Abstract
One of the present authors (J. Masamoto) has been engaged in research and development in the industrial field (Asahi Kasei), and has experienced the importance of intellectual property right as the driving force for the progress of industry. Over these past years, the policy of the propatent, which originated in the USA, has formed the new flow of intellectual property right. In this study, the authors discuss the historical background and current situation of the business method patent, and consider its future prospects.
