[Patents] Technical effect

[Steve Probert steve.probert@patent.gov.uk]

>As Britain (which courts?) is already using the same terminology as the
>EPO, I can't see how they could refuse Internet patents of the One-Click
>type.

As I said in an earlier post, I cannot comment on the Amazon One-Click 
application currently before the EPO, but I have no difficulty answering your 
other questions in more general terms.  The courts to which I was referring 
were the High Court and the Court of Appeal in London.  
The UK Patent Office has no difficulty refusing patent applications for 
methods of doing business because it is bound by the decisions of the Courts 
in the UK.  UK law requires the Office to take notice of decisions of the EPO 
Boards of Appeal, but if there is any conflict between the EPO Boards of 
Appeal and the UK Courts it must follow the UK Courts.  Therefore the UK 
Patent Office regularly and consistently (I hope) refuses all applications 
for methods of doing business - whatever the technical advance may be.  As 
the law stands, it would be very difficult not to refuse such applications.

I hope this is helpful.

Steve Probert