Federal Circuit Judge William Bryson Issues District Court Opinion Concerning 35 U.S.C. § 101 Challenge to Patentability

On February 19, 2014, Federal Circuit Judge William Bryson, sitting as a district court judge in the Eastern District of Texas, issued a memorandum opinion and order (available here) denying a motion for summary judgment of invalidity premised on 35 U.S.C. § 101. Judge Bryson’s decision provides a good overview of the current patent law with respect to abstract ideas in the wake of CLS Bank v. Alice, which is currently on appeal to the Supreme Court. Judge Bryson ultimately found that the claims at issue were directed patent eligible under section 101.