A Research Award to Yulia Borisova

A LAWYER AND STUDENT OF THE LLM IN LAW OF INTERNET TECHNOLOGY, YULIA BORISOVA HAS BEEN AWARDED BY THE 4IP COUNCIL FOR A PAPER ON SOFTWARE PATENTABILITY IN EUROPE

Yulia Borisova, a lawyer currently attending Bocconi’s LLM in Law of Internet Technology, has won the bronze prize at the 4iP Council Research Awards, presented by the 4iP Council, a European organization dedicated to developing high quality academic insight and empirical evidence on topics related to intellectual property and innovation.
 
In her award-winning paper, “Patentability of Computer Programs in Europe”, Borisova deals with an apparent paradox: the European Patent Convention excludes “programs for computers as such” from patentability, but patents are commonly granted for software, based on the concepts of “computer-implemented invention” and “computer program having a technical character”, introduced by the European Patent Office as exceptions to the general rule.
 
She concludes that a proper definition of the term “computer program” can help to resolve many uncertainties concerning software patentability. Once this term is correctly understood, nothing in the existing regulation will prevent computer programs from patentability, provided that a few general requirements are met.
 
The LLM in Law of Internet Technology is a Master of Laws which is launching its fifth edition (applications are currently open for the Winter round). “Participants are either graduates willing to complement their studies with a specialization in digital law,” says the program Coordinator, Marco Bassini, “or professionals that desire to develop an expertise in this field.”
 
“The LLM is a one-year program”, explains the Director, Oreste Pollicino, “with a two-year version for those who need to balance work and study.”
 
“I chose the LLM because I found it the perfect match with my desire to get to know more on law of internet technology. In this sense, this program is a unique opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in the digital sphere,” says Yulia Borisova. “When a presentation on software protection was assigned to me during Intellectual Property Law course taught by Professor Laurent Manderieux, I developed a passion for the topic and started reading everything available. That work grew into the paper I submitted to the 4iP Council.”

by Fabio Todesco