Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank International
Holding
Because Alice Corporation's patent claims involving (1) a method for exchanging financial obligations, (2) a computer system as a third-party intermediary, and (3) a computer-readable medium containing program code for performing the method of exchanging obligations are drawn to a patent-ineligible abstract idea under 35 U.S.C. § 101, they are not patent eligible under Section 101.
Judgment
Affirmed, 9-0, in an opinion by Clarence Thomas on Jun 19, 2014.
Issue: Whether claims to computer-implemented inventions ” including claims to systems and machines, processes, and items of manufacture ” are directed to patent-eligible subject matter within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 101 as interpreted by this Court.
Jul 18, 2013Application (13A95) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from August 8, 2013 to September 6, 2013, submitted to The Chief Justice.
Jul 22, 2013Application (13A95) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until September 6, 2013.
Sep 4, 2013Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 7, 2013)
Sep 9, 2013Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the respondents.
Sep 11, 2013Order extending time to file response to petition to and including November 6, 2013.
Sep 13, 2013Letter of September 13, 2013, from counsel for respondents received.
Sep 13, 2013Consent to filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or neither party, received from counsel for petitioner Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd..
Oct 4, 2013Brief amicus curiae of Dale R. Cook filed.
Oct 4, 2013Brief amicus curiae of Electronic Frontier Foundation filed.
Oct 7, 2013Brief amici curiae of Trading Technologies International, et al. filed.
Oct 7, 2013Brief amicus curiae of Sigram Schindler Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH filed.
Oct 7, 2013Brief amici curiae of Professor Lee Hollaar, and Peter K. Trzyna in support of neither party filed.
Oct 7, 2013Brief amicus curiae of Gibbons Institute of Law, Science and Technology in support of neither party filed.
Oct 7, 2013Brief amici curiae of Accenture Global Services, GmbH, et al. filed.
Oct 7, 2013Brief amicus curiae of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.- USA filed.
Oct 7, 2013Brief amicus curiae of Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago filed.
Oct 7, 2013Brief amicus curiae of New York Intellectual Property Law Association filed.
Oct 7, 2013Brief amici curiae of Students of Patent Law filed.
Nov 6, 2013Brief of respondents CLS Bank International, et al. in opposition filed.
Nov 19, 2013Reply of petitioner Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. filed.Nov 20, 2013DISTRIBUTED for Conference of December 6, 2013.
Dec 6, 2013Petition GRANTED.
Dec 11, 2013Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the respondents.
Dec 11, 2013Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioner.
Jan 8, 2014SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Monday, March 31, 2014
Jan 14, 2014Record received from U.S.D.C. District of Columbia. The record is electronic.
Jan 16, 2014Record received from U.S.C.A. Federal Circuit. 1 Box.
Jan 21, 2014Joint appendix (3 volumes) filed. (Statement of costs filed)
Jan 21, 2014Brief of petitioner Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. filed.
Jan 22, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Retailers in support of neither party filed.
Jan 23, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Dale R. Cook filed.
Jan 27, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Paul R. Michel in support of neither party filed.
Jan 27, 2014Brief amicus curiae of International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property in support of neither party filed.
Jan 27, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Professor Lee Hollaar, and Peter K. Trzyna in support of neither party filed.
Jan 27, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Proove Biosciences, Inc. in support of neither party filed.
Jan 27, 2014Brief amicus curiae of American Intellectual Property Law Association in support of neither party filed.Jan 27, 2014Brief amici curiae of James B. Lampert, and David A. Chavous in support of neither party filed.Jan 28, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Sigram Schindler Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH in support of neither party filed.
Jan 28, 2014Brief amicus curiae of International Business Machines Corporation in support of neither party filed.Jan 28, 2014Brief amici curiae of Trading Technologies International, Inc., et al. filed.Jan 28, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago in support of neither party filed.
Jan 28, 2014Brief amici curiae of Professor Robin Feldman, and U.C. Hastings Institute for Innovation Law, in support of neither party filed.
Jan 28, 2014Brief amicus curiae of SHFL entertainment, Inc. in support of neither party filed.Jan 28, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Brian R. Galvin in support of neither party filed.Jan 28, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Conejo Valley Bar Association in support of neither party filed.Jan 28, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Margo Livesay Ph.D. in support of neither party filed.
Jan 28, 2014Brief amicus curiae of IEEE-USA in support of neither party filed.Jan 28, 2014Brief amicus curiae of New York Intellectual Property Law Association in support of neither party filed.Jan 28, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Association of the Bar of the City of New York in support of neither party filed.
Jan 28, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Advanced Biological Laboratories, SA filed.
Jan 28, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Ronald M. Benrey in support of neither party filed.
Jan 28, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Intellectual Property Owners Association filed.
Feb 3, 2014CIRCULATED.
Feb 11, 2014Letter received from counsel for amicius curiae Ronald M. Benrey proposing a lodging of the book entitled "Understanding Digital Computers" (1964). Distributed.
Feb 20, 2014Brief of respondents CLS Bank International, et al. filed. (Distributed)Feb 24, 2014Brief amicus curiae of The Juhasz Law Firm, P.C. filed. (Distributed)Feb 26, 2014Brief amici curiae of Public Knowledge, et al. filed. (Distributed)Feb 26, 2014Brief amicus curiae of the United States filed. (Distributed)Feb 26, 2014Brief amicus curiae of American Civil Liberties Union filed. (Distributed)Feb 26, 2014Brief amici curiae of Law, Business, and Economics Scholars filed. (Distributed)Feb 26, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Red Hat, Inc. filed. (Distributed)Feb 27, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Tony Dutra filed. (Distributed)Feb 27, 2014Brief amicus curiae of BSA / The Software Alliance filed. (Distributed)Feb 27, 2014Brief amici curiae of RichRelevance, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)Feb 27, 2014Brief amici curiae of Software Freedom Law Center, et al. filed. (Distributed)Feb 27, 2014Brief amici curiae of Professors Peter S. Menell and Jeffrey A. Lefstin filed. (Distributed)Feb 27, 2014Brief amici curiae of Microsoft Corporation, et al. filed. (Distributed)Feb 27, 2014Brief amici curiae of Checkpoint Software, Inc., et al. filed.
Feb 27, 2014Brief amici curiae of Google Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)Feb 27, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Electronic Frontier Foundation filed. (Distributed)Feb 27, 2014Brief amicus curiae of Computer & Communications Industry Association filed. (Distributed)Feb 27, 2014Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
Feb 27, 2014Brief amicus curiae of American Antitrust Institute filed. (Distributed)Feb 27, 2014Brief amici curiae of The Clearing House Association L.L.C., et al. filed. (Distributed)Mar 19, 2014Reply of petitioner Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. filed. (Distributed)Mar 21, 2014Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
Mar 31, 2014Argued. For petitioner: Carter G. Phillips, Washington, D. C. For respondents: Mark A. Perry, Washington, D. C.; and Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.)
Jun 19, 2014Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Thomas, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. Sotomayor, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Ginsburg and Breyer, JJ., joined.
Jul 21, 2014JUDGMENT ISSUED
Jul 22, 2014Record has been returned for U.S.C.A. Federal Circuit.
Recommended Citation: Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank International, SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/alice-corporation-pty-ltd-v-cls-bank-international/