-22&rft.aulast=Ermert&rft.aufirst=Monika&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ip-watch.org%2F2013%2F04%2F22%2Fgerman-parliament-sends-message-stop-granting-software-patents&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.financialexpress.com/news/software-patents-under-ordinance-face-reversal/82155">"Software patents under Ordinance face reversal"</a>. Financialexpress.com. 2005-03-29<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-10-09</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Software+patents+under+Ordinance+face+reversal&rft.pub=Financialexpress.com&rft.date=2005-03-29&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.financialexpress.com%2Fnews%2Fsoftware-patents-under-ordinance-face-reversal%2F82155&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGuido_Noto_La_Diega" class="citation book cs1">Guido Noto La Diega, PhD. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.academia.edu/34244396"><i>Software Patents and the Internet of Things in Europe, the United States and India (FULL TEXT)</i></a> – via www.academia.edu.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Software+Patents+and+the+Internet+of+Things+in+Europe%2C+the+United+States+and+India+%28FULL+TEXT%29&rft.aulast=Guido+Noto+La+Diega&rft.aufirst=PhD&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.academia.edu%2F34244396&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ipindia.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/Images/pdf/Revised__Guidelines_for_Examination_of_Computer-related_Inventions_CRI__.pdf">"Guidelines for Examination of Computer Related Inventions (CRIs)"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>www.ipindia.nic.in</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.ipindia.nic.in&rft.atitle=Guidelines+for+Examination+of+Computer+Related+Inventions+%28CRIs%29&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ipindia.nic.in%2Fwritereaddata%2FPortal%2FImages%2Fpdf%2FRevised__Guidelines_for_Examination_of_Computer-related_Inventions_CRI__.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFAditi2019" class="citation news cs1">Aditi, Singh (29 December 2019). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.barandbench.com/news/a-computer-program-which-makes-technical-contribution-patentable-not-hit-by-sec-3k-of-patents-act">"A computer program which makes 'technical contribution' patentable, not hit by Sec 3(k) of Patents Act"</a>. Bar and Bench<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">13 February</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=A+computer+program+which+makes+%27technical+contribution%27+patentable%2C+not+hit+by+Sec+3%28k%29+of+Patents+Act&rft.date=2019-12-29&rft.aulast=Aditi&rft.aufirst=Singh&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.barandbench.com%2Fnews%2Fa-computer-program-which-makes-technical-contribution-patentable-not-hit-by-sec-3k-of-patents-act&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Parliament of India, Report of the Joint Committee on Patents (Second Amendment) Bill, 1999 (Rajya Sabha Secretariat 2001)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110323200823/https://www.jpo.go.jp/tetuzuki_e/t_tokkyo_e/Guidelines/2_1.pdf">"Examination Guidelines for Patent and Utility Model in Japan (REQUIREMENTS FOR PATENTABILITY)"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. jpo.go.jp. pp. 1–3. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jpo.go.jp/tetuzuki_e/t_tokkyo_e/Guidelines/2_1.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 2011-03-23<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2009-11-21</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Examination+Guidelines+for+Patent+and+Utility+Model+in+Japan+%28REQUIREMENTS+FOR+PATENTABILITY%29&rft.pages=1-3&rft.pub=jpo.go.jp&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jpo.go.jp%2Ftetuzuki_e%2Ft_tokkyo_e%2FGuidelines%2F2_1.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110323200910/https://www.jpo.go.jp/tetuzuki_e/t_tokkyo_e/Guidelines/7_1.pdf"><i>Examination Guidelines for Inventions for Specific Fields (Computer Software-Related Inventions) in Japan</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>, Japanese Patent Office, April 2005, p. 10 (2.2.1), archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jpo.go.jp/tetuzuki_e/t_tokkyo_e/Guidelines/7_1.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 2011-03-23<span class="reference-accessdate">, retrieved <span class="nowrap">2009-11-21</span></span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Examination+Guidelines+for+Inventions+for+Specific+Fields+%28Computer+Software-Related+Inventions%29+in+Japan&rft.pages=10+%282.2.1%29&rft.pub=Japanese+Patent+Office&rft.date=2005-04&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jpo.go.jp%2Ftetuzuki_e%2Ft_tokkyo_e%2FGuidelines%2F7_1.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-23">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110323200910/https://www.jpo.go.jp/tetuzuki_e/t_tokkyo_e/Guidelines/7_1.pdf"><i>Examination Guidelines for Inventions for Specific Fields (Computer Software-Related Inventions) in Japan</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>, Japanese Patent Office, April 2005, pp. 16–17 ("Systematization of human transactions"), archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jpo.go.jp/tetuzuki_e/t_tokkyo_e/Guidelines/7_1.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 2011-03-23<span class="reference-accessdate">, retrieved <span class="nowrap">2009-11-21</span></span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Examination+Guidelines+for+Inventions+for+Specific+Fields+%28Computer+Software-Related+Inventions%29+in+Japan&rft.pages=16-17+%28%22Systematization+of+human+transactions%22%29&rft.pub=Japanese+Patent+Office&rft.date=2005-04&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jpo.go.jp%2Ftetuzuki_e%2Ft_tokkyo_e%2FGuidelines%2F7_1.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-24">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSugimuraChen2012" class="citation cs2">Sugimura, Kenji; Chen, Rebecca (1 October 2012), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.worldipreview.com/article/an-important-market-software-patenting-in-japan"><i>An important market: software patenting in Japan</i></a>, <a href="/wiki/World_Intellectual_Property_Review" title="World Intellectual Property Review">World Intellectual Property Review</a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=An+important+market%3A+software+patenting+in+Japan&rft.pub=World+Intellectual+Property+Review&rft.date=2012-10-01&rft.aulast=Sugimura&rft.aufirst=Kenji&rft.au=Chen%2C+Rebecca&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldipreview.com%2Farticle%2Fan-important-market-software-patenting-in-japan&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-25">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2013/0068/latest/whole.html#DLM5516600">"Patents Act 2013, section 11 'Computer programs'<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span>"</a>. 2020-08-07<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2022-01-25</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Patents+Act+2013%2C+section+11+%27Computer+programs%27&rft.date=2020-08-07&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.legislation.govt.nz%2Fact%2Fpublic%2F2013%2F0068%2Flatest%2Fwhole.html%23DLM5516600&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-26">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100920044258/http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/minister+announces+way+forward+software+patents">"Minister announces way forward for software patents"</a>. beehive.govt.nz. 2010-07-15. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/minister+announces+way+forward+software+patents">the original</a> on 2010-09-20<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-10-09</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Minister+announces+way+forward+for+software+patents&rft.pub=beehive.govt.nz&rft.date=2010-07-15&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beehive.govt.nz%2Frelease%2Fminister%2Bannounces%2Bway%2Bforward%2Bsoftware%2Bpatents&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span><br /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFVarghese2010" class="citation news cs1">Varghese, Sam (16 July 2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130116134330/http://www.itwire.com/it-policy-news/govenrment-tech-policy/40451-new-zealand-says-no-to-software-patents">"New Zealand says no to software patents"</a>. <i>Government Tech Policy</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.itwire.com/it-policy-news/govenrment-tech-policy/40451-new-zealand-says-no-to-software-patents">the original</a> on 16 January 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">7 November</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Government+Tech+Policy&rft.atitle=New+Zealand+says+no+to+software+patents&rft.date=2010-07-16&rft.aulast=Varghese&rft.aufirst=Sam&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.itwire.com%2Fit-policy-news%2Fgovenrment-tech-policy%2F40451-new-zealand-says-no-to-software-patents&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span><br /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120826000324/http://www.cpaglobal.com/newlegalreview/4617/south_pacific_cousins_part_way">"South Pacific cousins part ways over patents"</a>. Cpaglobal.com. 2010-07-28. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.cpaglobal.com/newlegalreview/4617/south_pacific_cousins_part_way">the original</a> on 2012-08-26<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-10-09</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=South+Pacific+cousins+part+ways+over+patents&rft.pub=Cpaglobal.com&rft.date=2010-07-28&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cpaglobal.com%2Fnewlegalreview%2F4617%2Fsouth_pacific_cousins_part_way&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span><br /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120406172154/http://www.tgdaily.com/business-and-law-features/50667-new-zealand-bans-software-patents">"New Zealand bans software patents"</a>. TG Daily. 2010-07-15. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.tgdaily.com/business-and-law-features/50667-new-zealand-bans-software-patents">the original</a> on 2012-04-06<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-10-09</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=New+Zealand+bans+software+patents&rft.pub=TG+Daily&rft.date=2010-07-15&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tgdaily.com%2Fbusiness-and-law-features%2F50667-new-zealand-bans-software-patents&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span><br /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFairfax_Media_Business_Group2010" class="citation web cs1">Fairfax Media Business Group (2010-04-15). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130115221652/http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/nzict-says-patents-integral-to-software-protection">"NZICT says patents 'integral' to software protection | Computerworld New Zealand"</a>. Computerworld.co.nz. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/nzict-says-patents-integral-to-software-protection">the original</a> on 2013-01-15<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-10-09</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=NZICT+says+patents+%27integral%27+to+software+protection+%26%23124%3B+Computerworld+New+Zealand&rft.pub=Computerworld.co.nz&rft.date=2010-04-15&rft.au=Fairfax+Media+Business+Group&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fcomputerworld.co.nz%2Fnews.nsf%2Fnews%2Fnzict-says-patents-integral-to-software-protection&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span> <span class="cs1-visible-error citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_web" title="Template:Cite web">cite web</a>}}</code>: </span><span class="cs1-visible-error citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">|author=</code> has generic name (<a href="/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#generic_name" title="Help:CS1 errors">help</a>)</span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-27">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRob_O’Neill2013" class="citation news cs1">Rob O’Neill (August 28, 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/new-zealand-bans-software-patents/">"New Zealand bans software patents"</a>. <i>ZDNet</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">September 6,</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=ZDNet&rft.atitle=New+Zealand+bans+software+patents&rft.date=2013-08-28&rft.au=Rob+O%E2%80%99Neill&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zdnet.com%2Farticle%2Fnew-zealand-bans-software-patents%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111212164224/http://www.cipc.co.za/Patents_files/Patent_Act.pdf"><i>Patents Act, No. 57 of 1978, as amended</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>, 26 April 1978, archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.cipc.co.za/Patents_files/Patent_Act.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 12 December 2011<span class="reference-accessdate">, retrieved <span class="nowrap">25 September</span> 2011</span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Patents+Act%2C+No.+57+of+1978%2C+as+amended&rft.date=1978-04-26&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cipc.co.za%2FPatents_files%2FPatent_Act.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-29">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111212164224/http://www.cipc.co.za/Patents_files/Patent_Act.pdf"><i>Patents Act, No. 57 of 1978, as amended Section 25(3)</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>, 26 April 1978, archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.cipc.co.za/Patents_files/Patent_Act.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 12 December 2011<span class="reference-accessdate">, retrieved <span class="nowrap">25 September</span> 2011</span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Patents+Act%2C+No.+57+of+1978%2C+as+amended+Section+25%283%29&rft.date=1978-04-26&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cipc.co.za%2FPatents_files%2FPatent_Act.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090913083903/http://www.epo.org/patents/patent-information/east-asian/helpdesk/korea/faq.html#new2"><i>FAQ – Korea</i></a>, European Patent Office, archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.epo.org/patents/patent-information/east-asian/helpdesk/korea/faq.html#new2">the original</a> on 13 September 2009<span class="reference-accessdate">, retrieved <span class="nowrap">29 October</span> 2008</span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=FAQ+%E2%80%93+Korea&rft.pub=European+Patent+Office&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epo.org%2Fpatents%2Fpatent-information%2Feast-asian%2Fhelpdesk%2Fkorea%2Ffaq.html%23new2&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-cnet-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-cnet_31-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-cnet_31-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLombardi2006" class="citation cs2">Lombardi, Candace (November 27, 2006), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6138379-7.html">"Microsoft lost in translation"</a>, <i>News Blog</i>, <a href="/wiki/CNET" title="CNET">CNET</a><span class="reference-accessdate">, retrieved <span class="nowrap">October 29,</span> 2008</span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=News+Blog&rft.atitle=Microsoft+lost+in+translation&rft.date=2006-11-27&rft.aulast=Lombardi&rft.aufirst=Candace&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.cnet.com%2F8301-10784_3-6138379-7.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Sirivish Toomgum and Kwanchai Rungfapaisan, THE NATION, July 24, 2000, at 7.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Pitiyasak,_Saravuth_2002-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Pitiyasak,_Saravuth_2002_33-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Pitiyasak,_Saravuth_2002_33-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Pitiyasak, Saravuth. "Thailand Debates Software Patents." <i>Managing Intellectual Property</i>.123 (2002): 62-4. <i>ProQuest.</i> Web. 11 Apr. 2020.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-34">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/technology/">Newsbytes, Thailand Mulls Software Patent Rules, at (last visited Jul. 25, 2000).</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Martin Goetz, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.computerworld.com/article/2540020/unsung-innovators--marty-goetz--holder-of-first-software-patent.html">"Unsung innovators: Marty Goetz, holder of first [US] software patent"</a>. Computerworld. 1968.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Unsung+innovators%3A+Marty+Goetz%2C+holder+of+first+%5BUS%5D+software+patent&rft.pub=Computerworld&rft.date=1968&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.computerworld.com%2Farticle%2F2540020%2Funsung-innovators--marty-goetz--holder-of-first-software-patent.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-36">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><span><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://patents.google.com/patent/US3552738">U.S. patent 3,552,738</a></span>, <span><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://patents.google.com/patent/US3553358">U.S. patent 3,553,358</a></span> and <span><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://patents.google.com/patent/US3553384">U.S. patent 3,553,384</a></span> granted 5 January 1971, and <span><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://patents.google.com/patent/US3996564">U.S. patent 3,996,564</a></span> granted December 7, 1976, can be easily found using the <a href="/wiki/Bessen/Hunt_technique" title="Bessen/Hunt technique">Bessen/Hunt technique</a>. Earlier patents may exist but US patent database does not permit full text searching for earlier patents</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-37">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Gottschalk v Benson, <a href="/wiki/List_of_United_States_Supreme_Court_cases,_volume_409" title="List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 409">409</a> <a href="/wiki/United_States_Reports" title="United States Reports">U.S.</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/409/63/">63</a> (1972)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-38">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Diamond v. Diehr, <a href="/wiki/List_of_United_States_Supreme_Court_cases,_volume_450" title="List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 450">450</a> <a href="/wiki/United_States_Reports" title="United States Reports">U.S.</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/450/175/">175</a> (1981)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-39">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s2106.html">"MPEP"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=MPEP&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uspto.gov%2Fweb%2Foffices%2Fpac%2Fmpep%2Fs2106.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-40">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/og/con/files/cons093.htm">"Examination Guidelines for Computer-Related Inventions"</a>. United States Patent Office. 1996-03-26<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2014-05-20</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Examination+Guidelines+for+Computer-Related+Inventions&rft.pub=United+States+Patent+Office&rft.date=1996-03-26&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uspto.gov%2Fweb%2Foffices%2Fcom%2Fsol%2Fog%2Fcon%2Ffiles%2Fcons093.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-41"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-41">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Bessen, James, and Michael J. Meurer. Patent Failure: How Judges, Bureaucrats, and Lawyers Put Innovators at Risk. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2008</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-42"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-42">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFEmployment2010" class="citation web cs1">Employment, Small Business and Training (2010-12-03). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.business.qld.gov.au/">"Home"</a>. <i>www.business.qld.gov.au</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2020-04-11</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.business.qld.gov.au&rft.atitle=Home&rft.date=2010-12-03&rft.aulast=Employment&rft.aufirst=Small+Business+and+Training&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.business.qld.gov.au%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span> <span class="cs1-visible-error citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_web" title="Template:Cite web">cite web</a>}}</code>: </span><span class="cs1-visible-error citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">|first=</code> has generic name (<a href="/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#generic_name" title="Help:CS1 errors">help</a>)</span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-43"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-43">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.adlilaw.com/who-owns-the-rights-to-a-patent-the-employer-or-inventor/">"Who owns the rights to a patent? The employer or inventor?"</a>. <i>Adli Law Group</i>. 2016-04-12<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2020-04-11</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Adli+Law+Group&rft.atitle=Who+owns+the+rights+to+a+patent%3F+The+employer+or+inventor%3F&rft.date=2016-04-12&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adlilaw.com%2Fwho-owns-the-rights-to-a-patent-the-employer-or-inventor%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-44"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-44">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Peter B. Hirtle, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/training/Hirtle_Public_Domain.htm">Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States, 1 January 2007</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120704071954/http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/training/Hirtle_Public_Domain.htm">Archived</a> July 4, 2012, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-45"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-45">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1075&context=dltr">"SOFTWARE PATENT LAW: UNITED STATES AND EUROPE COMPARED"</a>. <i>Duke Law</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">19 October</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Duke+Law&rft.atitle=SOFTWARE+PATENT+LAW%3A+UNITED+STATES+AND+EUROPE+COMPARED&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fscholarship.law.duke.edu%2Fcgi%2Fviewcontent.cgi%3Farticle%3D1075%26context%3Ddltr&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-:0-46"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:0_46-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_46-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220710115303/https://wipolex.wipo.int/en/legislation/details/16392)">"Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 13 of July 28, 2016, on Patents"</a>. <i>wipolex.wipo.int</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://wipolex.wipo.int/en/legislation/details/16392)">the original</a> on July 10, 2022<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">April 12,</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=wipolex.wipo.int&rft.atitle=Law+of+the+Republic+of+Indonesia+No.+13+of+July+28%2C+2016%2C+on+Patents&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwipolex.wipo.int%2Fen%2Flegislation%2Fdetails%2F16392%29&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-:1-47"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:1_47-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:1_47-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:1_47-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/id/id044en.pdf">"Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 14 Year 2001"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>WIPO</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=WIPO&rft.atitle=Law+of+the+Republic+of+Indonesia+Number+14+Year+2001&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wipo.int%2Fedocs%2Flexdocs%2Flaws%2Fen%2Fid%2Fid044en.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-48"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-48">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200228082546/http://www.hki.co.id/uploads/4/0/0/2/40023645/pct_regulations.pdf">"Regulations under the Patent Cooperation Treaty"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>WIPO</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hki.co.id/uploads/4/0/0/2/40023645/pct_regulations.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 2020-02-28<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2020-04-12</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=WIPO&rft.atitle=Regulations+under+the+Patent+Cooperation+Treaty&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hki.co.id%2Fuploads%2F4%2F0%2F0%2F2%2F40023645%2Fpct_regulations.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-49"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-49">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://aristeksystems.com/blog/intellectual-property-and-software-copyright/">"Intellectual Property and Software-Copyright"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2021-12-16</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Intellectual+Property+and+Software-Copyright&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Faristeksystems.com%2Fblog%2Fintellectual-property-and-software-copyright%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-50">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.mises.org/etexts/patentsystem.pdf">"An Economic Review of the Patent System (1958)"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. 20 July 2005<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-10-09</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=An+Economic+Review+of+the+Patent+System+%281958%29&rft.date=2005-07-20&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mises.org%2Fetexts%2Fpatentsystem.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-51">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060210231145/http://www.europarl.eu.int/meetdocs/committees/itre/20030219/488498en.pdf"><i>Amendment 23 to the proposed Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>, <a href="/wiki/European_Parliament" title="European Parliament">European Parliament</a>, September 2003, archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.europarl.eu.int/meetdocs/committees/itre/20030219/488498en.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on February 10, 2006</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Amendment+23+to+the+proposed+Directive+on+the+patentability+of+computer-implemented+inventions&rft.pub=European+Parliament&rft.date=2003-09&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.europarl.eu.int%2Fmeetdocs%2Fcommittees%2Fitre%2F20030219%2F488498en.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span><br /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><i>Dispositions program decision</i>, <a href="/wiki/Bundesgerichtshof" class="mw-redirect" title="Bundesgerichtshof">Bundesgerichtshof</a> (, BGH, Federal Court of Justice of Germany), 1976-06-22</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Dispositions+program+decision&rft.pub=Bundesgerichtshof+%28%2C+BGH%2C+Federal+Court+of+Justice+of+Germany%29&rft.date=1976-06-22&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-52"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-52">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.epo.org/law-practice/case-law-appeals/recent/t930059eu1.html">"Reasons, point 3.4"</a>, <i>Decision T 0059/93 () of 20 April 1994</i>, <a href="/wiki/Appeal_procedure_before_the_European_Patent_Office" title="Appeal procedure before the European Patent Office">European Patent Office, Boards of Appeal</a>, 20 April 1994</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Decision+T+0059%2F93+%28%29+of+20+April+1994&rft.atitle=Reasons%2C+point+3.4&rft.date=1994-04-20&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.epo.org%2Flaw-practice%2Fcase-law-appeals%2Frecent%2Ft930059eu1.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-53"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-53">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB114325217495908172">"The Gravity of the U.S. Patent Swindle"</a>. <i>Wall Street Journal</i>. 25 March 2006. p. A9.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Wall+Street+Journal&rft.atitle=The+Gravity+of+the+U.S.+Patent+Swindle&rft.pages=A9&rft.date=2006-03-25&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2FSB114325217495908172&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-54"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-54">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite><i><a href="/wiki/Diamond_v._Diehr" title="Diamond v. Diehr">Diamond v. Diehr</a></i></cite>, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/450/175.html">49 U.S. 1112</a> (<a href="/wiki/SCOTUS" class="mw-redirect" title="SCOTUS">SCOTUS</a> 1981) (""... insignificant postsolution activity will not transform an unpatentable principle into a patentable process."").</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-55"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-55">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFStallman2005" class="citation news cs1">Stallman, Richard (June 20, 2005). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2005/jun/20/comment.comment">"Patent absurdity"</a>. <i>The Guardian</i>. London<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 23,</span> 2010</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Guardian&rft.atitle=Patent+absurdity&rft.date=2005-06-20&rft.aulast=Stallman&rft.aufirst=Richard&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ftechnology%2F2005%2Fjun%2F20%2Fcomment.comment&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-56"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-56">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://new.epo.org/en/legal/epc/2020/a52.html">Article 52</a> <a href="/wiki/European_Patent_Convention" title="European Patent Convention">EPC</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-57"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-57">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://new.epo.org/en/legal/epc/2020/a52.html">Article 52(1)</a> <a href="/wiki/European_Patent_Convention" title="European Patent Convention">EPC</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-58"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-58">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://new.epo.org/en/legal/epc/2020/a52.html">Article 52(3)</a> <a href="/wiki/European_Patent_Convention" title="European Patent Convention">EPC</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-LaubThesis-59"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-LaubThesis_59-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLaub2005" class="citation thesis cs1">Laub, Christoph (2005) [Academic Year 2004/2005]. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070621083254/http://www.miplc.de/research/master_theses/2004_2005/abstracts/abstract_laub.pdf"><i>International Software Patent Filing: The Problem of Statutory Subject Matter in view of Legal Standards at the EPO-USPTO and Economic Implications</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> (Master's). Munich Intellectual Property Law Center. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.miplc.de/research/master_theses/2004_2005/abstracts/abstract_laub.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on June 21, 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">21 March</span> 2006</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adissertation&rft.title=International+Software+Patent+Filing%3A+The+Problem+of+Statutory+Subject+Matter+in+view+of+Legal+Standards+at+the+EPO-USPTO+and+Economic+Implications&rft.inst=Munich+Intellectual+Property+Law+Center&rft.date=2005&rft.aulast=Laub&rft.aufirst=Christoph&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.miplc.de%2Fresearch%2Fmaster_theses%2F2004_2005%2Fabstracts%2Fabstract_laub.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-60"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-60">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.epo.org/law-practice/case-law-appeals/recent/t971173ex1.html">"Reasons 2.4"</a>, <i>Decision <a href="/wiki/T_1173/97" title="T 1173/97">T 1173/97</a> (Computer program product/IBM) of 1.7.1998</i>, European Patent Office, Boards of Appeal, 1 July 1998</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Decision+T+1173%2F97+%28Computer+program+product%2FIBM%29+of+1.7.1998&rft.atitle=Reasons+2.4&rft.date=1998-07-01&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.epo.org%2Flaw-practice%2Fcase-law-appeals%2Frecent%2Ft971173ex1.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-61"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-61">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.epo.org/law-practice/case-law-appeals/recent/t030424eu1.html"><i>Decision T 0424/03 (Clipboard formats I/MICROSOFT) of 23.2.2006</i></a>, European Patent Office Boards of Appeal, 23 February 2006</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Decision+T+0424%2F03+%28Clipboard+formats+I%2FMICROSOFT%29+of+23.2.2006&rft.pub=European+Patent+Office+Boards+of+Appeal&rft.date=2006-02-23&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.epo.org%2Flaw-practice%2Fcase-law-appeals%2Frecent%2Ft030424eu1.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-62"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-62">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBro2018" class="citation news cs1">Bro, Sarah (September 6, 2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/x/733688/Trade+Secrets/Copyright+in+Data+Compilations+Is+Thin">"Copyright in Data Compilations is Thin"</a>. <i>Mondaq Business Briefing</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">January 25,</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Mondaq+Business+Briefing&rft.atitle=Copyright+in+Data+Compilations+is+Thin&rft.date=2018-09-06&rft.aulast=Bro&rft.aufirst=Sarah&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mondaq.com%2Funitedstates%2Fx%2F733688%2FTrade%2BSecrets%2FCopyright%2Bin%2BData%2BCompilations%2BIs%2BThin&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-63"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-63">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBurk2001" class="citation journal cs1">Burk, Dan L. (February 2001). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1145%2F359205.359231">"Copyrightable functions and patentable speech"</a>. <i>Communications of the ACM</i>. <b>44</b> (2). Association for Computing Machinery (ACM): 69–75. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<span class="id-lock-free" title="Freely accessible"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1145%2F359205.359231">10.1145/359205.359231</a></span>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:10784660">10784660</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Communications+of+the+ACM&rft.atitle=Copyrightable+functions+and+patentable+speech&rft.volume=44&rft.issue=2&rft.pages=69-75&rft.date=2001-02&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1145%2F359205.359231&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A10784660%23id-name%3DS2CID&rft.aulast=Burk&rft.aufirst=Dan+L.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1145%252F359205.359231&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-64"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-64">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKiesewetter-Köbinger2010" class="citation journal cs1">Kiesewetter-Köbinger, Swen (2010). "Programmers' Capital". <i>Computer</i>. <b>43</b> (2): 106–108. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1109%2FMC.2010.47">10.1109/MC.2010.47</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Computer&rft.atitle=Programmers%27+Capital&rft.volume=43&rft.issue=2&rft.pages=106-108&rft.date=2010&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1109%2FMC.2010.47&rft.aulast=Kiesewetter-K%C3%B6binger&rft.aufirst=Swen&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-65"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-65">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFStanding_Committee_on_the_Law_of_Patents2010" class="citation web cs1">Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (January 20, 2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/patent_policy/en/scp_14/scp_14_7.pdf">"Proposal from Brazil in respect of exceptions and limitations to patent rights"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. World Intellectual Property Organization<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">4 February</span> 2010</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Proposal+from+Brazil+in+respect+of+exceptions+and+limitations+to+patent+rights&rft.pub=World+Intellectual+Property+Organization&rft.date=2010-01-20&rft.au=Standing+Committee+on+the+Law+of+Patents&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wipo.int%2Fedocs%2Fmdocs%2Fpatent_policy%2Fen%2Fscp_14%2Fscp_14_7.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-66"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-66">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMax-Planck-Institut2000" class="citation cs2">Max-Planck-Institut (20 December 2000), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/indprop/docs/comp/replies/planck_en.pdf"><i>Stellungnahme zum Sondierungspapier der Kommission der Europaischen Gemeinschaften: Die Patentierbarkeit Computer-implementierter Erfindungen</i></a> [<i>Opinion on the consultation paper by the Commission of the European Communities: The patentability of computer-implemented inventions</i>] <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Stellungnahme+zum+Sondierungspapier+der+Kommission+der+Europaischen+Gemeinschaften%3A+Die+Patentierbarkeit+Computer-implementierter+Erfindungen&rft.date=2000-12-20&rft.au=Max-Planck-Institut&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fec.europa.eu%2Finternal_market%2Findprop%2Fdocs%2Fcomp%2Freplies%2Fplanck_en.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-67"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-67">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFHoffmann2008" class="citation book cs1">Hoffmann, Marcus (2008). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.buchhandel.de/WebApi1/GetMmo.asp?MmoId=4804929&mmoType=PDF"><i>Mehrfachschutz geistigen Eigentums im deutschen Rechtssystem</i></a> [<i>Multiple protection of intellectual property in the German legal system</i>]. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-8316-0806-5" title="Special:BookSources/978-3-8316-0806-5"><bdi>978-3-8316-0806-5</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Mehrfachschutz+geistigen+Eigentums+im+deutschen+Rechtssystem&rft.date=2008&rft.isbn=978-3-8316-0806-5&rft.aulast=Hoffmann&rft.aufirst=Marcus&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.buchhandel.de%2FWebApi1%2FGetMmo.asp%3FMmoId%3D4804929%26mmoType%3DPDF&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-68"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-68">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPeukert2008" class="citation book cs1">Peukert, Alexander (2008). <i>Güterzuordnung als Rechtsprinzip</i> [<i>Goods classification as a legal principle</i>]. Mohr Siebeck. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-16-149724-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-3-16-149724-7"><bdi>978-3-16-149724-7</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=G%C3%BCterzuordnung+als+Rechtsprinzip&rft.pub=Mohr+Siebeck&rft.date=2008&rft.isbn=978-3-16-149724-7&rft.aulast=Peukert&rft.aufirst=Alexander&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-69"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-69">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFGray2004" class="citation cs2">Gray, John (2004-08-19), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.out-law.com/page-4814"><i>Software patents in Europe: debunking the myths</i></a>, OUT-LAW News</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Software+patents+in+Europe%3A+debunking+the+myths&rft.pub=OUT-LAW+News&rft.date=2004-08-19&rft.aulast=Gray&rft.aufirst=John&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.out-law.com%2Fpage-4814&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-70"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-70">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120104231807/http://www.ipo.gov.uk/response-inventive.pdf">"Public consultation on level of the inventive step required for obtaining patents"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <a href="/wiki/UK_Intellectual_Property_Office" class="mw-redirect" title="UK Intellectual Property Office">UK Intellectual Property Office</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ipo.gov.uk/response-inventive.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 2012-01-04<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2007-06-05</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Public+consultation+on+level+of+the+inventive+step+required+for+obtaining+patents&rft.pub=UK+Intellectual+Property+Office&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ipo.gov.uk%2Fresponse-inventive.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-71"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-71">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.patenthawk.com/blog/2005/04/patent_economics_part_4_incent.html">"Patent Economics: Part 4 – Incentives"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(blog entry)</span>. Patenthawk. 2005-04-17. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20120906032234/http://www.patenthawk.com/blog/2005/04/patent_economics_part_4_incent.html">Archived</a> from the original on 2012-09-06<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-10-09</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Patent+Economics%3A+Part+4+%E2%80%93+Incentives&rft.pub=Patenthawk&rft.date=2005-04-17&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.patenthawk.com%2Fblog%2F2005%2F04%2Fpatent_economics_part_4_incent.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-72"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-72">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160417223948/http://www.managingip.com/pdfs/Events/IndiaIP2013_15.15_Akhilesh%20Gupta.pdf">"The India Patents Act, 1970 and Software Patentability"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>www.managingip.com</i>. 7 March 2013. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.managingip.com/pdfs/Events/IndiaIP2013_15.15_Akhilesh%20Gupta.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 2016-04-17<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2020-03-27</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.managingip.com&rft.atitle=The+India+Patents+Act%2C+1970+and+Software+Patentability&rft.date=2013-03-07&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.managingip.com%2Fpdfs%2FEvents%2FIndiaIP2013_15.15_Akhilesh%2520Gupta.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-73"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-73">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.gnu.org/patent-examp/patent-examples.html">"Software patents that hurt free software"</a>. Free Software Foundation<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-10-09</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Software+patents+that+hurt+free+software&rft.pub=Free+Software+Foundation&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gnu.org%2Fpatent-examp%2Fpatent-examples.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-74"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-74">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070210164646/http://swpat.ffii.org/patents/effects/">"Effects"</a>. Patentability and Democracy in Europe. Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://swpat.ffii.org/patents/effects">the original</a> on February 10, 2007.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Effects&rft.series=Patentability+and+Democracy+in+Europe&rft.pub=Foundation+for+a+Free+Information+Infrastructure&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fswpat.ffii.org%2Fpatents%2Feffects&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-75"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-75">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.softwarefreedom.org/resources/2008/osp-gpl.html">"Microsoft's Open Specification Promise: No Assurance for GPL"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Software_Freedom_Law_Center" title="Software Freedom Law Center">Software Freedom Law Center</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Microsoft%27s+Open+Specification+Promise%3A+No+Assurance+for+GPL&rft.pub=Software+Freedom+Law+Center&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.softwarefreedom.org%2Fresources%2F2008%2Fosp-gpl.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-76"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-76">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://opensource.apple.com/apsl/">"License - APSL"</a>. <i>opensource.apple.com</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=opensource.apple.com&rft.atitle=License+-+APSL&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fopensource.apple.com%2Fapsl%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-77"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-77">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSchererDavis2006" class="citation web cs1">Scherer, Markus; <a href="/wiki/Mark_Davis_(Unicode)" title="Mark Davis (Unicode)">Davis, Mark</a> (2006-02-04). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.unicode.org/notes/tn6/#Intellectual_Property">"UTN #6: BOCU-1"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2014-02-05</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=UTN+%236%3A+BOCU-1&rft.date=2006-02-04&rft.aulast=Scherer&rft.aufirst=Markus&rft.au=Davis%2C+Mark&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.unicode.org%2Fnotes%2Ftn6%2F%23Intellectual_Property&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-78"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-78">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.microsoft.com/resources/sharedsource/silverlightcontrolslicense.mspx">"Silverlight Controls License"</a>. Microsoft Corporation.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Silverlight+Controls+License&rft.pub=Microsoft+Corporation&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.microsoft.com%2Fresources%2Fsharedsource%2Fsilverlightcontrolslicense.mspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-79"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-79">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://sourceforge.net/projects/symbiandump/">"symbian-dump"</a>. <i>SourceForge</i>. 11 April 2013.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=SourceForge&rft.atitle=symbian-dump&rft.date=2013-04-11&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fsourceforge.net%2Fprojects%2Fsymbiandump%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-80"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-80">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130730235511/http://www.novell.com/company/policies/patent/">"Patent Policy"</a>. Novell. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.novell.com/company/policies/patent/">the original</a> on 2013-07-30<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-10-09</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Patent+Policy&rft.pub=Novell&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.novell.com%2Fcompany%2Fpolicies%2Fpatent%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-autogenerated1-81"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-autogenerated1_81-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-autogenerated1_81-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.redhat.com/legal/patent_policy.html">"Red Hat Patent Policy"</a>. Red Hat.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Red+Hat+Patent+Policy&rft.pub=Red+Hat&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.redhat.com%2Flegal%2Fpatent_policy.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-82"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-82">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://java.sun.com/javase/6/jdk-6u2-license.txt">"Oracle Technology Network for Java Developers"</a>. Sun Microsystems<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-10-09</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Oracle+Technology+Network+for+Java+Developers&rft.pub=Sun+Microsystems&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fjava.sun.com%2Fjavase%2F6%2Fjdk-6u2-license.txt&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-83"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-83">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation pressrelease cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081202014850/http://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/2005-01/sunflash.20050125.2.xml">"Sun Grants Global Open Source Community Access to More than 1,600 Patents"</a> (Press release). Sun Microsystems. January 25, 2005. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/2005-01/sunflash.20050125.2.xml">the original</a> on December 2, 2008.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Sun+Grants+Global+Open+Source+Community+Access+to+More+than+1%2C600+Patents&rft.pub=Sun+Microsystems&rft.date=2005-01-25&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sun.com%2Fsmi%2FPress%2Fsunflash%2F2005-01%2Fsunflash.20050125.2.xml&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-84"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-84">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.microsoft.com/interop/msnovellcollab/community.mspx">"Community Commitments – Microsoft & Novell Interoperability Collaboration"</a>. Microsoft. November 2, 2006.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Community+Commitments+%E2%80%93+Microsoft+%26+Novell+Interoperability+Collaboration&rft.pub=Microsoft&rft.date=2006-11-02&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.microsoft.com%2Finterop%2Fmsnovellcollab%2Fcommunity.mspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-85"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-85">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation pressrelease cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.novell.com/news/press/item.jsp?id=1196">"Microsoft and Novell Announce Broad Collaboration on Windows and Linux Interoperability and Support"</a> (Press release). Novell. November 2, 2006.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Microsoft+and+Novell+Announce+Broad+Collaboration+on+Windows+and+Linux+Interoperability+and+Support&rft.pub=Novell&rft.date=2006-11-02&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.novell.com%2Fnews%2Fpress%2Fitem.jsp%3Fid%3D1196&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-86"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-86">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.businessreviewonline.com/os/archives/2006/11/microsofts_deve.html">"Microsoft's developer patent pledge 'worse than useless' says SFLC"</a>. November 10, 2006.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Microsoft%27s+developer+patent+pledge+%27worse+than+useless%27+says+SFLC&rft.date=2006-11-10&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessreviewonline.com%2Fos%2Farchives%2F2006%2F11%2Fmicrosofts_deve.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-87"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-87">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFEric_LaiSumner_Lemon2007" class="citation web cs1">Eric Lai; Sumner Lemon (2007-05-13). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9019238/Update_Microsoft_wants_royalties_for_open_source_software">"Update: Microsoft wants royalties for open-source software"</a>. Computerworld<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-10-09</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Update%3A+Microsoft+wants+royalties+for+open-source+software&rft.pub=Computerworld&rft.date=2007-05-13&rft.au=Eric+Lai&rft.au=Sumner+Lemon&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.computerworld.com%2Fs%2Farticle%2F9019238%2FUpdate_Microsoft_wants_royalties_for_open_source_software&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-88"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-88">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2012/jan12/01-12LGPR.mspx">"Microsoft and LG Sign Patent Agreement Covering Android and Chrome OS Based Devices"</a>. Microsoft. 2012-01-12<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-10-09</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Microsoft+and+LG+Sign+Patent+Agreement+Covering+Android+and+Chrome+OS+Based+Devices&rft.pub=Microsoft&rft.date=2012-01-12&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.microsoft.com%2FPresspass%2Fpress%2F2012%2Fjan12%2F01-12LGPR.mspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-89"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-89">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMiller1999" class="citation web cs1">Miller, Robin ("Roblimo") (August 31, 1999). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://slashdot.org/articles/99/08/31/0143246.shtml">"Unisys Not Suing (most) Webmasters for Using GIFs"</a>. Slashdot.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Unisys+Not+Suing+%28most%29+Webmasters+for+Using+GIFs&rft.pub=Slashdot&rft.date=1999-08-31&rft.aulast=Miller&rft.aufirst=Robin+%28%22Roblimo%22%29&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fslashdot.org%2Farticles%2F99%2F08%2F31%2F0143246.shtml&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-90"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-90">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/cbcby.htm">"Patent Counts By Class By Year, CY 1977 - 2015"</a>. United States Patent and Trademark Office<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2017-03-13</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Patent+Counts+By+Class+By+Year%2C+CY+1977+-+2015&rft.pub=United+States+Patent+and+Trademark+Office&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uspto.gov%2Fweb%2Foffices%2Fac%2Fido%2Foeip%2Ftaf%2Fcbcby.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-91"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-91">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130115222332/http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/5043/microsoft_autodesk_patent_licensing_deal/?taxid=620938001">"Microsoft, Autodesk in patent licensing deal"</a>. <i>IDG News Service</i>. 2004-12-17. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.arn.idg.com.au/index.php?taxid=620938001&id=63439861">the original</a> on January 15, 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-10-09</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=IDG+News+Service&rft.atitle=Microsoft%2C+Autodesk+in+patent+licensing+deal&rft.date=2004-12-17&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arn.idg.com.au%2Findex.php%3Ftaxid%3D620938001%26id%3D63439861&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-92"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-92">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121015213045/http://www.autm.net/FY_2004_Licensing_Survey/8932.htm"><i>FY 2004 U.S. Licensing Survey</i></a>, Association of University Technology Managers, 2012-09-08, archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.autm.net/FY_2004_Licensing_Survey/8932.htm">the original</a> on 2012-10-15<span class="reference-accessdate">, retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-11-07</span></span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=FY+2004+U.S.+Licensing+Survey&rft.pub=Association+of+University+Technology+Managers&rft.date=2012-09-08&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autm.net%2FFY_2004_Licensing_Survey%2F8932.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-93"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-93">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://premium.hoovers.com/subscribe/co/overview.xhtml?ID=fffrfkrhrrxhjcxxkh"><i>Acacia Technologies LLC: Company Information</i></a>, Hoovers</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Acacia+Technologies+LLC%3A+Company+Information&rft.pub=Hoovers&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fpremium.hoovers.com%2Fsubscribe%2Fco%2Foverview.xhtml%3FID%3Dfffrfkrhrrxhjcxxkh&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span><sup class="noprint Inline-Template"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot"><span title=" Dead link tagged December 2021">dead link</span></a></i><span style="visibility:hidden; color:transparent; padding-left:2px">‍</span>]</span></sup></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=33" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/12px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/18px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/24px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></a></span> Media related to <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Software_patents" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Software patents">Software patents</a> at Wikimedia Commons</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20061022090935/http://www.wipo.int/patent/law/en/developments/software.html"><i>Software and Business Methods</i></a> on the <a href="/wiki/World_Intellectual_Property_Organization" title="World Intellectual Property Organization">WIPO</a> web site</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20050410183700/http://swpat.ffii.org/archive/mirror/impact/index.en.html">FFII Annotated Bibliography</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.softwarepatents.eu/">Softwarepatents.eu</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170626075717/http://softwarepatents.eu/">Archived</a> 2017-06-26 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, an introduction to software patents in Europe and Germany (in German)</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Economic_studies">Economic studies</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=34" title="Edit section: Economic studies"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBessenHunt2004" class="citation cs2">Bessen; Hunt (2004), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.researchoninnovation.org/swpat.pdf"><i>An Empirical Look at Software Patents</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=An+Empirical+Look+at+Software+Patents&rft.date=2004&rft.au=Bessen&rft.au=Hunt&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchoninnovation.org%2Fswpat.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span> This paper includes a method of identifying software patents that has proved popular with organisations such as the <a href="/w/index.php?title=Public_Patent_Foundation&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Public Patent Foundation (page does not exist)">Public Patent Foundation</a></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBessenHunt2004" class="citation cs2">Bessen, James; Hunt, Robert M. (March 16, 2004), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.researchoninnovation.org/softpat.pdf"><i>The Software Patent Experiment</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Software+Patent+Experiment&rft.date=2004-03-16&rft.aulast=Bessen&rft.aufirst=James&rft.au=Hunt%2C+Robert+M.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchoninnovation.org%2Fsoftpat.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFHahnWallsten" class="citation cs2">Hahn, Robert; Wallsten, Scott, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070929094042/http://www.researchineurope.org/policy/hahn_wallsten.pdf"><i>A Review of Bessen and Hunt's Analysis of Software Patents</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>, <a href="/wiki/American_Enterprise_Institute" title="American Enterprise Institute">American Enterprise Institute</a>, archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.researchineurope.org/policy/hahn_wallsten.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 2007-09-29</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=A+Review+of+Bessen+and+Hunt%27s+Analysis+of+Software+Patents&rft.pub=American+Enterprise+Institute&rft.aulast=Hahn&rft.aufirst=Robert&rft.au=Wallsten%2C+Scott&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchineurope.org%2Fpolicy%2Fhahn_wallsten.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBessenHunt2004" class="citation cs2">Bessen, James; Hunt, Robert M. (March 10, 2004), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.researchoninnovation.org/hahn.pdf"><i>A Reply to Hahn and Wallsten</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=A+Reply+to+Hahn+and+Wallsten&rft.date=2004-03-10&rft.aulast=Bessen&rft.aufirst=James&rft.au=Hunt%2C+Robert+M.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchoninnovation.org%2Fhahn.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFederal_Trade_Commission2003" class="citation cs2">Federal Trade Commission (October 2003), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ftc.gov/os/2003/10/innovationrpt.pdf"><i>To Promote Innovation: The Proper Balance of Competition and Patent Law and Policy, A Report by the Federal Trade Commission</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=To+Promote+Innovation%3A+The+Proper+Balance+of+Competition+and+Patent+Law+and+Policy%2C+A+Report+by+the+Federal+Trade+Commission&rft.date=2003-10&rft.au=Federal+Trade+Commission&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ftc.gov%2Fos%2F2003%2F10%2Finnovationrpt.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation cs2"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121204023208/http://eupat.ffii.org/papri/ftc03/"><i>FTC 2003 Report on Patents and Competition</i></a>, <a href="/wiki/Foundation_for_a_Free_Information_Infrastructure" title="Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure">Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure</a> (FFII), 2004-08-16, archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://eupat.ffii.org/papri/ftc03/">the original</a> on 2012-12-04<span class="reference-accessdate">, retrieved <span class="nowrap">2012-11-07</span></span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=FTC+2003+Report+on+Patents+and+Competition&rft.pub=Foundation+for+a+Free+Information+Infrastructure+%28FFII%29&rft.date=2004-08-16&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Feupat.ffii.org%2Fpapri%2Fftc03%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span> – commentary on the FTC "To Promote Innovation" report, 2003 (translated into English)</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFNoelSchankerman2006" class="citation cs2">Noel, Michael; Schankerman, Mark (August 2006), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/dp0740.pdf"><i>CEP Discussion Paper No 740: Strategic Patenting and Software Innovation</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>, Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics and Political Science</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=CEP+Discussion+Paper+No+740%3A+Strategic+Patenting+and+Software+Innovation&rft.pub=Centre+for+Economic+Performance%2C+London+School+of+Economics+and+Political+Science&rft.date=2006-08&rft.aulast=Noel&rft.aufirst=Michael&rft.au=Schankerman%2C+Mark&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fcep.lse.ac.uk%2Fpubs%2Fdownload%2Fdp0740.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Books">Books</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=35" title="Edit section: Books"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBessenMeurer2008" class="citation book cs1">Bessen, James; Meurer, Michael (2008). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://press.princeton.edu/titles/8634.html"><i>Patent Failure</i></a>. Princeton University Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780691143217" title="Special:BookSources/9780691143217"><bdi>9780691143217</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Patent+Failure&rft.pub=Princeton+University+Press&rft.date=2008&rft.isbn=9780691143217&rft.aulast=Bessen&rft.aufirst=James&rft.au=Meurer%2C+Michael&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fpress.princeton.edu%2Ftitles%2F8634.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKlemens2005" class="citation book cs1">Klemens, Ben (2005). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.brookings.edu/press/books/mathyoucantuse.htm"><i>Math You Can't Use: Patents, Copyright, and Software</i></a>. Brookings Institution Press.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Math+You+Can%27t+Use%3A+Patents%2C+Copyright%2C+and+Software&rft.pub=Brookings+Institution+Press&rft.date=2005&rft.aulast=Klemens&rft.aufirst=Ben&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brookings.edu%2Fpress%2Fbooks%2Fmathyoucantuse.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWarshofsky1994" class="citation book cs1">Warshofsky, Fred (October 3, 1994). <span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/patentwarsbattle00wars"><i>The Patent Wars: The Battle to Own the World's Technology</i></a></span>. Wiley. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-471-59902-9" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-471-59902-9"><bdi>978-0-471-59902-9</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Patent+Wars%3A+The+Battle+to+Own+the+World%27s+Technology&rft.pub=Wiley&rft.date=1994-10-03&rft.isbn=978-0-471-59902-9&rft.aulast=Warshofsky&rft.aufirst=Fred&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fpatentwarsbattle00wars&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li>Information Feudalism – Peter Drahos <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDrahos2003" class="citation book cs1">Drahos, Peter (May 1, 2003). <i>Information Feudalism: Who Owns the Knowledge Economy?</i>. The New Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-56584-804-7" title="Special:BookSources/1-56584-804-7"><bdi>1-56584-804-7</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Information+Feudalism%3A+Who+Owns+the+Knowledge+Economy%3F&rft.pub=The+New+Press&rft.date=2003-05-01&rft.isbn=1-56584-804-7&rft.aulast=Drahos&rft.aufirst=Peter&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMüller2006" class="citation book cs1">Müller, Florian (2006). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090326022646/http://crashrecovery.org/NoLobbyistsAsSuch.pdf"><i>No Lobbyists As Such: The War over Software Patents in the European Union</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://crashrecovery.org/NoLobbyistsAsSuch.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 2009-03-26<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2008-05-28</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=No+Lobbyists+As+Such%3A+The+War+over+Software+Patents+in+the+European+Union&rft.date=2006&rft.aulast=M%C3%BCller&rft.aufirst=Florian&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fcrashrecovery.org%2FNoLobbyistsAsSuch.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span> – 377-page play-by-play memoir of the story of Florian's part in the campaign over the EU software patent directive.</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLeith2007" class="citation book cs1">Leith, Philip (2007). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.cambridge.org/gb/knowledge/isbn/item6487700/?site_locale=en_GB"><i>Software and Patents in Europe</i></a>. Cambridge University Press.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Software+and+Patents+in+Europe&rft.pub=Cambridge+University+Press&rft.date=2007&rft.aulast=Leith&rft.aufirst=Philip&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cambridge.org%2Fgb%2Fknowledge%2Fisbn%2Fitem6487700%2F%3Fsite_locale%3Den_GB&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Papers_and_presentations">Papers and presentations</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&action=edit&section=36" title="Edit section: Papers and presentations"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFEdwards" class="citation cs2">Edwards, David, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ams.org/notices/201304/rnoti-p475.pdf"><i>Platonism Is the Law of the Land</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Platonism+Is+the+Law+of+the+Land&rft.aulast=Edwards&rft.aufirst=David&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ams.org%2Fnotices%2F201304%2Frnoti-p475.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFHunt" class="citation cs2">Hunt, R, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130112210524/http://www.phil.frb.org/research-and-data/publications/business-review/2001/q1/brq101bh.pdf"><i>You can patent that?</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>, archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.phil.frb.org/research-and-data/publications/business-review/2001/q1/brq101bh.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 2013-01-12<span class="reference-accessdate">, retrieved <span class="nowrap">2019-01-21</span></span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=You+can+patent+that%3F&rft.aulast=Hunt&rft.aufirst=R&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.phil.frb.org%2Fresearch-and-data%2Fpublications%2Fbusiness-review%2F2001%2Fq1%2Fbrq101bh.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span> – Overview of the legal history and trends</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSzabo" class="citation cs2">Szabo, N., <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060519040201/http://szabo.best.vwh.net/elementalsubjectmatter.pdf"><i>Elemental Subject Matter</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>, archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://szabo.best.vwh.net/elementalsubjectmatter.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 2006-05-19<span class="reference-accessdate">, retrieved <span class="nowrap">2006-03-25</span></span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Elemental+Subject+Matter&rft.aulast=Szabo&rft.aufirst=N.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fszabo.best.vwh.net%2Felementalsubjectmatter.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span> – How software came to be patentable in the United States</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPellegrini2007" class="citation cs2">Pellegrini, François (2007), "Analysis of software patentability in Europe (Chapter 11)", <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.labri.fr/perso/pelegrin/papers/swpat_europe_20061030.pdf"><i>Software Patents – Legal Perspectives</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>, Amicus Books – ICFAI University Press, pp. 192–209, <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-314-0653-3" title="Special:BookSources/978-81-314-0653-3"><bdi>978-81-314-0653-3</bdi></a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Analysis+of+software+patentability+in+Europe+%28Chapter+11%29&rft.btitle=Software+Patents+%E2%80%93+Legal+Perspectives&rft.pages=192-209&rft.pub=Amicus+Books+%E2%80%93+ICFAI+University+Press&rft.date=2007&rft.isbn=978-81-314-0653-3&rft.aulast=Pellegrini&rft.aufirst=Fran%C3%A7ois&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.labri.fr%2Fperso%2Fpelegrin%2Fpapers%2Fswpat_europe_20061030.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFurutani2003" class="citation cs2">Furutani, Hideo (2003), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.furutani.co.jp/office/ronbun/Business_method_patents_in_Japan.pdf"><i>Patentability of Business Method Inventions in Japan Compared with the US and Europe</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(<a href="/wiki/Portable_Document_Format" class="mw-redirect" title="Portable Document Format">PDF</a> presentation)</span>, Arlington, Virginia; United States Patent and Trademark Office</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Patentability+of+Business+Method+Inventions+in+Japan+Compared+with+the+US+and+Europe&rft.place=Arlington%2C+Virginia%3B+United+States+Patent+and+Trademark+Office&rft.date=2003&rft.aulast=Furutani&rft.aufirst=Hideo&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.furutani.co.jp%2Foffice%2Fronbun%2FBusiness_method_patents_in_Japan.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span><span class="cs1-maint citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Citation" title="Template:Citation">citation</a>}}</code>: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (<a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher" title="Category:CS1 maint: location missing publisher">link</a>)</span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFStallman2004" class="citation cs2">Stallman, Richard M. (May 24, 2004), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130115221652/http://www.ifso.ie/documents/rms-2004-05-24.html"><i>The Dangers of Software Patents</i></a>, archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ifso.ie/documents/rms-2004-05-24.html">the original</a> on 2013-01-15<span class="reference-accessdate">, retrieved <span class="nowrap">2007-01-29</span></span></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Dangers+of+Software+Patents&rft.date=2004-05-24&rft.aulast=Stallman&rft.aufirst=Richard+M.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ifso.ie%2Fdocuments%2Frms-2004-05-24.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFAbecassis" class="citation journal cs1">Abecassis, Alexandre. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ewh.ieee.org/reg/7/canrev/cr55/IEEECanadianReview_no55.pdf">"Patenting Software Innovations: A brief overview of the situation in some jurisdictions of interest"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>IEEE Canadian Review</i> (55). <a href="/wiki/Institute_of_Electrical_and_Electronics_Engineers" title="Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers">Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers</a> (IEEE): 24–27.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=IEEE+Canadian+Review&rft.atitle=Patenting+Software+Innovations%3A+A+brief+overview+of+the+situation+in+some+jurisdictions+of+interest&rft.issue=55&rft.pages=24-27&rft.aulast=Abecassis&rft.aufirst=Alexandre&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fewh.ieee.org%2Freg%2F7%2Fcanrev%2Fcr55%2FIEEECanadianReview_no55.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKahin1990" class="citation journal cs1">Kahin, Brian (April 1990). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://reoxy.org/swpc.htm">"The Software Patent Crisis"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Technology_Review" class="mw-redirect" title="Technology Review">Technology Review</a></i>. <a href="/wiki/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology" title="Massachusetts Institute of Technology">Massachusetts Institute of Technology</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Technology+Review&rft.atitle=The+Software+Patent+Crisis&rft.date=1990-04&rft.aulast=Kahin&rft.aufirst=Brian&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Freoxy.org%2Fswpc.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASoftware+patent" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&oldid=1250008536">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&oldid=1250008536</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Category</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Software_patent_law" title="Category:Software patent law">Software patent law</a></li></ul></div><div id="mw-hidden-catlinks" class="mw-hidden-catlinks mw-hidden-cats-hidden">Hidden categories: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_errors:_generic_name" title="Category:CS1 errors: generic name">CS1 errors: generic name</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Webarchive_template_wayback_links" title="Category:Webarchive template wayback links">Webarchive template wayback links</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Pages_using_cite_court_with_unknown_parameters" title="Category:Pages using cite court with unknown parameters">Pages using cite court with unknown parameters</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_articles_with_dead_external_links" title="Category:All articles with dead external links">All articles with dead external links</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_dead_external_links_from_December_2021" title="Category:Articles with dead external links from December 2021">Articles with dead external links from December 2021</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description" title="Category:Articles with short description">Articles with short description</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Short_description_is_different_from_Wikidata" title="Category:Short description is different from Wikidata">Short description is different from Wikidata</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_accuracy_disputes" title="Category:All accuracy disputes">All accuracy disputes</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_disputed_statements_from_April_2023" title="Category:Articles with disputed statements from April 2023">Articles with disputed statements from April 2023</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Wikipedia_articles_in_need_of_updating_from_January_2022" title="Category:Wikipedia articles in need of updating from January 2022">Wikipedia articles in need of updating from January 2022</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_Wikipedia_articles_in_need_of_updating" title="Category:All Wikipedia articles in need of updating">All Wikipedia articles in need of updating</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_containing_potentially_dated_statements_from_2015" title="Category:Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2015">Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2015</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_articles_containing_potentially_dated_statements" title="Category:All articles containing potentially dated statements">All articles containing potentially dated statements</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_articles_with_unsourced_statements" title="Category:All articles with unsourced statements">All articles with unsourced statements</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_unsourced_statements_from_November_2008" title="Category:Articles with unsourced statements from November 2008">Articles with unsourced statements from November 2008</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Commons_category_link_is_on_Wikidata" title="Category:Commons category link is on Wikidata">Commons category link is on Wikidata</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Commons_category_link_from_Wikidata" title="Category:Commons category link from Wikidata">Commons category link from Wikidata</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher" title="Category:CS1 maint: location missing publisher">CS1 maint: location missing publisher</a></li></ul></div></div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="mw-footer-container"> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" > <ul id="footer-info"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 8 October 2024, at 00:12<span class="anonymous-show"> (UTC)</span>.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Text is available under the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License" title="Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License</a>; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the <a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Terms_of_Use" class="extiw" title="foundation:Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Terms of Use">Terms of Use</a> and <a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy_policy" class="extiw" title="foundation:Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy policy">Privacy Policy</a>. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://wikimediafoundation.org/">Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.</a>, a non-profit organization.</li> </ul> <ul id="footer-places"> <li id="footer-places-privacy"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy_policy">Privacy policy</a></li> <li id="footer-places-about"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:About">About Wikipedia</a></li> <li id="footer-places-disclaimers"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:General_disclaimer">Disclaimers</a></li> <li id="footer-places-contact"><a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us">Contact Wikipedia</a></li> <li id="footer-places-wm-codeofconduct"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Universal_Code_of_Conduct">Code of Conduct</a></li> <li id="footer-places-developers"><a href="https://developer.wikimedia.org">Developers</a></li> <li id="footer-places-statslink"><a href="https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/en.wikipedia.org">Statistics</a></li> <li id="footer-places-cookiestatement"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Cookie_statement">Cookie statement</a></li> <li id="footer-places-mobileview"><a href="//en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Software_patent&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile" class="noprint stopMobileRedirectToggle">Mobile view</a></li> </ul> <ul id="footer-icons" class="noprint"> <li id="footer-copyrightico"><a href="https://wikimediafoundation.org/" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button--enabled"><img src="/static/images/footer/wikimedia-button.svg" width="84" height="29" alt="Wikimedia Foundation" loading="lazy"></a></li> <li id="footer-poweredbyico"><a href="https://www.mediawiki.org/" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button--enabled"><img src="/w/resources/assets/poweredby_mediawiki.svg" alt="Powered by MediaWiki" width="88" height="31" loading="lazy"></a></li> </ul> </footer> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-settings" id="p-dock-bottom"> <ul></ul> </div><script>(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.config.set({"wgHostname":"mw-web.codfw.main-f69cdc8f6-pnlkl","wgBackendResponseTime":1311,"wgPageParseReport":{"limitreport":{"cputime":"0.980","walltime":"1.146","ppvisitednodes":{"value":8026,"limit":1000000},"postexpandincludesize":{"value":211942,"limit":2097152},"templateargumentsize":{"value":12815,"limit":2097152},"expansiondepth":{"value":23,"limit":100},"expensivefunctioncount":{"value":16,"limit":500},"unstrip-depth":{"value":1,"limit":20},"unstrip-size":{"value":352825,"limit":5000000},"entityaccesscount":{"value":1,"limit":400},"timingprofile":["100.00% 1012.517 1 -total"," 50.09% 507.172 1 Template:Reflist"," 14.19% 143.710 44 Template:Cite_web"," 13.10% 132.685 12 Template:Cite_book"," 10.83% 109.625 31 Template:Citation"," 9.49% 96.095 2 Template:Sidebar"," 9.00% 91.152 1 Template:Computer_programs,_software_and_patent_law"," 6.46% 65.409 1 Template:Short_description"," 5.37% 54.392 1 Template:Commons_category"," 5.17% 52.340 1 Template:Sister_project"]},"scribunto":{"limitreport-timeusage":{"value":"0.587","limit":"10.000"},"limitreport-memusage":{"value":7982136,"limit":52428800}},"cachereport":{"origin":"mw-web.codfw.main-f69cdc8f6-pnlkl","timestamp":"20241122140731","ttl":35551,"transientcontent":true}}});});</script> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Article","name":"Software patent","url":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Software_patent","sameAs":"http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q913351","mainEntity":"http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q913351","author":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Contributors to Wikimedia projects"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.wikimedia.org\/static\/images\/wmf-hor-googpub.png"}},"datePublished":"2002-08-26T12:32:43Z","dateModified":"2024-10-08T00:12:43Z","headline":"time-limited state-granted monopoly on software in return for public disclosure"}</script> </body> </html>