October Term 2009 · Docket 08-964
Can a business method exist without a machine?
the sides that brought the case seek to invalidate a rigid machine requirement. the opposing sides defend the current patent eligibility standard.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
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
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a business method requires a machine or transformation to qualify for a patent.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-21
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 9, 2009.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
What each side wants
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-21
What each side says
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-21
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if patenting human activity benefits society.
Justice Ginsburg asked if tax avoidance methods are patentable under the test.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
Why it matters
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.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-21
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-21
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.