That's too abstract." In the Bilski case, the court said patent examiners could consider what is known as the machine-or-transformation test.

VOA: special.2010.07.16

Such patents already exist. In March,for example, after re-examination, Amazon.com received a patent for its one-click ordering process.

VOA: special.2010.07.16

A patent forbids others from copying an invention and makes the invention valuable in the world of business.

VOA: special.2009.05.13

Bernard Bilski and Rand Warsaw wanted to patent a method to let traders protect against the risk of price changes in energy markets.

VOA: special.2010.07.16

But since the late nineteen nineties, inventors of business methods and processes have increasingly sought patent protection.

VOA: special.2010.07.16

"The Supreme Court held that there is no categorical rule denying patent protection for business method patents."

VOA: special.2010.07.16

The question was whether a business method is enough of an invention to receive a patent.

VOA: special.2010.07.16

In its ruling, the court decided against the patent only because the idea was too abstract.

VOA: special.2010.07.16

Judge Sweet said the patent office thinks DNA should be treated like any other chemical compound.

VOA: special.2010.04.09

In eighteen seventy-three, Strauss and Davis received a patent to officially own this invention.

VOA: special.2009.12.18

Patent lawyer Meredith Martin Addy in Chicago explains that the court ruled narrowly.

VOA: special.2010.07.16

The patent holder can demand payment for the right to its use.

VOA: special.2010.03.23

"You can have that test, but it can't be an exclusive test because of the nature of the patent laws which are to protect new and unknown inventions."

VOA: special.2010.07.16

Patent lawyer Meredith Martin Addy says no one wants to suppress creativity.

VOA: special.2010.07.16

But a majority of justices said patent examiners must also protect innovation.

VOA: special.2010.07.16

But they only said no to a patent in this case.

VOA: special.2010.07.16

When patent laws were first developed, most patents were for machines.

VOA: special.2010.07.16

The United States Patent and Trademark Office said no.

VOA: special.2010.07.16

"The Supreme Court has said, for example, if Albert Einstein determined that E = mc squared -- which he did -- he never would have been able to get a patent on that.

VOA: special.2010.07.16

She says genetic modification is hugely expensive and patent heavy, which means the industry is dominated by large multi-national corporations.

VOA: standard.2009.10.21

Until its patent expired in 2008, it was ranked 20th among the 100 best selling drugs in the world.

VOA: standard.2010.03.14