bilski going up to the supremes

As most readers probably know, Bilski was a rather important case on patent law in the US. There have been many, many, many analyses and commentaries on the impact of the decision of the federal circuit court which would significantly limit the patentability of business methods. In short – patents would only be available if embodied within a machine or transformed one tangible thing into another.

According to SCOTUSblog, the decision is being appealed:

“This case,” the petition’s opening line says, “raises the most fundamental question in patent law: what can be patented? Are patents only for manufacturing processes that are tied to a particular machine or produce some physical transformation? Or do patents also embrace modern business procsses that do not depend on a particular machine or device?”

First time since 1981 since the Supreme Court has considered this, according to SCOTUSblog. Patent agents everywhere await with bated breath.