Policy · 3h ago
Japan's Top Court: AI Can't Be Named as Patent Inventor
Japan's Supreme Court ruled that only humans can be listed as inventors on patent applications, rejecting a bid to name an AI system as the inventor. The decision aligns with Japan's patent law, which defines an inventor as a "natural person." This ruling follows similar stances in the US and Europe, reinforcing the global consensus that AI lacks legal personhood for patents.
Meridian48 take
The ruling sidesteps the harder question of how to handle AI-generated inventions where no human can claim significant contribution.
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AI Can't Be Listed as Inventor on Patent Applications, Japan's Top Court Rules →
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