Symbian Ltd (Patent): IPO 30 Jul 2007

IPO The application relates to a method of operating a computing device to access data held in a dynamic link library (DLL) which has two parts, each part containing a number of functions. In operation, an executable program directly links to the functions in the first part through the ordinal numbers. To access the functions in the second part, the executable program links to the DLL indirectly through an interface which comprises a further library containing additional functions. The provision of the interface enables an executable program to access the functionality available on the computing device, regardless of any additions or amendments made to the available functionality by a third party. The hearing officer applied the four part test set out in the Aerotel and Macrossan judgment, found the invention to be excluded as a computer program, and refused the application.

Judges:

Mrs S E Chalmers

Citations:

[2007] UKIntelP o20907, GB 0325145.1

Links:

Bailii

Statutes:

Patents Act 1977 1(2)

Cited by:

Appeal fromSymbian Ltd v Comptroller General of Patents PatC 18-Mar-2008
The company appealed against rejection of its patent application, the objection being as to the invention’s patentability. The EPO had granted a European Patent. . .
At IPOSymbian Ltd v Comptroller General of Patents CA 8-Oct-2008
No Pattern Established to Patent Computer Systems
The Comptroller appealed against the decision in Chancery to grant a patent to the clamant for an invention which the comptroller said should have been excluded from protection under section 1(2) as a computer program. It was argued that the UK was . .
Appeal fromSymbian Ltd v Comptroller General of Patents CA 8-Oct-2008
No Pattern Established to Patent Computer Systems
The Comptroller appealed against the decision in Chancery to grant a patent to the clamant for an invention which the comptroller said should have been excluded from protection under section 1(2) as a computer program. It was argued that the UK was . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Intellectual Property

Updated: 20 October 2022; Ref: scu.456731