Peter M. Kohlhepp
Papers
1
Total Citations
4
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1
About
Peter M. Kohlhepp is a legal scholar whose work critically examines the intersection of intellectual property law and emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence. His most cited paper, "When the Invention Is an Inventor: Revitalizing Patentable Subject Matter to Exclude Unpredictable Processes" (2008), provocatively challenges the foundations of patent law by questioning whether AI-generated inventions should qualify for patent protection. Drawing on cultural touchstones like *I, Robot*, Kohlhepp argues that as machines become capable of independent creative problem-solving, the traditional definition of "inventor" becomes dangerously obsolete. His analysis warns against granting patents to unpredictable, autonomous processes, advocating for a revitalized standard of patentable subject matter that preserves human ingenuity at the core of innovation. Though his citation count is modest, Kohlhepp’s work is prescient, anticipating today’s heated debates over AI authorship and ownership. By blending legal doctrine with speculative fiction, he offers a compelling framework for policymakers grappling with the legal personhood of non-human inventors. For students and researchers in IP law and technology ethics, Kohlhepp’s scholarship remains a foundational reference for understanding the legal challenges posed by autonomous creation.
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