📜 Does Europe’s Patent Framework Hold Back Software Innovation
In the fast-moving fields of Artificial Intelligence and blockchain , intellectual-property certainty is often the difference between scaling a great idea and shelving it. Yet many European innovators still confront a major hurdle: software-related inventions receive only limited protection under the European Patent Office (EPO) . 1️⃣ The Core Issue EPO’s approach – Under the European Patent Convention, “computer programs as such” are excluded from patentability unless they demonstrate a technical effect beyond normal data processing. This narrow definition leaves many AI models, blockchain protocols, and data-driven business methods in a grey zone. US advantage – By contrast, the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) allows patents for software and methodology claims that meet general utility, novelty, and non-obviousness criteria. The broader scope gives U.S. firms stronger incentives—and clearer exit strategies for investors. 2️⃣ Innovation Chilling Ef...