Summary
The application concerns the use of -blockchain- technology to manage an interest rate swap contract. Specifically, a management computer uses -blockchain- to hold details of pending events in the contract and thereby to generate a net amount for payment under the contract. In this way the system manages the interest rate swap with assurance being provided by the -blockchain- thus avoiding the need for a trusted third party.
The Hearing Officer applied theAerotel/Macrossantest and considered the Court of Appeal decision inMerrill Lynch-s Application. He decided that the contribution made by the invention was excluded as a method of doing business as such. The Hearing Officer then also briefly considered the signposts laid out inHTC v Appleand concluded that the contribution was also excluded as a program for a computer. The application was refused under section 18(3).
Full decisionO/957/22 287Kb