In a move that further underscores the ongoing evolution of AI inventorship, the U.K. Supreme Court recently ruled in Thaler v. Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks that artificial intelligence systems cannot be credited as inventors in patent applications. The ruling, which echoed earlier interpretations by U.K courts and the U.K. Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), clarified that the inventor must be a natural person.
This notable development is part of a broader discourse within the U.K., U.S. and EU authorities. It underscores an emerging consensus that while AI systems may not be designated as inventors, patents could be granted to human inventors who utilise AI as a sophisticated tool. Legal professionals should track these developments closely, as they have the potential to significantly shape the future of patents and AI, and the interaction between the two.