From steve.probert@patent.gov.uk Fri, 23 Jun 2000 23:34:36 +0100
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 23:34:36 +0100
From: Steve Probert steve.probert@patent.gov.uk
Subject: [Patents] Press release about the BT patent on hyperlinks.
 -Reply -Reply

> If it's not "a computer program as such", what is it, a curry recipe?

The invention as claimed concerns an information handling system and a
terminal apparatus.  So it's not a curry recipe, but then neither is it a
computer program ;-)

Seriously, the problem of getting information into and out of a computer
(the "man-machine interface") is a technical problem, and arrangements
like this for facilitating the process of communicating with a machine are,
generally speaking, technical inventions and not computer programs as
such.

>IOW, are patents experts more qualified than a computer programmer to
>decide wether something is or is not "a computer program as such"?

The Courts are the ultimate authority when it comes to interpreting the
law in the UK.  IOW, programmers know about programs, Courts know
about the law.  The issue here concerns what is meant by a particular
piece of legislation, not program code, so the Court decides whether
something is or is not a computer program as such.  (The Patent Office
follows the decisions of the Court, as it is bound to do.)

Steve Probert
UK Patent Office




