The country’s patent office has refused to proceed with a patent application by Google on an invention titled ‘ improved advertising with audio content’ as the company allegedly failed to satisfy the objections raised by the former with regard to novelty and inventive steps.
Google has also informed the patent office about its new-found disinterest in the subject matter, just barely a month after it appeared for a hearing to push the application.
The ‘invention’ had claimed to improve the utility of online advertisements, such as cost per impression advertisements for example, to end users through a method by accepting information defining at least one ad spot associated with at least one instance of an audio document.
Google had applied for the patent in 2008 and the Patent Office, Mumbai, had raised objections regarding the patentability of the claimed invention. Subsequently, a hearing was held on August12 this year where the company’s agent submitted arguments against the objections. However, the agent on September 10 through an e-mail informed the patent office the company’s disinterest in the patent application. “Our client has lost interest and does’ not want to pursue the matter further. In view of the same, we request you to proceed with the decision as per Patents Act, 1970,” the agent said in the mail.
Taking note of Google’s stand , the patent office rejected the application.
NK Mohanty, deputy controller of patents & designs, Mumbai said : “ In view of the reasons above and the outstanding objections, I refuse to proceed with the application for patent”.
