Re: [Patents] DE Technologies patent in Europe?

[Hartmut Pilch <phm@a2e.de>]

> http://l2.espacenet.com/espacenet/viewer?PN=EP1049966&CY=ep&LG=en&DB=EPD

> This seems to indicate that the DE Technologies patent which is currently
> threatening to wreak havoc through the Aussie and NZ e-commerce
> industries, is also pending in the European patent system.

> As far as I can see though, it hasn't been actually granted yet -- nor
> would it be valid anyway, unless this vote in September goes the wrong
> way...

This patent has only one claim:

   A process for carrying out an international transaction
   over EMF communication links using computer to computer communications
   comprising the steps of:
   (a) selecting a language in which to view catalogue information on
   products;
   (b) selecting a currency in which to obtain a price of the products;
   (c) selecting products to be purchased and a destination for said
   selected products to be purchased thereby triggering a calculation of
   all costs involved in moving said selected products to said
   destination based upon said destination and said selected products;
   and,
   (d) ordering said selected products thereby triggering an electronic
   funds transfer authorization and generation of electronic title for
   said selected products.

I would assume that this will fail even at the present-day EPO due to lack
of novelty.  At the priority date of 1997 filling in forms on a computer
wasn't new.

-- 
Hartmut Pilch, FFII & Eurolinux Alliance              tel. +49-89-18979927
Protecting Innovation against Patent Inflation       http://swpat.ffii.org/
160,000 votes 2000 firms against software patents    http://noepatents.org/