The UK Supreme Court has issued a landmark ruling on whether artificial intelligence can be an inventor on a patent application. This judgment will have a profound impact on the development of artificial intelligence technology and the improvement of future patent laws. The core of the case is that Stephen Thaler listed the artificial intelligence system called DABUS as the inventor, challenging the traditional patent law that the inventor must be a natural person. The court’s final ruling will directly affect legal discussions and practices around the world regarding artificial intelligence invention rights.
The UK Supreme Court has ruled that artificial intelligence cannot be the inventor of a patent application. The ruling could have significant implications for the widespread use of artificial intelligence tools. The case stems from two patent applications filed by Stephen Thaler in 2018, but he named his self-named AI machine DABUS as the inventor. However, under current patent law, the inventor must be a natural person. The court rejected Thaler's claim, noting that UK patent law currently cannot protect inventions autonomously generated by AI machines. The judgment will also affect the trial of the same case in the United States.This judgment not only clarifies the status of artificial intelligence under the current patent law framework, but also provides an important reference for future legislation and judicial practice. How to balance the relationship between the development of artificial intelligence technology and the existing legal framework will be an important issue that needs to be continuously discussed in the future. This will prompt countries to re-examine their patent laws to adapt to the era of artificial intelligence.