U.S. Patent 10650476 was awarded to International Bussiness Machines Corporation on May 12, 2020 and is entitled “Electronic discovery process using a blockchain.” The first named inventor is Daniel Pittner of Esslingen am Neckar, . The abstract contains an overview of the patent disclosure:

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for performing an electronic discovery process using a blockchain. For at least two of phases of the electronic discovery process individual electronic data processing tools are used for executing the respective phase. For each of the phases of the electronic discovery process metadata of the electronic data objects subject to the respective phase of the electronic discovery process and to the electronic data processing tool used for executing the respective phase are stored in the blockchain. Furthermore, audit information about auditable actions carried out during the respective phase by the electronic data processing tool used for executing the respective phase on the electronic data objects is stored in the blockchain. The stored audit information provides an end-to-end audit trail for each of the electronic data objects subject to at least one of the phases of the electronic discovery process. Link to Full Patent

This blockchain patent was originally filed on November 28, 2017  as U.S. Patent Application 15/824044 at the United Stated Patent and Trademark Office. The application was them awarded a patent grant and published as U.S. Patent 10650476. The primary examiner was Dung K Chau.

International Bussiness Machines Corporation, who is the original assignee of this patent, has at least 10 total granted patents in the United States as of the date of this article. This blockchain patent has been cited 0 times by other U.S. patents according to our law firm research, and can be considered an innovative patent in the field of cryptocurrency and blockchain.

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