UK Supreme Court Rules AI is not an “Inventor” for Patent Purposes
Summary
On December 20, 2023, the UK Supreme Court, ruled that an “inventor must be a person,” not an AI, for purposes of patent applications under the UK Patents Act of 1977. The ruling concerns an AI named DABUS, which its developer claimed autonomously created two products, a light beacon and a food or drink container, and thus deserved to be named as an inventor on their patents. The Court further found that the developer was not entitled to own any invention made by DABUS or to apply for a patent for inventions created by DABUS based on the developer’s ownership of the AI. The ruling affirms the earlier decision of the UK Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks.
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