On Friday, the UK Patent Office launched a public consultation aimed at evaluating the inventive step requirement for patentability in the UK. The consultation specifically asks the following questions:
• Is the inventive step requirement for patentable inventions in the United Kingdom right for inventors, the public at large, and the UK economy?
• Are too many “trivial” patents being granted?
• Or are innovation and competitiveness best served by easy patenting with low hurdles?
You can download the full consultation document, including the feedback form, here. Comments should be returned to the Patent Office by May 31, 2006.
For more, see this article on ZDNet.
