On December 6, 2013 (yet another day that may live in infamy), the US Supreme Court announced that it will hear "Alice". In other words: The Other Trap Door Drops Open: SCOTUS v. Software Patents
The sole question presented on Writ for Cert is this:
QUESTION PRESENTED
Whether claims to computer-implemented inventions —including claims to systems and machines, processes, and items of manufacture— are directed to patent-eligible subject matter within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 101 as interpreted by this Court?
Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank International
Interestingly, the Petitioner is Alice Corp., the owner of the software patent in question. The 5-5 tie at the Federal Circuit left Alice in the limbo state of not having overturned the lower court ruling that all of its claims are patent "ineligible". Alice itself has nothing more to lose by posing the above question to SCOTUS. But what if SCOTUS says no? What if they say ALL computer-implemented invention—including claims are ineligible? It's a game of Russian Roulette where all our heads are lined up in row next to that of the trigger man's.
More recent blog results on Alice + patents
(still under construction ...)
ABC News calls it the Death of Software Patents
KILL, kill them all --good riddance software patents
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