§ 101 Eligibility

Section 101 defines what may be patented at all, and excludes abstract ideas, laws of nature, and natural phenomena. Under the two-step framework from Alice and Mayo, a court first asks whether a claim is directed to one of those excluded concepts, and if so whether the claim elements, considered individually and as an ordered combination, add an inventive concept sufficient to transform it into a patent-eligible application. The inquiry is a question of law that may rest on underlying factual findings, which means it can be resolved on the pleadings in some cases and requires evidence in others. The opinions here address eligibility at every procedural stage, from motions to dismiss through appeal.

523 opinions and orders, showing 401–523.

• September 28, 2016 E.D. Tex. CryptoPeak Solutions, LLC v. The Home Depot U.S.A. Inc., No. 2:15-cv-01747 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 28, 2016) Denied
• September 28, 2016 E.D. Tex. CryptoPeak Solutions, LLC v. Staples, Inc., No. 2:15-cv-01745 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 28, 2016) Denied
• September 28, 2016 E.D. Tex. CryptoPeak Solutions, LLC v. Sears Holdings Management Corporation et al, No. 2:15-cv-01742 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 28, 2016) Adopted
• September 28, 2016 E.D. Tex. CryptoPeak Solutions, LLC v. Office Depot, Inc., No. 2:15-cv-01741 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 28, 2016) Adopted
• September 28, 2016 E.D. Tex. CryptoPeak Solutions, LLC v. Macys.com, Inc., No. 2:15-cv-01738 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 28, 2016) Adopted
• September 28, 2016 E.D. Tex. CryptoPeak Solutions, LLC v. Lowe's Home Centers, Inc., No. 2:15-cv-01737 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 28, 2016) Adopted
• September 23, 2016 Fed. Cir. Affinity Labs of Texas, LLC v. amazon.com Inc., No. 15-2080 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 23, 2016) Affirmed
• September 23, 2016 Fed. Cir. Affinity Labs of Texas, LLC v. Directv, LLC, No. 15-1845 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 23, 2016) Affirmed
• September 13, 2016 Fed. Cir. McRo, Inc. v. Bandai Namco Games america, No. 15-1080 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 13, 2016) Reversed
• August 15, 2016 Fed. Cir. TDE Petroleum Data Solutions v. AKM Enterprise, Inc., No. 16-1004 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 15, 2016) Affirmed
• August 10, 2016 Fed. Cir. In re Chorna, No. 16-1324 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 10, 2016) Affirmed
• August 1, 2016 Fed. Cir. Electric Power Group, LLC v. alstom S.A., No. 15-1778 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 1, 2016) Affirmed
• July 25, 2016 Fed. Cir. LendingTree v. Zillow, Inc., No. 14-1435 (Fed. Cir. July 25, 2016) Affirmed in Part
• July 18, 2016 E.D. Tex. Rothschild Connected Devices Innovations, LLC v. Guardian Protection Services, Inc., No. 2:15-cv-01431 (E.D. Tex. July 18, 2016) Denied
• July 13, 2016 Fed. Cir. Shortridge v. Foundation Construction, No. 15-1898 (Fed. Cir. July 13, 2016) Affirmed
• July 5, 2016 Fed. Cir. Rapid Litigation Management v. CellzDirect, Inc., No. 15-1570 (Fed. Cir. July 5, 2016) Vacated & Remanded
• June 27, 2016 Fed. Cir. Bascom Global Internet v. AT&T Mobility LLC, No. 15-1763 (Fed. Cir. June 27, 2016) Vacated & Remanded
• May 17, 2016 Fed. Cir. TLI Communications LLC v. AV automotive, L.L.C., No. 15-1372 (Fed. Cir. May 17, 2016) Affirmed
• May 16, 2016 E.D. Tex. Rothschild Location Technologies LLC v. Geotab USA, Inc., No. 6:15-cv-00682 (E.D. Tex. May 16, 2016) Adopted
• May 12, 2016 Fed. Cir. Enfish, LLC v. Microsoft Corporation, No. 15-1244 (Fed. Cir. May 12, 2016) Reversed in Part
• May 9, 2016 E.D. Tex. Preservation Wellness Technologies LLC v. NextGen Healthcare Information Systems LLC, No. 2:15-cv-01562 (E.D. Tex. May 9, 2016) Granted
• May 9, 2016 E.D. Tex. Preservation Wellness Technologies LLC v. Epic Systems Corporation, No. 2:15-cv-01561 (E.D. Tex. May 9, 2016) Granted
• May 9, 2016 E.D. Tex. Preservation Wellness Technologies LLC v. athenahealth Inc, No. 2:15-cv-01560 (E.D. Tex. May 9, 2016) Granted
• May 9, 2016 E.D. Tex. Preservation Wellness Technologies LLC v. allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc, No. 2:15-cv-01559 (E.D. Tex. May 9, 2016) Granted
• April 26, 2016 E.D. Tex. Gonzalez v. InfoStream Group Inc., No. 2:14-cv-00906 (E.D. Tex. Apr. 26, 2016) Granted
• April 22, 2016 Fed. Cir. In re Brown, No. 15-1852 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 22, 2016) Affirmed
• April 8, 2016 Fed. Cir. Genetic Technologies Limited v. Merial L.L.C., No. 15-1202 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 8, 2016) Affirmed
• April 6, 2016 E.D. Tex. NexusCard, Inc. v. Brookshire Grocery Company, No. 2:15-cv-00961 (E.D. Tex. Apr. 6, 2016) Granted
• April 5, 2016 Fed. Cir. Cardpool, Inc. v. Plastic Jungle, Inc., No. 14-1562 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 5, 2016) Affirmed
• March 29, 2016 E.D. Tex. Wetro Lan LLC v. Phoenix Contact USA, Inc., No. 2:15-cv-00421 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 29, 2016) Denied
• March 25, 2016 Fed. Cir. International Securities Exch. v. Chicago Board Options Exch., No. 15-1743 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 25, 2016) Dismissed
• March 24, 2016 E.D. Tex. NexusCard, Inc. v. The Kroger Co.,, No. 2:15-cv-00968 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 24, 2016) Granted
• March 20, 2016 E.D. Tex. Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l. v. LG Electronics, Inc. et al, No. 2:14-cv-00911 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 20, 2016) Denied
• March 10, 2016 Fed. Cir. In re Smith, No. 15-1664 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 10, 2016) Affirmed
• March 5, 2016 E.D. Tex. Metaswitch Networks Ltd v. Genband US LLC et al, No. 2:14-cv-00744 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 5, 2016) Granted in Part
• January 22, 2016 Fed. Cir. Lumen View Technology LLC v. Findthebest.com, Inc, No. 15-1275 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 22, 2016) Affirmed in Part
• January 21, 2016 E.D. Tex. Realtime Data LLC v. actian Corporation et al, No. 6:15-cv-00463 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 21, 2016) Adopted
• January 21, 2016 E.D. Tex. Voxathon LLC v. alpine Electronics of america, Inc., No. 2:15-cv-00562 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 21, 2016) Granted
• January 11, 2016 E.D. Tex. Motio, Inc. v. BSP Software LLC, No. 4:12-cv-00647 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 11, 2016) Denied
• January 4, 2016 E.D. Tex. Motio, Inc. v. BSP Software LLC, No. 4:12-cv-00647 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 4, 2016) Denied
• December 28, 2015 Fed. Cir. Vehicle Intelligence v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, No. 15-1411 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 28, 2015) Affirmed
• December 17, 2015 E.D. Tex. eDekka LLC v. E Revolution Ventures, Inc., No. 2:15-cv-00585 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 17, 2015) Granted
• December 17, 2015 E.D. Tex. eDekka LLC v. 3balls.com, Inc., No. 2:15-cv-00541 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 17, 2015) Granted
• December 2, 2015 Fed. Cir. Ariosa Diagnostics, Inc v. Sequenom, Inc., No. 14-1139 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 2, 2015) Dismissed
• November 10, 2015 Fed. Cir. Clearcorrect Operating, LLC v. ITC, No. 14-1527 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 10, 2015) Reversed
• October 5, 2015 E.D. Tex. ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. v. Google, Inc., No. 2:14-cv-00061 (E.D. Tex. Oct. 5, 2015) Denied
• October 5, 2015 E.D. Tex. ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. v. apple, Inc., No. 2:13-cv-01112 (E.D. Tex. Oct. 5, 2015) Denied
• October 1, 2015 E.D. Tex. Orostream LLC v. Abs-Cbn International, No. 2:15-cv-00248 (E.D. Tex. Oct. 1, 2015) Granted
• September 30, 2015 E.D. Tex. Phoenix Licensing, L.L.C. et al v. CenturyLink, Inc., No. 2:14-cv-00965 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 30, 2015) Adopted
• September 25, 2015 E.D. Tex. SimpleAir, Inc. v. Google Inc. et al, No. 2:14-cv-00011 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 25, 2015) Denied
• September 23, 2015 E.D. Tex. Mobile Telecommunications Technologies, LLC v. Leap Wireless International, Inc. et al, No. 2:13-cv-00885 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 23, 2015) Denied
• September 21, 2015 E.D. Tex. eDekka LLC v. E Revolution Ventures, Inc., No. 2:15-cv-00585 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 21, 2015) Granted
• September 21, 2015 E.D. Tex. eDekka LLC v. 3balls.com, Inc., No. 2:15-cv-00541 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 21, 2015) Granted
• September 21, 2015 E.D. Tex. Telinit Technologies, LLC v. alteva, Inc., No. 2:14-cv-00369 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 21, 2015) Granted
• August 6, 2015 E.D. Tex. ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. v. Google, Inc., No. 2:14-cv-00061 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 6, 2015) Denied
• August 6, 2015 E.D. Tex. ContentGuard Holdings, Inc. v. apple, Inc., No. 2:13-cv-01112 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 6, 2015) Denied
• July 9, 2015 Fed. Cir. Versata Development Group v. SAP America, Inc., No. 14-1194 (Fed. Cir. July 9, 2015) Affirmed
• July 6, 2015 Fed. Cir. Intellectual Ventures I LLC v. Capital One Financial, No. 14-1506 (Fed. Cir. July 6, 2015) Affirmed
• June 23, 2015 Fed. Cir. Internet Patents Corporation v. active Network, Inc., No. 14-1048 (Fed. Cir. June 23, 2015) Affirmed
• June 12, 2015 Fed. Cir. Ariosa Diagnostics, Inc v. Sequenom, Inc., No. 14-1139 (Fed. Cir. June 12, 2015) Affirmed
• June 11, 2015 Fed. Cir. Oip Technologies, Inc. v. amazon.com, Inc., No. 12-1696 (Fed. Cir. June 11, 2015) Affirmed
• May 29, 2015 E.D. Tex. Kroy IP Holdings, LLC v. Safeway, Inc.,, No. 2:12-cv-00800 (E.D. Tex. May 29, 2015) Granted
• May 22, 2015 Fed. Cir. Allvoice Developments US, LLC v. Microsoft Corp., No. 14-1258 (Fed. Cir. May 22, 2015) Affirmed
• March 30, 2015 E.D. Tex. Certified Measurement, LLC v. Centerpoint Energy Houston Electric LLC et al, No. 2:14-cv-00627 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 30, 2015) Denied
• March 20, 2015 E.D. Tex. DietGoal Innovations LLC v. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., No. 2:12-cv-00764 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 20, 2015) Denied
• February 13, 2015 E.D. Tex. Smartflash LLC et al v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al, No. 6:13-cv-00448 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 13, 2015) Adopted
• February 13, 2015 E.D. Tex. Smartflash LLC et al v. apple Inc, et al, No. 6:13-cv-00447 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 13, 2015) Adopted
• January 20, 2015 Fed. Cir. Mortgage Grader, Inc. v. First Choice Loan Services, No. 15-1415 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 20, 2015) Affirmed
• January 15, 2015 Fed. Cir. In re Stoller, No. 14-1271 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 15, 2015) Affirmed in Part
• December 23, 2014 Fed. Cir. Content Extraction v. Wells Fargo Bank, No. 13-1588 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 23, 2014) Affirmed
• December 17, 2014 Fed. Cir. University of Utah Research v. ambry Genetics Corporation, No. 14-1361 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 17, 2014) Affirmed in Part
• November 14, 2014 Fed. Cir. Ultramercial, Inc. v. WildTangent, Inc., No. 10-1544 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 14, 2014) Affirmed
• October 3, 2014 E.D. Tex. DietGoal Innovations LLC v. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., No. 2:12-cv-00764 (E.D. Tex. Oct. 3, 2014) Granted
• September 3, 2014 E.D. Tex. Loyalty Conversion Systems Corporation v. american airlines Inc, No. 2:13-cv-00655 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 3, 2014) Granted
• September 3, 2014 Fed. Cir. Buysafe, Inc. v. Google, Inc., No. 13-1575 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 3, 2014) Affirmed
• August 26, 2014 Fed. Cir. Planet Bingo, LLC v. Vkgs LLC, No. 13-1663 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 26, 2014) Affirmed
• August 15, 2014 Fed. Cir. I/P Engine, Inc. v. AOL Inc., No. 13-1307 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 15, 2014) Reversed
• August 11, 2014 E.D. Tex. DietGoal Innovations LLC v. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., No. 2:12-cv-00764 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 11, 2014) See Opinion
• July 11, 2014 Fed. Cir. Digitech Image Technologies v. Electronics for Imaging, Inc., No. 13-1600 (Fed. Cir. July 11, 2014) Affirmed
• June 6, 2014 Fed. Cir. In re Bentwich, No. 13-1460 (Fed. Cir. June 6, 2014) Affirmed in Part
• May 15, 2014 E.D. Tex. Rockstar Consortium US LP et al v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., et al, No. 2:13-cv-00900 (E.D. Tex. May 15, 2014) Denied
• May 15, 2014 E.D. Tex. Rockstar Consortium US LP et al v. Asustek Computer, Inc. et al, No. 2:13-cv-00894 (E.D. Tex. May 15, 2014) Denied
• May 8, 2014 Fed. Cir. In re Roslin Institute (Edinburgh), No. 13-1407 (Fed. Cir. May 8, 2014) Affirmed
• April 29, 2014 Fed. Cir. Cardpool, Inc. v. Plastic Jungle, Inc., No. 13-1227 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 29, 2014) Vacated & Remanded
• February 26, 2014 Fed. Cir. CyberFone Systems v. CNN Interactive Group, No. 12-1673 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 26, 2014) Affirmed
• February 19, 2014 E.D. Tex. TQP Development, LLC v. Intuit Inc., No. 2:12-cv-00180 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 19, 2014) Denied
• January 24, 2014 Fed. Cir. Smartgene, Inc. v. advanced Biological Lab, No. 13-1186 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 24, 2014) Affirmed
• September 5, 2013 Fed. Cir. Accenture Global Services v. Guidewire Software, Inc., No. 11-1486 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 5, 2013) Affirmed
• June 21, 2013 Fed. Cir. Ultramercial, Inc. v. WildTangent, Inc., No. 10-1544 (Fed. Cir. June 21, 2013) Reversed
• May 20, 2013 Fed. Cir. Alexsam, Inc. v. IDT Corporation, No. 12-1063 (Fed. Cir. May 20, 2013) Affirmed in Part
• May 10, 2013 Fed. Cir. CLS Bank International v. alice Corporation, No. 11-1301 (Fed. Cir. May 10, 2013) Affirmed in Part
• November 20, 2012 Fed. Cir. Perkinelmer, Inc. v. Intema Ltd., No. 11-1577 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 20, 2012) Affirmed
• September 23, 2012 E.D. Tex. First american CoreLogic, Inc. v. Fiserv, Inc. et al, No. 2:10-cv-00132 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 23, 2012) Denied
• August 16, 2012 Fed. Cir. Assoc for Molecular Pathology v. PTO, No. 10-1406 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 16, 2012) Affirmed in Part
• August 7, 2012 Fed. Cir. Highmark, Inc. v. allcare Health Management, No. 11-1219 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 7, 2012) Affirmed in Part
• July 26, 2012 Fed. Cir. Bancorp Services, L.L.C. v. SUN Life Assurance Co. of Canada (U.S.), No. 11-1467 (Fed. Cir. July 26, 2012) Affirmed
• July 9, 2012 Fed. Cir. CLS Bank International v. alice Corporation, No. 11-1301 (Fed. Cir. July 9, 2012) Reversed
• April 30, 2012 Fed. Cir. The Association for Molecular Pathology v. US Patent and Trademark Office, No. 10-1406 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 30, 2012) Vacated & Remanded
• February 27, 2012 Fed. Cir. Fort Properties, Inc. v. American Master Lease LLC., No. 09-1242 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 27, 2012) Affirmed
• January 20, 2012 Fed. Cir. Dealertrack v. Huber, No. 09-1566 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 20, 2012) Affirmed in Part
• November 4, 2011 Fed. Cir. Fuzzysharp Technologies Inc. v. 3Dlabs Inc., Ltd., No. 10-1160 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 4, 2011) Vacated & Remanded
• September 15, 2011 Fed. Cir. Ultramercial, Inc. v. WildTangent, Inc., No. 10-1544 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 15, 2011) Reversed
• August 31, 2011 Fed. Cir. Classen Immunotherapies, Inc. v. Biogen Idec, No. 06-1634 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 31, 2011) Affirmed in Part
• August 16, 2011 Fed. Cir. Cybersource Corp. v. Retail Decisions, Inc., No. 09-1358 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 16, 2011) Affirmed
• July 29, 2011 Fed. Cir. Assoc for Molecular Pathology v. PTO, No. 10-1406 (Fed. Cir. July 29, 2011) Affirmed in Part
• December 8, 2010 Fed. Cir. Research Corp. Technologies, Inc. v. Microsoft Corp., No. 10-1037 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 8, 2010) Affirmed in Part
• November 9, 2010 Fed. Cir. Mikkilineni v. Stoll, No. 10-1362 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 9, 2010) Affirmed
• August 2, 2010 Fed. Cir. King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. EON Labs, Inc,, No. 09-1437 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 2, 2010) Affirmed in Part
• July 7, 2010 E.D. Tex. Key Energy Services, Inc. v. C.C. Forbes, LLC et al, No. 2:08-cv-00346 (E.D. Tex. July 7, 2010) Claims Construed
• April 12, 2010 Fed. Cir. Sirf Technology v. ITC, No. 09-1262 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 12, 2010) Affirmed
• October 7, 2009 E.D. Tex. Abstrax, Inc. v. Dell, Inc. et al, No. 2:07-cv-00221 (E.D. Tex. Oct. 7, 2009) Adopted
• September 17, 2009 Fed. Cir. Prometheus Laboratories, Inc. v. Mayo Collaborative Services, No. 08-1403 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 17, 2009) Reversed in Part
• March 6, 2009 Fed. Cir. In re Ferguson, No. 07-1232 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 6, 2009) Affirmed
• January 13, 2009 Fed. Cir. In re Comiskey, No. 06-1286 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 13, 2009) Affirmed in Part
• December 19, 2008 Fed. Cir. Classen Immunotherapies, Inc. v. Biogen Idec, No. 06-1634 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 19, 2008) Affirmed
• October 30, 2008 Fed. Cir. In re Bilski, No. 07-1130 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 30, 2008) Affirmed in Part
• February 14, 2008 Fed. Cir. In re Bilski, No. 07-1130 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 14, 2008) See Opinion
• February 11, 2008 Fed. Cir. In re Petrus A.C.M. Nuijten, No. 06-1371 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 11, 2008) Denied
• September 20, 2007 Fed. Cir. In re Petrus A.C.M. Nuijten, No. 06-1371 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 20, 2007) Affirmed
• June 18, 2007 Fed. Cir. Biomedino, LLC v. Waters Technologies Corporation, No. 06-1350 (Fed. Cir. June 18, 2007) Affirmed
• September 7, 2005 Fed. Cir. In re Dane K. Fisher, No. 04-1465 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 7, 2005) Affirmed
• April 8, 2005 Fed. Cir. Smithkline Beecham Corp., ET AL. v. Apotex Corp., ET AL., No. 03-1285 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 8, 2005) Affirmed
• December 10, 2004 Fed. Cir. In re John Dash and Patrick S. Keefe, No. 04-1145 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 10, 2004) Affirmed