{"argument_date":"2009-11-09T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-11-09T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Jakes argued the Federal Circuit's test is rigid and narrow.","Mr. Stewart asserted Morse and telephone cases align with the sides that brought the case' view.","questions_detail"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 43-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-35"}]}],"caption":"Bilski v. Kappos","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.126899Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek to invalidate a rigid machine requirement. the opposing sides defend the current patent eligibility standard.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-21"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-11-09T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/08-964.html","primary_docket":"08-964","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:54:05.129397Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The case tests whether a business method requires a machine or transformation to qualify for a patent."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-21"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 9, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to reverse the rigid machine-or-transformation test.","the opposing sides want the Court to affirm the current patent eligibility standard."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-21"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the Federal Circuit's test is too narrow for all methods.","the opposing sides argue the current test properly limits patentable subject matter."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-21"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked if patenting human activity benefits society.","Justice Ginsburg asked if tax avoidance methods are patentable under the test."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 43-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-35"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the scope of patentable business methods. It determines which innovations receive exclusive rights. It shapes the balance between public access and private incentive."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-21"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 43-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-35"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-964-bilski-v-kappos","term":"2009","title":"Can a business method exist without a machine?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-21"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}