[3] Key areas of co-operation include the development of a common system architecture for electronic exchange of documents such as priority documents, developing standards for electronic filing of patent applications and genetic sequence submissions, harmonisation of patent practices, and developing common patent information dissemination policies.
[4] In June 2000, the Trilateral Offices released the results of a study on business method related inventions entitled.
[5] This report concluded that the mere automation of a known human transaction process using well known automation techniques was not patentable, and that a technical aspect was necessary for a computer implemented business method to be patentable, although this aspect need only be implicit in US claims.
[3] It was decided that an important area of focus should be collaboration on searching prior art in the business method field.
In November 2001, the Trilateral Offices released the results of a study of search tools and strategies.