UK/NL Startup Touts Nonexistent Patent on "Mathematical Solution" for "Software Design Methodology"
--> news, VoIP 2004-05-29, Allvoice, Venture Capital
A UK company bragging with an (apparently non-existent) patent GB 0410047.5 for what it refers to as a "software design methodology" and "mathematical solution", saying that such items are normally not patentable but in this case granted due to particular excellence of the solution.
Original Verum PR 2004-05-25: "Verum receives patent protection for software design methodology"
Cimtalk: "Verum awarded groundbreaking patent for software design methodology"
EETUK: "Verum gains patent on software design methodology" LONDON - Verum Consultants, the European start-up focussed on reducing errors in software, has been awarded patent protection in 170 countries for its Analytical Software Design (ASD) process. Verum believes that the patent is groundbreaking as it is extremely rare for a software methodology to be granted patent protection. Typically patent agents regard software as an art form and intellectual property protection is limited to copyright. Robert Howe, CEO at Verum, said, "The granting of patent protection to Verum's Analytical Software Design (ASD) demonstrates that it is not simply yet another voodoo methodology, but a credible mathematical solution to many of the problems that face architects and designers charged with designing complex software systems."
Nice that he says that they got their patent for a mathematical solution. He moreover claims that such patents are not grantable, unless the solution is so brilliant that the non-patentability rule can be broken.
The European Patent Office stresses in its introductory materials that "a patent is not a certificate of technical excellence", apparently because so many corporate press releases spread misinformation about the patent system in efforts to make their company look more attractive to investors.
FFII and others have been arguing that the patentability of mathematical solutions is due to an erosion of quality requirements in the patent system. Most of the mathematical solutions granted by patent offices are in fact trivial.
On the patent itself, the PR discloses the following:
- Verum's patent (Number GB 0410047.5) covers the Analytical Software Design Technology (ASD) process, whereby informal specifications are converted to CSP models. It also covers the mathematical bridge between Sequence Based Specification (SBS) and Box Structured Development Method (BSDM) elements of ASD and CSP, and the modifications that Verum has made to SBS and BSDM to make this bridge possible.
A research on http://gb.espacenet.com/ showed that the patent does not seem to exist yet. Steve Probert, Deputy Director in the UK patent office, confirmed this in a public mailing list discussion.
Further research shows that the patentees are involved in a "technology transfer" from public-funded research to a patent business.
Section 110 of the UK Patents Act 1977 reads as follows:
110.- (1) If a person falsely represents that anything disposed of by him for value is a patented product he shall, subject to the following provisions of this section, be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
For other examples of software patent games played by startup companies, see
Hartmut Pilch has written to the EETUK journalist to ask for clarification and has not received a reply yet.
It would probably be better for someone to write to Verum.com directly.
