Court weighs whether to restrict 'business method' patents

Legal News Center

Is a baseball pitcher's method for throwing a curveball patentable? How about a chiropractor's techniques?

A federal appeals court wrestled with those kinds of questions Thursday when it considered placing restrictions on patent protections for business practices. The case under review is being closely watched by financial services and software companies.

The number of patents on tax preparation strategies, investment techniques and other business methods has surged since 1998, when the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit opened the door to such claims.

That increase has led to widespread criticism that many of the patents, including one about how to teach golf lessons, are frivolous and spur excessive litigation.

The Federal Circuit said in February that it would reconsider its decade-old decision in a case that many patent experts say is one of the most important in years. Depending on how broadly the court rules, the case could make it harder for investment banks and software companies to patent their products.

Related listings

  • Court upholds sentence for Ala. police officer

    Court upholds sentence for Ala. police officer

    Legal News Center 05/06/2008

    [##_1L|1372947792.jpg|width="130" height="130" alt=""|_##]A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction and 10-month sentence of an Alabama police officer for lying about a prisoner injured during arrest. A federal judge sentenced Jason Hardy Hun...

  • Ga. parole board holds hearing for convicted killer

    Ga. parole board holds hearing for convicted killer

    Legal News Center 05/05/2008

    A clemency hearing is under way for a convicted Georgia killer whose execution would be the first since the U.S. Supreme Court found lethal injection constitutional.The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles convened Monday to hear the case of William ...

  • Another record number of warrants for secret spy court

    Another record number of warrants for secret spy court

    Legal News Center 05/01/2008

    The nation's spy court approved a record number of requests to search or eavesdrop on suspected terrorists and spies last year, the Justice Department said Wednesday.The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court approved 2,370 warrants last year target...

New Rochelle, New York Personal Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP, in New Rochelle, New York, immediately. We can answer all your questions and work with you to determine if you have the grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at our firm are determined to resolve even the most difficult of cases. We will work closely with you to determine the best course of action to get your claim or case resolved in the most efficient way possible. We will fight for your right to compensation! No one should have to suffer a financial burden from the result of another person’s carelessness. The attorneys at Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP will aggressively fight to ensure that justice is served on your behalf.

Business News

New York & New Jersey Family Law Matters We represent our clients in all types of proceedings that include termination of parental rights. >> read