ISRAELI BUSINESS METHODS CASE

Globes Online reports that the Israeli Patent Registrar has ruled that business methods cannot be patented in Israel. The application, by Eli Tamir, was for an invention consisting of coupons which were sold to consumers and which would be reduced in value as they were redeemed at relevant retailers. Although business methods are allowed by the USPTO, the Registrar noted that this was because business methods are patentable under US law. The same is not true in Israel. The Registrar also noted that, in order to comply with TRIPs, Israel has broadened the scope of patentable inventions from inventions in “industry or agriculture” to inventions in “any field of technology”.

The IPKat says that this makes sense – just because the US does things one way, this doesn’t mean the rest of the world has to too.