DEGGENDORF, GERMANY - Intellectual property (IP) protection involves safeguarding various types of property rights. There are two main categories - technical IP rights, which encompass patents and utility models, and nontechnical IP rights, which include trademarks and designs. Patents and utility models are used to protect technologies, while trademarks aim to safeguard a product or company name, and designs focus on protecting a product's external appearance or packaging.

While consumers are aware of trademarks and designs, they are often oblivious as to whether a product is protected by a patent. However, patents hold significant importance for those who invest in technology, as they provide a legal monopoly that protects their investments. This monopoly can also help a company establish a dominant market position and achieve a return on investment (ROI). In this case, a granted patent is therefore like a means of achieving an ROI in research and development. It is an exclusive right for a defined territory - e.g., Germany, the United States, or China - to defend the protected technology against unauthorized third parties for a limited period. Based on a granted patent, the patent holder can legally take action against any infringement and defend the technical monopoly against competitors. Obtaining a patent, however, involves complying with legal regulations that outline the requirements and exclusion criteria, which may differ across countries. Patenting pure artificial intelligence (AI) innovations presents a particularly challenging subject, especially because such innovations are not created by humans.

Need to protect AI inventions

AI aims to automate and optimize human decision-making behavior. Today, even ordinary people deal with AI applications hundreds of times a day on average. Some examples of these applications include automated rec