Publication
The next frontier: Offshore wind development in Asia
In the face of significant global headwinds in the sector, green shoots are emerging in 2025 for offshore wind in Asia after a turbulent 24 months.
Global | Publication | August 2020
Computer technologies are developing at a rapid pace and impacting on all sectors of the global economy. Inherent in this epochal shift towards and beyond the Information Age is a need for inventors of information technology to protect their computer-implemented inventions (CIIs). In this global comparative piece, we examine the current state of the law on the patentability of CIIs across a number of key jurisdictions, consider its impact on the protection and innovation of CIIs and provide some practical suggestions for future patent applicants in this space.
The viability of CII patents around the world is affected by legislation, official guidelines and patent office practice, and of course, case law. None of the jurisdictions we cover in this piece have a blanket prohibition against the patentability of CIIs. As long as a CII meets the relevant threshold or criteria for patent protection, it will be considered patentable subject matter. The process for examining and assessing patentability varies between jurisdictions, and sometimes within a jurisdiction over time and on a case-by-case basis.
One key theme seems to have currency in all jurisdictions we examine: mere business methods, economic practices, abstract ideas and scientific theorems are largely considered non-patentable subject matter. This extends to general purpose computer programs per se that implement such abstract creations devoid of any technical character.
Conversely, most jurisdictions consider CIIs that concern a technical contribution to be potentially patentable. What this entails varies between jurisdictions, but in essence will involve CIIs that:
Although there is still legal uncertainty in this area, the increasing number of decisions and directions from patent offices and courts worldwide relating to CIIs provide useful guidance to patent applicants and practitioners alike and disclose a gradual trend towards acceptance of CII patents. For now, CII patent applicants are encouraged to ensure precision in the drafting of their claims and specifications, which should include sufficient detail as to the technical solutions and computer-specific functions used to carry out the invention. Meanwhile, those seeking to navigate freedom to operate issues will need to have regard to an increased potential for CII patents making their way through the patent validity gauntlet.
Publication
In the face of significant global headwinds in the sector, green shoots are emerging in 2025 for offshore wind in Asia after a turbulent 24 months.
Publication
Charlotte Hillyard, Senior Innovation Lawyer in the Innovation Design and Technology team and one of Norton Rose Fulbright's Generative AI leads, will be sharing her insight at several prominent legal technology events in the coming week.
Publication
On 6 March 2025, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the National Data Administration and the National Energy Administration (NEA) jointly released Opinions on Promoting High-quality Development of the Renewable Energy Green Electricity Certificate Market (关于促进可再生能源绿色电力证书市场高质量发展的意见) (the Opinions).
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