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Artificial intelligence is breaking patent law

The patent system assumes that inventors are human. Inventions devised by machines require their own intellectual property law and an international treaty.
By
  1. Alexandra George

    1. Alexandra George is associate professor of law at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

  2. Toby Walsh

    1. Toby Walsh is professor of artificial intelligence at the University of New South Wales, Sydney; and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia.

Illustration showing robotic hands building a digital brain

Illustration by Ana Kova

In 2020, a machine-learning algorithm helped researchers to develop a potent antibiotic that works against many pathogens (see Nature https://doi.org/ggm2p4; 2020). Artificial intelligence (AI) is also being used to aid vaccine development, drug design, materials discovery, space technology and ship design. Within a few years, numerous inventions could involve AI. This is creating one of the biggest threats patent systems have faced.

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Nature 605, 616-618 (2022)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-01391-x

References

  1. DABUS. Food Container and Devices and Methods for Attracting Enhanced Attention. Patent Cooperation Treaty international application PCT/IB2019/057809 (Filed 17 September 2019).

  2. Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc. [2007] 569 US 576.

  3. Stanková, E. Cambridge Law J. 80, 338–365 (2021).

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Competing Interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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