Managing IP is part of the Delinian Group, Delinian Limited, 8 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX, Registered in England & Wales, Company number 00954730
Copyright © Delinian Limited and its affiliated companies 2023

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

First thoughts: UKIPO makes bold call on AI inventorship

artificial-intelligence-min-final.jpg

The UKIPO will consider tabling legislation to reverse a court decision from last year that AI tools cannot be classed as inventors

Anyone with more than a passing interest in new technologies and the law will have received a nice surprise on Tuesday, March 23, when the UKIPO released the results of a three-month consultation on the impact of artificial intelligence on intellectual property.

Running from September to November 2020, the consultation took a deep dive into the many intersections between AI and patents, copyright, designs, trademarks and trade secrets. At the time, I wrote an opinion piece arguing that while the initiative was welcome, it was probably too little, too late.

Though the full report still needs to be properly digested, there is at least one highly notable outcome – the UKIPO will consult on a range of options, including legislation, to address the fact that AI tools cannot be listed as inventors.

“We recognise that AI systems have an increasing impact on the innovation process. We want to ensure the intellectual property systems support and incentivise AI-generated innovation,” said a UKIPO spokesperson.

“We also want to ensure transparency in the innovation process and that inventorship criteria do not present a barrier to protecting investment in AI-generated innovation.”

Related stories

 

 

This pledge comes despite a ruling from the England and Wales High Court in September 2020 that only “natural persons” can be classed as inventors. In it, the court said the term “inventor” under UK law excluded AI systems.

Of course, we are a long way from any legislation being put on the table – and we have no idea what would be in it – but the UKIPO’s position could pave the way for a bold departure from the court’s decision (and that of other IP offices, including the USPTO).

As recently as February 24, the USPTO urged the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to dismiss a suit challenging its decision that an AI tool could not be listed as an inventor in a US patent application.

Turning the tables

Until very recently, it seemed this was the UKIPO’s position too. Let’s not forget, the decision from the High Court upheld a UKIPO ruling that said the patent applications in question had failed to identify a “person”.

The case concerned two applications for an AI machine named Device for the Autonomous Bootstrapping of Unified Sentience. The man behind the applications, Stephen Thaler, previously told Managing IP that it would have been “criminal” to list himself as the inventor because DABUS was the true inventor.

If the UKIPO did introduce legislation that recognised AI tools as inventors, it would be a highly progressive yet controversial move that would recognise the centrality of non-humans in the invention process.

According to the UKIPO, the consultation was split on whether AI systems were even able to invent without human involvement; some (though certainly not Thaler) said that it was simply not possible.

There was also an interesting range of views on the issue of AI inventorship, with the UKIPO confirming that some respondents said it might be appropriate to list AI as an inventor per se, but that others disagreed. Some even felt that the concept of an inventor should be discontinued.

But now we know where the UKIPO sits in the debate, it will be intriguing to see where it takes things. Will we really see new legislation that gives AI the same rights as humans? It’s not so unthinkable any more.

more from across site and ros bottom lb

More from across our site

The IPO must change its approach and communicate with IP owners about its attempts at clearing up the trademark register
Counsel are looking at enforceability, business needs and cost savings when filing for patents overseas
James Perkins, member at Cole Schotz in Texas, reveals how smaller tech companies can protect themselves when dealing with larger players
We provide a rundown of Managing IP’s news and analysis coverage from the week, and review what’s been happening elsewhere in IP
The EUIPO management board must provide the Council of the EU with a performance assessment before it can remove the executive director
The European Commission confirmed that plans for a unitary SPC will be published in April alongside reforms to the SEP system
The court held that SEP implementers could be injuncted or directed to pay royalties before trial if they are deemed to be unwilling licensees
Patentees should feel cautious optimism over the EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal’s decision in G2/21, say European patent attorneys
Significant changes to the standard of law are unlikely, say sources, who note that some justices seemed sceptical that the parties disagreed on the legal standard
Sources say the High Court of Australia’s ruling that reputation is immaterial in trademark infringement cases could stop famous brands from muscling out smaller players