Uhm, this sounds a lot like: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Diamond_v._Diehr" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Diamond_v._Diehr</a><p>Which is essential the beginning of patents, in the US. Basically, the software has to run on a hardware device.<p>How is it different? (IANAL)