New risk selection methods may be patentable to a greater or lesser degree depending upon the patent laws of various countries.These patents are generally described as business method patents. The United States is fairly liberal in granting business method patents. Europe is fairly conservative.
Different forms of telematic auto insurance, for example, were independently invented and patented by a major U.S. auto insurance company, Progressive Auto Insurance us patent 5797134 and a Spanish independent inventor, Salvador Minguijon Perez EU patent 700009.
The Progressive patents cover the use of a cell phone and GPS to track movements of a car.
The Perez patent covers monitoring the car's engine control computer to determine distance driven, speed, time of day, braking force, etc.
Ironically, Progressive is developing the Perez technology in the US and Norwich Union is developing the Progressive technology for Europe under a license from Progressive. Progressive does not have to get a license to the Perez patent since it was never filed in the US.
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