How I can help your business

• Advise on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions, including overcoming excluded subject matter issues in the UK and Europe.
• Draft patent applications with a focus on aligning protection strategies with commercial objectives.
• Support clients in AI, XR and other software-related technologies to develop patent portfolios aligned with technical and business goals.

Overview & Expertise

Eric McNeil is an Associate Patent Attorney based in Marks & Clerk’s Glasgow office. He has over six years’ experience across a range of patent matters, including drafting, prosecution before the UK and European Patent Office, freedom to operate analysis and portfolio management, with a particular focus on computer-implemented inventions.

He works with clients ranging from start-ups and research organisations to multinational technology companies, supporting the development of patent strategies aligned with long-term commercial objectives. His experience includes prosecuting European patent applications and drafting applications across a wide range of technical fields.

Eric’s technical expertise spans areas including artificial intelligence and machine learning, extended reality technologies, video recommendation systems, manufacturing processes, gaming hardware and consumer products. His experience in these areas helps clients navigate the complex legal requirements associated with patenting software-based inventions.

He holds a first class MSci in Physics with Astrophysics from the University of Glasgow.

Client Work & Case Experience

• Technology client — taking over prosecution of a complex digital home assistant case and overcoming excluded subject matter objections, avoiding oral proceedings and reducing costs.
• Multinational client — successfully defending an EPO opposition decision at appeal stage.
• Engineering client — drafting a series of patent applications relating to satellite signal processing technologies.
• XR technology client — drafting successful patent applications for an augmented reality micro projector system.