Statement welcoming EP report on AI and IPR

IP2Innovate welcomes an own initiative report by the European Parliament adopted today which urges policymakers to safeguard the European patents system from abuse.

The report by MEP Stephane Séjourné on intellectual property rights for the development of artificial intelligence technologies is one of several AI-related reports being considered in the European Parliament’s Legal Affairs committee. Others cover aspects such as ethics.

“We have been calling for stronger safeguards to protect the European Union’s patent system against abuse for years. The digital age brings with it complex innovations often containing hundreds or more patented elements within them. With the rise in the number of patents being granted there is also, sadly, a rise in the number of firms trying to game the system – so-called patent trolls,” said Patrick Oliver, executive director of IP2Innovate.

AI is no different. “The growth of AI is likely to spark a surge in patent applications, and it too could soon be plagued by non-practicing entities gaming the system,” he said.

“Europe will struggle to fulfil its ambition to become a global leader in AI if the intellectual property system doesn’t better protect against players whose sole aim is to exploit patents for a quick profit.

“These non-practicing entities have no intention of bringing inventions to market. Instead they deter genuine innovators – especially SMEs,” Mr Oliver said.