On Wednesday, the highest court in the U.K. ruled that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot be designated as an inventor on a patent application, a decision that is expected to have a significant impact as the use of AI tools increases.
The case originated from patent applications filed by Stephen Thaler in 2018, one for a food packaging shape and another for a type of flashing light. Instead of naming himself as the inventor, he attributed the inventions to his AI machine named “DABUS” and claimed ownership of the patents based on his control over the creative abilities of the machine.
Initially, the U.K. Intellectual Property Office rejected Thaler’s applications, stating that he did not adhere to the patent requirements, which demand that a person be identified as the inventor and a description be provided explaining how ownership rights derive from that individual (in this case, an AI).
Thaler appealed the decision, arguing that he had satisfied all the requirements outlined in a 1977 legislation. However, his appeal was denied. He then made additional appeals to the U.K.’s High Court and Court of Appeal, both of which rejected his claim, maintaining that AI cannot be acknowledged as an inventor.
In its ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court clarified that it was not addressing the broader question of whether advancements achieved by AI-powered tools and machines should be eligible for patent protection, nor was it considering the expansion of the definition of the term “inventor.”
Source (CNBC)
