Software Patent

An informal term that is often used interchangeably with the broader, more formal term Computer-Implemented Invention (CII), to refer to a patent (or patent application) for an invention implemented, at least partially, using software. As with CIIs more generally, special conditions typically apply to the evaluation of patentability for such inventions. In particular, it is generally necessary to demonstrate a technical effect that is achieved by the invention that goes beyond the normal physical interactions that result when software is run on a computer.