Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the technological movements that are increasingly becoming part of our daily lives. Long gone are the days when AI’s only challenge was to beat a chess master. Today, we’re using the computational and data-processing capabilities of computers to advise, predict… improve our lives?
AI is more than just a trend!
You may have heard of ” machine learning ” or ” deep learning “. Perhaps you’re in the process of developing a product or service based on these methodologies!
In many fields, such as finance, home automation or sales, artificial intelligence is making its mark. Just look at the chatbots invading after-sales service platforms!
Yet it would be wrong to believe that this is just a passing trend. To analyze this boom in research & development, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has published a report entitled “Technology Trends 2019: Artificial Intelligence”. The analyses and figures presented by the Office confirm this trend.
Did you know?
The first AI-related patents were filed with the Japanese Patent Office in the early 1980s.
Top 3 offices receiving AI-related patent applications :
- United States (USPTO)
- China (CNIPA)
- Japan (特許庁 Tokkyochō)
A gap between scientific publications and patent applications
The WIPO report highlights the discrepancy between the acceleration in the number of patents filed and that in the number of scientific publications.
The explanation is simple! While artificial intelligence has long been a field of study, the maturity of methods and technologies has enabled theemergence of commercial applications. It was at this point that patent registrations increased, in order to protect inventions and inventors.
The report speaks of 1.6 million scientific publications relating to AI, for 340,000 patent applications since the 1950s.
Artificial intelligence raises real legal questions
The issue of “robot law” is far from trivial. If an artificial intelligence is the author of a discovery, does it have the status of inventor? Who would be the owner of a patent resulting from an AI? The European Commission’s adoption of “Civil law rules on robotics – European Parliament resolution of February 16, 2017” prompts us to give prompt thought to these issues.
“Whereas, now that humanity stands at the dawn of an era in which increasingly sophisticated robots, intelligent algorithms, androids and other forms of artificial intelligence appear to be on the verge of unleashing a new industrial revolution that is likely to affect all strata of society, it is of fundamental importance for legislators to examine the legal and ethical consequences and effects of such a revolution, without stifling innovation;”
It should be noted that, while theEPO would in principle reject applications concerning mathematical methods and the presentation of information, it is quite conceivable that European patent applications will be granted if the inventions present at least one technical feature.
Read more:
- Apply for a patent for an application, software or program
- Innovation and artificial intelligence at Kiwatch
- Sylvain Peyronnet, IX-Labs Scientific Director, talks about Artificial Intelligence
- “Droit des robots” written by Alain Bensoussan and Jeremy Bensoussan, published by Larcier, 2015
