Does the proposal include rules about business methods?
The proposal does not deal directly with the patentability of business methods. This is because the consultations have indicated clearly that there is general satisfaction with the current situation, whereby “pure” business methods (that is, methods which have no technical character) are not currently patentable. However, in practice some inventions involving business methods could fall within the definition of “computer-implemented inventions”. These inventions would be dealt with in accordance with the proposed Directive, and in particular patents would only be granted for inventions that made a “technical contribution”.
