No. 21-1554

Worlds Inc. v. Activision Blizzard Inc., et al.

Lower Court: Federal Circuit
Docketed: 2022-06-10
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: 35-usc-101 abstract-idea filtering patent-eligibility patent-ineligibility section-101 software-invention summary-judgment well-known-routine-conventional
Key Terms:
Patent Privacy JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2022-09-28
Question Presented (AI Summary)

What is the appropriate standard for determining whether a patent claim is 'directed to' a patent-ineligible concept under step one of the Court's two-step framework for determining whether an invention is eligible for patenting under 35 U.S.C. § 101?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED In the mid-1990s, petitioner Worlds invented computer software with protocols that allowed an increased number of players to access a_ threedimensional virtual world simultaneously, and provided customizable settings to adapt to each user’s computer hardware capabilities. On a motion for summary judgment under 35 U.S.C. § 101, the district court concluded that the patented claims were directed to the abstract idea of filtering. Further, while the movant submitted no evidence to support a finding in its favor, the district court found that the claims recited only well-known, routine, and conventional features and held the claims ineligible. The questions presented are as follows: 1. What is the appropriate standard for determining whether a patent claim is “directed to” a patent-ineligible concept under step one of the Court’s two-step framework for determining whether an invention is eligible for patenting under 35 U.S.C. § 101? 2. Whether a movant seeking a ruling of patentineligibility under Section 101 as a matter of law can prevail on step two where the movant submits no evidence of what was well-known, routine, and conventional in the industry as of the date of invention? (i)

Docket Entries

2022-10-03
Petition DENIED.
2022-07-06
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/28/2022.
2022-06-27
Waiver of right of respondent Activision Blizzard Inc., et al. to respond filed.
2022-06-08
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 11, 2022)

Attorneys

Activision Blizzard Inc., et al.
Sonal N. MehtaWilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, LLP, Respondent
Worlds Inc.
Wayne Michael HelgeDavidson Berquist Jackson & Gowdey, LLP, Petitioner