Too abstract — Court invalidates patent of automated auto loan service

Description

Abstract: A company held two patents for a computer-aided method for processing credit applications over electronic networks. After it filed an infringement lawsuit against several parties, the defendants moved to dismiss the case, asserting that the computer-aided method wasn’t eligible for a patent. In finding for the defendants, the Federal Circuit made one thing certain: Merely appending the phrase “computer-aided” to a would-be patent won’t cut it. Citation: Dealertrack, Inc. v. Huber, Nos. 2009-1566, -1588, Jan. 20, 2012 (Fed. Cir.); Bilski et al v. Kappos, No. 08-964, June 28, 2010 (Supreme Court)