Patent Law | Expert Legal Commentary

May 26, 2009

In re Ferguson: Affirming Bilski’s Machine-or-Transformation Test

In re Ferguson

By Yuri Mikulka and Spyros J. Lazaris

In one of the first post-Bilski decisions by a Federal Circuit panel, the court confirmed the Bilski holding that business methods do not constitute patentable processes if they fail the machine-or-transformation test. Specifically, in In re Ferguson, 558 F.3d 1359 (Fed Cir. 2009), the Court held that the applicant’s marketing method and paradigm did not constitute patentable subject matter under 35 U.S.C. section 101 because it was too abstract and neither tied to a machine nor transformative.

Image Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/cmcderm1

E-mail Email this Article
Print Printable Version (in new window)

Companies Mentioned

More Updates

Patent Law Updates

Companies Mentioned

Patent Law

The following companies are mentioned in Patent Law Updates:

Boston Scientific Corp.

Microsoft Corp.

Stryker Corp.

Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

Cordis Corp.

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Howmedica Osteonics Corp.

Acumed, LLC

Quanta Computer, Inc.

Sanyo North America Corp.

LG Electronics, Inc.

Smith & Nephew, Inc.

Cohesive Technologies, Inc.

Waters Corp.

Swisa, Inc.

Egyptian Goddess, Inc.

Motorola, Inc.

Dror Swisa

Johnson & Johnson, Inc.

Target Corp.

Sears Holding Corp.

Kohl’s Department Stores, Inc.

K-Mart Corp.

J.C. Penney Company, Inc.

Glamourmom LLC

Audiovox Communications Corp.

Federated Department Stores

McKesson Information Solutions, Inc.

Elizabeth Lange LLC d.b.a. Liz Lange Maternity

Bridge Medical, Inc.

United States Patent and Trademark Office

SmithKline Beecham PLC

Smithkline Beecham Corp. (d.b.a. GlaxoSmithKline, plc.)

SmithKline Beecham Corp. d.b.a GlaxoSmithKline

Scimed Life Systems Inc.

HT Window Fashion Corp.

Glaxo Group Limited d.b.a. GlaxoSmithKline

Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc.

Ranbaxy, Inc.

Mylan Pharmaceutical, Inc.

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.

Mylan Laboratories, Inc.

Nokia, Inc.

Stryker Sales Corp.

Stryker Orthopaedics

Sandoz GMBH

Becton, Dickinson & Co.

Sony Ericcson Mobile Communications AG

Lifenet Health, Inc.

Additional Resources

Patent Law