A federal appeals court has ruled that “business method” ideas are not patentable. The decision came in a case where a patent was requested for an idea to hedge weather-related effects on business. The court ruled that because the application didn’t include a machine or physically transform anything, the idea could not be patented. The debate continues whether patenting ideas hinders or promotes innovation.
Court Limits ‘Business Method’ Patents
October 31, 2008 - 7:34 am





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