UK Ruling Declares AIs Not Allowed to Be Listed as "Inventors" in Patent Applications

The UK Supreme Court ruled on December 20, making it clear thatartificial intelligence (AI)(AI) cannot be listed as an "inventor" in a patent application. The decision was based on two patent applications filed by American technologist Stephen Sailer, in which the inventor was not Sailer himself, but rather the inventor of a product called DABUS.artificial intelligence (AI)Machine.

In its decision, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom emphasized that, under the current patent law, the "inventor" applying for a patent must be a "natural person". This conclusion was based on an interpretation of the provisions of the Patent Act and a consideration of the nature of invention. Traditionally, inventions are driven by human intelligence and creativity, whereas artificial intelligence, as a tool or technology, does not possess human intelligence or creative thinking.

This ruling has far-reaching implications and further clarifies the status of AI in the field of intellectual property. It emphasizes the central role of natural persons in the creation of inventions and underscores the strict provisions of the current patent law regarding the identity of inventors. This ruling helps to maintain the fairness and legitimacy of intellectual property rights and prevent confusion over patent ownership due to the involvement of artificial intelligence.

Despite the fact that AI has demonstrated powerful capabilities in many fields, it is still a question worth exploring how to reasonably define the roles and responsibilities of AI and human beings in inventions and creations at the legal and ethical levels. This ruling provides an important reference point for future relevant laws and policies.

It is worth noting that this ruling does not mean that AI has no value in invention and creation. On the contrary, AI can be used as an auxiliary tool to help humans invent more efficiently and improve technological innovation. In the future, as technology continues to advance, we expect to see more innovative ways to balance the roles and interests of AI and humans in invention and creation.