An end to the patent wars?

We've noted here and on FierceFinanceIT that a patent war has been looming in the financial services industry, just as it has long raged in the technology and biotech industries. Companies pretty much have to seek patents on their software and other innovations, and then use them strategically. Some small companies exist for no other reason than to file patent claims against big companies. Is there an end in sight? The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit just issued a ruling in the so-called Bilski case, rejecting an attempt to patent a method of hedging risk in commodities transactions. Business Week says this may lead to a scaling back of business-method patents, the pursuit of which has been a big focus in the industry. But the article notes the court sidestepped a big issue: Whether simply employing a computer itself is enough to earn patent eligibility. The Supreme Court may end up taking a look at this.

For more:
- here's the Business Week article

Related Article:
Patents race on Wall Street

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