On December 8th, the U.S. Supreme Court declined a  petition to review, and therefore, let stand the April 2025 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) in  Recentive Analytics, Inc. v. Fox Corp. The CAFC had held that patent claims that merely apply machine learning (a form of Artificial Intelligence or "AI") to automate tasks or analyze data—even in novel settings—risk being classified as unpatentable abstract ideas unless they disclose specific improvements [...]

Top off the eggnog, straighten the twinkle lights and clear a space between the nutcrackers and the model train set for a fresh stack of Top Section 101 Stories of the Year. It's our annual sleigh ride through Section 101. Nothing says "peace on earth" like debating mental processes over panettone. Holiday Movies. This year's rotation gets a twist: "Home Alone 2" is back in the mix, along with "The Muppet Christmas Carol." "National Lampoon's [...]

In March 2025, President Trump nominated John A. Squires for the positions of Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). After being approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 20-2, Squires was confirmed by the Senate on September 17, 2025, by a vote of 51-47 after anti-filibuster measures were invoked. During and after the confirmation process, Squires emphasized several goals [...]