G1/19: EPO oral proceedings

HGF’s Chris Benson and Bernhard Ganahl say theclosely watched EPO oral proceedings considering computer implemented inventionpatentability is a rare opportunity for the case law in this area to advancesignificantly

On 15 July 2020, the European Patent Office(EPO) held a hearing of the Enlarged Board of Appeal (BoA) in the matter of ‘PedestrianSimulation’ (G1/19). This is only the second time that the EnlargedBoA has specifically considered the patentability of computer implemented inventions(CIIs) and so represents a rare opportunity for case law in this area toadvance significantly.