RE: RNS out7 May 2026 21:46
It is nice to see this RNS explaining the outcome of the examiner's report. The things which I think are of interest are:
- "The ... Examination Report ... represents the beginning of substantive examination by the EPO..." I don't think that is quite true. If QBT do nothing in response to this latest report, then the patent application will expire. Further examination will only occur if and when QBT submit a valid amended patent application.
- Part of the prior art objections is due to an existing patent by Intel! I think if QBT are trying to somehow re-patent techniques that Intel have already patented or made public in an application, then I daresay that Intel's lawyers would outgun QBT's in any subsequent battle.
- "The Company expects to receive the Examiner's feedback on the amended claims within the next 1-2 weeks. QBT will provide further updates as appropriate. " This is a good, solid milestone. I eagerly await the Examiner's feedback. Put 22 May in the diary to check that this has happened.
- Gardin says "the feedback received does not challenge the core of our technology, but rather the way in which the claims are currently framed." I find it concerning that two years after the initial application, QBT still have not framed (or phrased) the claims sufficiently.
- The RNS four times says that it "believes" something. I am uneasy about this, simply due to QBT never having delivered something which they had stated they believed.
- "The US patent process may require multiple iterations..." Given that the time frame for each amendment seems to be four months, and given that "multiple iterations" suggests three or four times, then this phrase seems to warn the market that this process could be going on for another 16 months.
It is worth remembering that this patent application is not for any of Methods A, B, or C. It is simply an improvement to the SHA256 on an ASIC by reducing the number of rounds, similar to Naik's existing work, and similar to ASICBoost which already exists. Seeing as QBT have dropped their ASIC project, it seems odd that they are pursuing this ASIC patent.
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