Tech groups buoyed by patent ruling

On June 28, the Supreme Court ruled that so-called business method patents are eligible for legal protection, a victory for technology companies seeking to protect innovations in software and biotechnology.

In a unanimous decision, the Court ruled against two men who sought to patent a method for hedging the impact that changes in the weather have on energy prices, saying the application was too abstract. But the court left the door open for other "business method patents." Current business method patent holders look to be safe under the ruling. "Those who are patent holders in the various areas, such as software companies and medical technology companies, they should be very pleased," said Mike Jakes, a partner at Finnegan, who argued the case before the court. "This resets where the line is."