Graphical User Interfaces

Abstract

In this part, we will try to outline the matters which should be of concern to potential applicants concerning inventions in the field of Graphical User Interfaces. After a summary of the different intellectual property protection available for GUI, the criteria, according to which a decision could be made as to whether or not to file a patent application, are explained via four examples. One of the aspects of the present chapter is to clarify the minimum disclosure your patent application has to include in order to increase your chances of grant. Another aspect is to make clear to you that it’s your task, with the help of your patent lawyer, to understand what your invention is (see example 7.2). It is very unpleasant to realize, after you have a patent granted, that in fact you have unnecessarily limited your invention to a GUI even if a GUI is only one of the embodiments you can achieve with your real invention.