US Supreme Court rules against software patents

We hold that the claims at issue are drawn to the abstract idea of intermediated settlement, and that merely requiring generic computer implementation fails to transform that abstract idea into a patent-eligible invention.

In April, LWN reported on the case of, which addresses the issue of whether ideas implemented in software are patentable. The ruling [PDF] is now in: a 9-0 decision against patentability. " Log in to post comments)