For the whole decision click here: o12508
Summary
The claims, which had been substantially restricted to avoid the cited prior art, related to a method and video disc player for offering for products featured in a video for purchase. A video disc was examined for the presence of associated trigger data relating the display of a product in the video to the time it was displayed. If none were found, the data was requested from a remote server, downloaded and stored in memory. When the disc was played and in response to the trigger data, an indicator was displayed to show that a displayed product was available for purchase. Applying the Aerotel test the hearing officer considered (i) that the disc, player and remote server were conventional hardware items and the interaction between them was caused solely by one or more computer programs, even if embedded in the hardware, and (ii) the end result was a method for doing business. Refusing the application, he held that the contribution was solely within the computer program and business method exclusions, and that irrespective of whether or not it was necessary to consider the point, it was not technical in nature (Symbian Ltd [2008] EWHC 518 was distinguished).