Overview

A High Court ruling on electronic programming guides in Gemstar v Virgin has provided a useful illustration of the boundary between computer-implemented inventions which are excluded from patentability as consisting of a computer program, or the presentation of information, and those which are not.

Gemstar, a Rupert Murdoch company which licenses interactive programme guide technology patents to multi-channel operators, such as cable and satellite television providers, brought an action against Virgin, which provides set-top boxes enabling customers to receive and record digitally transmitted programmes, for infringement of three of its patents.

The three patents in question involved techniques for providing electronic programming guides (EPGs) for television services and the handling of recordings from those EPGs.

This briefing by Field Fisher Waterhouse explains in more detail. Please click to read further.