Al and Inventorship Date: December 01, 2023 Performed by: Nicki Curtis, Senior Policy Advisor, UK Intellectual Property Office Call For Views On Al And IP: Intro  Last year, the UK's Intellectual Property Office asked whether IP framework still fit for purpose in relation to Al.  For patents, we asked a number of questions, including whether there was a case for patent law to protect Al-devised inventions.  We also asked whether there were impacts for copyright, trademarks, designs and trade secrets. Call For Views On Al And IP: Responses - 92 responses. Government response published March earlier this year. - Mixed views on the question "Can current Al systems devise inventions?" - Some viewed current system adequate, but concerns expressed that the absence of patents for Al-devised inventions could have damaging impacts on:  Investment in building, owning and using Al in R&D  Follow-on innovation if trade secret protection used as alternative to patent rights - Some calls for sui generis IP right to protect Al-devised inventions not patents. This right would serve an environment where innovation is faster, cheaper and with high turnover rate. Government Response: Next Steps In Patents We committed to consult on a range of policy options, including legislative change, for protecting Al-devised inventions which would otherwise not meet inventorship criteria. Option 1: Policy Aims And Legal Changes To Achieve - Effect: Patent will be granted/valid whether the invention is devised by human and/or Al. - Legal Change Definition of inventor expanded to include those humans responsible for making the arrangements for Al to devise an invention. Option 2: Policy Aims And Legal Changes To Achieve - Effect Patent will be granted/valid whether the invention is devised by human and/or Al - Legal Change a) Legal Change allows Al to be named as inventor. Patent ownership qualification to include those humans responsible for making the arrangements for Al to devise an invention, OR b) Legal change (b) no requirement to name Al inventor. Patent ownership qualification to include those humans responsible for making the arrangements for Al to devise an invention Option 3: Policy Aims And Principles Effect: New sui generis patent-like right to protect inventions devised by Al. Current patent system continues to protect only human devised inventions.