Patent decision

BL number

O/756/21

Concerning rights in

GB1804452.9

Hearing Officer

Mr P Mason

Decision date

12 October 2021

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Provisions discussed

Patents Act Section 1(2)

Keywords

Added subject matter, Excluded fields (refused)

Related Decisions

O/755/21

Summary

The invention relates to a method for providing audio-video data to provide a virtual reality (VR) display output when processed by a VR headset, including providing additional content packaged with the audio-video data; the additional content configured to provide an alternative display output which alternative output comprises an augmented reality (AR) output and at least one of 3D or 2D audio-video output. The claimed invention further requires that the AR output is configured -�to simulate the VR output-� when it is used in conjunction with the at least one of a 2D or 3D audio-video output. The examiner had objected to added matter, inventive step and excluded subject matter. The hearing Officer decided that the amended claims were fully supported by the description and as such went on to consider the excluded subject matter. The hearing Officer applied the four step test from Aerotel and considered the AT&T Signposts. When considering the contribution, the efficient display of scripted events of a narrative was not considered to be a technical contribution, as such he found that the application lacked the required technical contribution and refused the application as a computer program as such. The application was refused.

Full decisionO/756/21  436Kb