Quantum Blockchain Technologies PLC (AIM:QBT, FRA:BYA1) told investors it has now agreed on the wording of patent claims with a US examiner for its ASIC Ultra Boost invention, which the firm highlightts is a step that typically signals an application is nearing the end of the examination process.
“The approval process of patent applications can be a long one, which could take many years. However, being granted a patent for a new product is the only option if one wishes to build and then protect an IP portfolio with inventions," said chief executive Francesco Gardin.
"As previously confirmed to the market, some of QBT’s technology will remain an industrial trade secret, while other inventions will be protected via patents. A number of factors are being considered by the Company for each of its software innovations in order to best protect our intellectual property.”
The AIM-listed blockchain R&D and investment group used a market update to set out the status of three patent “families” filed so far, covering ASIC Ultra Boost, Message Schedule Arrays, and a newer Method C Bitcoin Mining invention, with applications running across the US, Europe, Australia, Canada and South Korea.
For ASIC Ultra Boost, QBT said the US filing remains pending but now has claims agreed with the USPTO examiner, while parallel regional applications in Europe (EP), Australia, Canada and South Korea are also listed as pending.
QBT added it has abandoned its initial UK applications for each invention in favour of filings under the European Patent Convention, which covers 39 countries including the UK, while chief executive Francesco Gardin reiterated the group intends to protect some innovations through patents and keep others as industrial trade secrets.