WIPS global: [International Briefing] US, UK

USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) has launched PPUBS, a new patent open search service that replaces the existing four patent search systems

On September 20, 2022, the USPTO announced that they’d officially release a new 'Patent Public Search (PPUBS)' service that replaces the four existing search tools provided for patent searches.

On February 1, 2022, the USPTO announced a new search tool that provides more convenient, remote access, and full-text search capabilities for all U.S. patents and published patent applications.

After the announcement, the USPTO operated the new search tool ‘PPUBS’ and the existing system at the same time, and as of September 30, 2022, the existing system was officially shut down and converted to a new system.

The USPTO's new system, PPUBS, was first unveiled in a press release in February, and as of September 30, it is said to completely replace the four existing search tools attached below.

(1) Public-Examiner's Automated Search Tool (PubEAST)

• PubEAST is an examiner search tool for published patents, which was only available at USPTO offices and related centers, but was made public through PPUBS's new website.

(2) Public-Web-based Examiner’s Search Tool (PubWEST)

∙ PubWEST is a web-based examiner search tool, which is available only for USPTO offices and related centers like PubEAST, but it was integrated into PPUBS.

(3) Patent Full-Text and Image Database (PatFT)

∙ PatFT is an open system that searches all documents and images of patents registered in the USPTO. As it was integrated into PPUBS, the existing service was discontinued.

(4) Patent Application Full-Text and Image Database (AppFT)

∙ AppFT is an open system that searches patents filed after March 2001, and as it was integrated into PPUBS, the existing service was discontinued.

▲ ppubs.uspto.gov

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UK Intellectual Property Office announced, Examining patent applications relating to artificial intelligence (AI) inventions: The Guidance

▲ clipartkorea.co.kr

On September 22, 2022, the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) published the enhanced guidance 'Examining patent applications relating to artificial intelligence (AI) inventions'. 1)

This guideline describes the examination practices of the UKIPO to assist the examination of patent applications for AI inventions. It also briefly mentions the sufficiency requirements for AI inventions. Various scenarios (how AI inventions work, examples of patent claims, etc.)2) are provided as attachments.

There is no single agreed-upon definition of AI, but the UK government defines AI as “technologies with the ability to perform tasks that would otherwise require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, and language translation”.3)

∙ AI inventions can be filed in any technical field, and patent protection might be sought for various aspects of AI inventions (‘applied AI’ or ‘core AI’).

∙ ‘Applied AI’ invention applies AI techniques to fields other than AI, and ‘Core AI’ invention does not specify any application or use-case for its AI features, but defines an advance in the field of AI itself (e.g., improved AI models, algorithms or mathematical method).