Business-method patents are among the most controversial forms of legal protection for some Internet companies. But they can also be among the most important assets. Internet business method patent applications call upon two areas of patent law namely algorithms and business methods.
"Schemes, rule and methods for (...) doing business", "as such", or in other words business methods as such, are not regarded as being inventions and are not patentable under the European Patent Convention (Article 52(2)(c) and (3)). The legal situation is very different under US patent law and case law, especially after the State Street Bank decision.
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