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 2025

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
2025 New Year road trip travel with nature landscape and highway road leading forward for happy new year celebration in the beginning of 2025 concept, Photo by AI generative
Scoops, rankings and political wrangling: top stories of 2025
This year’s most-read stories covered uncertainty at the USPTO, a potential boycott of a major international IP conference, rankings releases, and a contempt of court proceeding
Sukanya Sarkar, December 23 2025
Patents
Google pixel.jpg
Exclusive: Pantech and Google reach landmark SEP settlement in Japan
The parties have agreed on a court-guided settlement covering Pantech’s entire SEP portfolio, marking a global first
Sukanya Sarkar, December 22 2025
Patents
Canada on map.jpg
Much ado about nothing? why Canada’s PTA may fall flat
The introduction of Canada’s patent term adjustment has left practitioners sceptical about its value, with high fees and limited eligibility meaning SMEs could lose out
Sanjana Mishra, December 22 2025
Patents
Data Fortress: A conceptual rendering of digital security with a file folder under lock and chain, evoking the ideas of confidentiality and digital safety.
Top trends in US privacy litigation and enforcement in 2025
With the US privacy landscape more fragmented and active than ever and federal legislation stalled, lawyers at Sheppard Mullin explain how states are taking bold steps to define their own regimes
Wynter Deagle , December 19 2025
Trademarks
Conceptual 3D render of a lightbulb with a hybrid AI brain, half circuit and half organic, floating in a pastel sky. Creative intelligence metaphor.
Exclusive: optimism for ‘hybrid’ AI adoption prevails
Viji Krishnan of Corsearch unpicks the results of a survey that reveals almost 80% of trademark practitioners believe in a hybrid AI model for trademark clearance and searches
Viji Krishnan, December 19 2025
Patents
New York, USA - 30 August 2024: Getty Logo on Phone Screen, Company Icon on Display
This week on MIP: Getty allowed to appeal AI ruling | Nokia receives SEP blow
News of Via Licensing Alliance selling its HEVC/VCC pools and a $1.5 million win for Davis Polk were also among the top talking points
Max Walters, December 19 2025
Trademarks
Warsaw, Poland - July 03, 2025: Warner Bros. Discovery
Weekly take: Why Warner Bros battle should prompt AI licensing deals
The winner of a high-profile bidding war for Warner Bros Discovery may gain a strategic advantage far greater than mere subscriber growth - IP licensing leverage
Sanjana Mishra, December 19 2025
Patents
Businessmen making handshake with partner, greeting, dealing, me
Hogan Lovells, Cadwalader to merge in ‘largest combination in history’
A vote to be held in 2026 could create Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, a $3.6bn giant with 3,100 lawyers across the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific
Noemi Distefano, December 18 2025
Copyright
Illuminating Network: A network of glowing lines converges and diverges, forming a luminous, intricate web in a modern architectural setting.
AI divergence: why Germany and the UK are on different paths
Varuni Paranavitane of Finnegan and IP counsel Lisa Ribes compare and contrast two recent AI copyright decisions from Germany and the UK
Lisa Ribes, December 18 2025
Trademarks
France.jpg
Clients urge French firms to raise bills proportionate to work done
Exclusive in-house data uncovered by Managing IP reveals French firms underperform on providing value equivalent to billing costs and technology use
Sukanya Sarkar, December 18 2025
Gift this article