Software patent owners given rare boost in Federal Circuit Enfish decision

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Cookies Settings

Software patent owners given rare boost in Federal Circuit Enfish decision

May 17 2016
federal20circuit20court200.jpg

The Federal Circuit has found software patents valid under Alice for only the second time, in Enfish v Microsoft. The decision gives valuable ammunition for opposing a Section 101 challenge to software patent claims and may also mean the recent USPTO patent eligibility guidance needs to be updated

Unlock this content.

The content you are trying to view is exclusive to our subscribers.

To unlock this content:

Take a Free Trial or Login

Topics

United StatesNewsPatentsNorth AmericaJurisdictions
more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Patents
pharma-min.jpeg
BMS and Hengrui Pharma sign $15.2bn deal as patent cliff nears
190 drugs face loss of exclusivity between 2026 and 2030, with the list including Bristol Myers Squibb’s blood-thinning drug Eliquis and immunotherapy medication Opdivo
Sukanya Sarkar, May 13 2026
Patents
close-up-of-nokia-headquarters-in-espoo-finland_0 (1).jpg
Pro-arbitration turn? Appeals court stays FRAND case against Nokia
Nokia, represented by a team from Bird & Bird, adjudged to have made fair offer to Asus and Acer in UK SEP dispute
May 13 2026
Trademarks
london
Abion’s UK founders depart in quick succession
Azhar Sadique and Kane Ridley, who founded the London office in 2023, are now both working in legal tech and AI-related roles, while another UK-based lawyer has also left
May 13 2026
Trademarks
Magnifying glass emphasizing one glowing figure among group symbolizing focused hiring
Familiar faces: Hoyng expands with double August Debouzy hire
Partner Pierre Pérot rejoins the firm he left in 2022 alongside another returning lawyer, associate Camille Abba
May 11 2026
Trademarks
The Royal Courts of Justice, London.
Court of Appeal overturns unjustified threats injunction in vape TM dispute
Vaping dispute, in which Stobbs and Brandsmiths are the representatives, tested how the UK's Human Rights Act can apply to injunctions restraining unjustified threats
May 08 2026
Patents
ALMERIA, SPAIN - 02 APRIL 2023 A bronze statue of John Lennon sitting and playing the guitar in the Plaza de las Flores in Almeria, Spain
This week on MIP: Samsung to pay ZTE $392m | Lennon v Lemon TM dispute
An AI platform being sold for £40m, and lateral hires involving law firms Womble Bond Dickinson and Cadwell Thomas were among the top talking points
May 08 2026
Trademarks
Big Ben and London underground sign n London, UK
Weekly take: What we learned from INTA 2026
With the London Annual Meeting behind us, we look back at some of the lessons learned this week and ahead to what 2027 will bring
May 07 2026
Patents
WcW Global 680x383 - international network FINAL.png
International networks ‘foundational’ to IP service, despite what data says
In-house counsel aren’t impressed with law firms’ international networks, but practitioners say they are crucial for business
Sukanya Sarkar, May 07 2026
Patents
a person wearing a helmet, gloves, and shoes riding a 2018 Alpinestars Tech 3 motorcycle down a road surrounded by trees
UPC update: 3D printing first | motorcycle dispute rumbles on
Publication of the UPC’s annual report and adoption of the procedural rules of the Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre were also among major developments
May 07 2026
Trademarks
LondonpicWed.jpg
Wednesday at INTA: You’ve had the meeting, but how do you follow up?
With the INTA Annual Meeting drawing to a close, we asked attendees for their top tips on how to close business after a meeting
May 06 2026
Gift this article