UsA
UsA
tHE sUPREME CoURt's RULInG HAs tHE PotEntIAL
to InVALIDAtE MAnY ExIstInG PAtEnts, oR At LEAst
MAKE tHEM MoRE DIffICULt to EnfoRCE oR DEfEnD
Th e Justices’ questions during the oral arguments in the Bilski case have It appears unlikely that the status of patent protection covering medical
given rise to ‘tea leaf reading’ and dire predictions by some. While, of course, diagnostic processes will be aff ected by Bilski. Students of the history of
the Supreme Court’s ultimate decision in Bilski may be limited to the specifi c science, as well as advocates for technological advancements, will correctly
nature of the Bilski-type intangible process, executives within the computer point to the fact that there will be unknown future technologies and
soft ware, pharma, bio and medical diagnostic industries are among those developments that we are unable to contemplate given our present limited
who are closely monitoring this case, as well as the court’s approach and knowledge, which should be fostered.
reasoning. Th ey employ tens of thousands whose daily endeavours include
research and development. Th e Supreme Court’s ruling has the potential
to invalidate many existing patents, or at least make them more diffi cult to
Paul J. Sutton is a partner at Sutton Magidoff LLP. He can be contacted at:
enforce or defend. It also has the potential to aff ect the path that technology
paul@suttonmagidoff .com
may take, given the 20-year eff ective monopoly that one enjoys with a patent
grant. Th e very incentive to innovate may be aff ected, depending upon how
the court rules.
Some best-known business method patents in technology have originated
Paul J. Sutton is the co-founding partner of sutton Magidoff
as a result of advances in electronic commerce and the Internet. Th e
LLP. With a Juris Doctor degree and more than four decades
Amazon single-click tool for completing online purchases is an example.
of IP experience, he was selected by Super Lawyers magazine
Another is Priceline.com’s ‘Name Your Own Price’ technique for generating
in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, and is listed in strathmore’s
sales. Th e number of soft ware patents being granted has increased in recent
Who’s Who. He is adjunct professor of IP law at Polytechnic
years. Th is is a result of the reliance upon soft ware as a fundamental tool
Institute of new York University.
in nearly all industries.
164 World Intellectual Property Review Digest 2009 www.worldipreview.com
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