The appeal of Encompass Corporation Pty Ltd & Anor v. Info Track Pty Ltd (Encompass) to the Full Federal Court of Australia on 8 May 2018 is expected to have significant effects on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions in Australia.
Encompass initially attracted attention when a panel of five judges was assigned.
The importance of the appeal was further highlighted when IP Australia recently applied to intervene in the appeal proceedings and received orders to file a summary of submissions.
Following IP Australia’s application, the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia also sought leave to intervene.
The final decision will have considerable implications for patentability of computer-related inventions in Australia. We will be watching closely and will keep you up to date on future developments.