Software patent granted in UK for information management

Successful software patent applications make up just approximately 5% of the 30,000 applications made annually to the UK Patent Office.

According to Kalido's announcement of the grant this week, the technology behind its software describes "an unparalleled method for storing data within a time-variant framework so that it can be easily interrogated and rapidly amended in reaction to changes in a business."

David Musker, Partner at Kalido Ltd's Patent Attorneys, RGC Jenkins, said:

"Successful patent applications are a real achievement for any innovator, and the value to Kalido Ltd of the patent award cannot be overstated. It will give them competitive advantage and safeguard their UK intellectual property for up to 20 years."

Now used in over 100 countries by companies such as Unilever, Philips, Cadbury Schweppes, and HBOS, the Kalido software was originally designed by a data modelling team at the Royal Dutch / Shell Group of Companies.

It was developed to obtain a consolidated view of vital Shell management information trapped inside its hundreds of data systems around the world, as no product existed on the market to meet this need. The end product of three years of engineering was the Kalido software.

Following its proven success within Shell, Andy Hayler, now CEO of Kalido Ltd, brought the software to the world stage by launching Kalido Ltd in February 2001 and subsequently establishing the Kalido Group of Companies in 2002.

Andy Hayler said:

"Software patents are difficult to obtain but this patent not only provides an important differentiation against competitive offerings, but also protects our intellectual property."