UK Supreme Court overturns the Aerotel Approach for Patent Eligibility and confirms that an Artificial Neural Network constitutes “Programs for Computer”

This Legal Update discusses the UK Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Emotional Perception AI Ltd v Comptroller General of Patents [2026] UKSC 3, which overturns the long-standing Aerotel framework for patent eligibility and confirms that artificial neural networks may fall within the scope of “programs for computers”, while nonetheless remaining patentable where technical features are present. 

It also considers the practical implications of the Court’s adoption of the European Patent Office’s “any hardware” approach, and examines how these developments may influence Singapore patent practice, particularly in relation to the assessment of computer-implemented and AI-related inventions.  

Legal Update: Emotional Perception AI Ltd v Comptroller General of Patents [2026] UKSC 3