Software patents: Where does all this leave us? In The Matter of Autonomy Corporation Ltd. v. Comptroller General of Patents, Trade Marks & Designs Ch D (Patents Ct) 6/2/2008

Mr Justice Lewison is not alone in considering the recent case law of the UK Courts on the patentability of computer programs and asking the question: where does all this leave us? In his judgment concerning Autonomy Corporation Limited's patent application, Mr Justice Lewison asked the question rhetorically and made a helpful attempt to answer it. It will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the subject-matter that the answer was not straightforward. It consisted of 12 statements of principle. This article reviews Mr Justice Lewison's judgment and in particular the principles concerning the operation and scope of the exclusion from patentability of computer programs.