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.infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox scotus" style="line-height: 1.4em"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above fn" style="background-color: #99c0ff; padding: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; font-size:125%; font-style: italic">Gottschalk v. Benson</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Seal of the United States Supreme Court"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Seal_of_the_United_States_Supreme_Court.svg/100px-Seal_of_the_United_States_Supreme_Court.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="100" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Seal_of_the_United_States_Supreme_Court.svg/150px-Seal_of_the_United_States_Supreme_Court.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Seal_of_the_United_States_Supreme_Court.svg/200px-Seal_of_the_United_States_Supreme_Court.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="720" data-file-height="720" /></span></span><div class="infobox-caption" style="padding-top: 0.5em; font-weight: bold"><a href="/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States" title="Supreme Court of the United States">Supreme Court of the United States</a></div></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: #99c0ff; white-space:nowrap">Argued October 16, 1972<br />Decided November 20, 1972</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Full case name</th><td class="infobox-data"><i>Gottschalk, Acting Commissioner of Patents v. Benson, et al.</i></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Citations</th><td class="infobox-data">409 <a href="/wiki/United_States_Reports" title="United States Reports">U.S.</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://supreme.justia.com/us/409/63/case.html">63</a> (<i><a href="/wiki/List_of_United_States_Supreme_Court_cases,_volume_409" title="List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 409">more</a></i>)<div>93 S. Ct. 253; 34 <a href="/wiki/L._Ed._2d" class="mw-redirect" title="L. Ed. 2d">L. Ed. 2d</a> 273; 1972 <a href="/wiki/U.S._LEXIS" class="mw-redirect" title="U.S. LEXIS">U.S. LEXIS</a> 129; 175 <a href="/wiki/U.S.P.Q." class="mw-redirect" title="U.S.P.Q.">U.S.P.Q.</a> (<a href="/wiki/Bloomberg_BNA" class="mw-redirect" title="Bloomberg BNA">BNA</a>) 673</div></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: #99c0ff; white-space:nowrap">Case history</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Prior</th><td class="infobox-data"><i>Application of Benson</i>, 441 <a href="/wiki/F.2d" class="mw-redirect" title="F.2d">F.2d</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.leagle.com/decision/19711123441f2d6821922">682</a> (<a href="/wiki/United_States_Court_of_Customs_and_Patent_Appeals" title="United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals">C.C.P.A.</a> 1971), <a href="/wiki/Certiorari" title="Certiorari">cert</a>. granted, <a href="/wiki/List_of_United_States_Supreme_Court_cases,_volume_405" title="List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 405">405</a> <a href="/wiki/United_States_Reports" title="United States Reports">U.S.</a> 915 (1972).</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Subsequent</th><td class="infobox-data"><i><a href="/wiki/Diamond_v._Diehr" title="Diamond v. Diehr">Diamond v. Diehr</a></i>, <i><a href="/wiki/Diamond_v._Chakrabarty" title="Diamond v. Chakrabarty">Diamond v. Chakrabarty</a></i></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: #99c0ff; white-space:nowrap">Holding</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data">Respondents' method for converting numerical information from binary-coded decimal numbers into pure binary numbers, for use in programming conventional general-purpose digital computers is merely a series of mathematical calculations or mental steps and does not constitute a patentable "process" within the meaning of the Patent Act, 35 U.S.C. 100 (b). Pp. 64-73.</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: #99c0ff; white-space:nowrap">Court membership</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><dl style="margin:0; padding:0.1em 0.5em; text-align:center; line-height:1.3em;"> <dt style="margin:0;">Chief Justice</dt> <dd style="margin:0 0 0.3em;"><a href="/wiki/Warren_E._Burger" title="Warren E. Burger">Warren E. Burger</a> </dd> <dt style="margin:0;">Associate Justices</dt> <dd style="margin:0;"><a href="/wiki/William_O._Douglas" title="William O. Douglas">William O. Douglas</a> <b>·</b>  <a href="/wiki/William_J._Brennan_Jr." title="William J. Brennan Jr.">William J. Brennan Jr.</a><br /><a href="/wiki/Potter_Stewart" title="Potter Stewart">Potter Stewart</a> <b>·</b>  <a href="/wiki/Byron_White" title="Byron White">Byron White</a><br /><a href="/wiki/Thurgood_Marshall" title="Thurgood Marshall">Thurgood Marshall</a> <b>·</b>  <a href="/wiki/Harry_Blackmun" title="Harry Blackmun">Harry Blackmun</a><br /><a href="/wiki/Lewis_F._Powell_Jr." title="Lewis F. Powell Jr.">Lewis F. Powell Jr.</a> <b>·</b>  <a href="/wiki/William_Rehnquist" title="William Rehnquist">William Rehnquist</a> </dd></dl></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: #99c0ff; white-space:nowrap">Case opinion</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Majority</th><td class="infobox-data">Douglas, joined by Burger, Brennan, White, Marshall, Rehnquist</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data">Stewart, Blackmun, and Powell took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: #99c0ff; white-space:nowrap">Laws applied</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data">§ 101 of the <a href="/wiki/Patent_Act_of_1952" title="Patent Act of 1952">Patent Act of 1952</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><i><b>Gottschalk v. Benson</b></i>, 409 U.S. 63 (1972), was a <a href="/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States" title="Supreme Court of the United States">United States Supreme Court</a> case in which the Court ruled that a process claim directed to a numerical <a href="/wiki/Algorithm" title="Algorithm">algorithm</a>, as such, was not <a href="/wiki/Patent" title="Patent">patentable</a> because "the patent would <i>wholly pre-empt</i> the mathematical formula and in practical effect would be a patent on the algorithm itself."<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> That would be tantamount to allowing a patent on an abstract idea, contrary to precedent dating back to the middle of the 19th century. The ruling stated "Direct attempts to patent programs have been rejected [and] indirect attempts to obtain patents and avoid the rejection ... have confused the issue further and should not be permitted."<sup id="cite_ref-UsefulArts_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-UsefulArts-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The case was argued on October 16, 1972, and was decided November 20, 1972. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Prior_history">Prior history</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Gottschalk_v._Benson&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Prior history"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The case revolves around a <a href="/wiki/Patent_application" title="Patent application">patent application</a> filed by inventors Gary Benson and Arthur Tabbot, for a method for converting <a href="/wiki/Binary-coded_decimal" title="Binary-coded decimal">binary-coded decimal</a> (BCD) numerals into pure <a href="/wiki/Binary_numeral_system" class="mw-redirect" title="Binary numeral system">binary numerals</a> on a general-purpose digital computer.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <a href="/wiki/Patent_examiner" title="Patent examiner">patent examiner</a> at the United States Patent Office, now called the <a href="/wiki/U.S._Patent_and_Trademark_Office" class="mw-redirect" title="U.S. Patent and Trademark Office">U.S. Patent and Trademark Office</a> or PTO, rejected the patent application as being directed to a mathematical expression. Pure mathematical expressions had been held to be unpatentable under earlier patent laws in <i><a href="/w/index.php?title=Mackay_Co._v._Radio_Corp.&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Mackay Co. v. Radio Corp. (page does not exist)">Mackay Co. v. Radio Corp.</a></i><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The applicant appealed to the <a href="/wiki/Board_of_Patent_Appeals_and_Interferences" title="Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences">Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences</a>, which affirmed the examiner's rejection. The applicant further appealed to the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Court_of_Customs_and_Patent_Appeals" title="United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals">Court of Customs and Patent Appeals</a>. The Court reversed the Board. Finally, Commissioner of Patents <a href="/w/index.php?title=Robert_Gottschalk_(USPTO)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Robert Gottschalk (USPTO) (page does not exist)">Robert Gottschalk</a> filed a petition for a writ of <a href="/wiki/Certiorari" title="Certiorari">certiorari</a> to the Supreme Court. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="The_case">The case</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Gottschalk_v._Benson&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: The case"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The law which is applicable to this case is section 101 of the <a href="/wiki/Patent_Act_of_1952" title="Patent Act of 1952">Patent Act of 1952</a>.<sup class="plainlinks nourlexpansion citation" id="ref_1"><a class="external autonumber" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gottschalk_v._Benson#endnote_1">[1]</a></sup> The question was whether or not the <a href="/wiki/Claim_(patent)" class="mw-redirect" title="Claim (patent)">claimed</a> <a href="/wiki/Invention" title="Invention">invention</a> was a "process" under the law. An older precedent held, that "a process was patentable if it brought about a useful, concrete, and tangible result." </p><p>The Court held that because the claim was not limited to any particular type of programmable digital computer and neither involved special purpose implementing machinery nor a transformation of substances, as in all prior cases holding processes patentable, the claim would effectively preclude use of the method for any currently known or future invention in any field. Thus the claim was directed to an algorithm alone and therefore was not patentable. </p><p>In its brief to the Supreme Court, the government asked the Court to hold that no process could be patented, unless it claimed either a transformation of substances or was implemented with a newly devised machine. This approach is known as <a href="/wiki/Machine-or-transformation_test" title="Machine-or-transformation test">machine-or-transformation test</a>. The Court held that those criteria were "clues" to patent eligibility but declined to hold that they were necessary conditions for patent-eligibility in all cases, even though every case in which the Supreme Court had approved a process patent thus far had involved such a process.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (June 2023)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Impact">Impact</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Gottschalk_v._Benson&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Impact"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>This decision was widely seen as confirming that software by itself was not directly patentable. What <a href="/wiki/Patent_attorney" title="Patent attorney">patent attorneys</a> agents had been doing in the meantime, however, was to get patent protection on software inventions by claiming the algorithm in combination with the general purpose digital computer programmed to carry out the algorithm. Thus they technically purported to be claiming a new machine and this, the lower patent court held, was patentable.<sup id="cite_ref-UsefulArts_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-UsefulArts-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The boundary between when a computer implemented process is purely an abstract idea (and thus not patentable) and when it is a process implementing the idea in a practical way (and thus is patentable) is still a matter of debate within the U.S. patent office. ("The Supreme Court has not been clear...as to whether such subject matter is excluded from the scope of 101 because it represents laws of nature, natural phenomena, or abstract ideas.")<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It also remains a contested issue whether process patent claims <i>must</i> be directed to a transformation of substances or else embody a nontrivial, novel implementing machine or device. The PTO has taken this position in its arguments to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. See USPTO brief in <i><a href="/wiki/In_re_Bilski" title="In re Bilski">In re Bilski</a></i>.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Government also so argued in briefing the <i>Benson</i> case.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The majority opinion in the Federal Circuit's opinion in <i>In re Bilski</i> adopts this position. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Gottschalk_v._Benson&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1041539562">.mw-parser-output .citation{word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}</style><span class="citation wikicite" id="endnote_1"><b><a href="#ref_1">^</a></b></span> <a href="/wiki/Title_35_of_the_United_States_Code" title="Title 35 of the United States Code">35 U.S.C.</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/35/101">§ 101</a> says, "Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title." <span class="plainlinksneverexpand"><a href="/wiki/Title_35_of_the_United_States_Code" title="Title 35 of the United States Code">35 U.S.C.</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/35/100#b">§ 100(b)</a></span> gives the definition for process, "The term ‘process’ means process, art or method, and includes a new use of a known process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, or material."</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Gottschalk_v._Benson&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_United_States_Supreme_Court_cases,_volume_409" title="List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 409">List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 409</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Software_patent" title="Software patent">Software patent</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/CyberSource_Corp._v._Retail_Decisions,_Inc." title="CyberSource Corp. v. Retail Decisions, Inc.">CyberSource Corp. v. Retail Decisions, Inc.</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Bilski_v._Kappos" title="Bilski v. Kappos">Bilski v. Kappos</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Alice_Corp._v._CLS_Bank_International" title="Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International">Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International</a></i></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Gottschalk_v._Benson&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Gottschalk v. Benson</i>, <a href="/wiki/List_of_United_States_Supreme_Court_cases,_volume_409" title="List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 409">409</a> <a href="/wiki/United_States_Reports" title="United States Reports">U.S.</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/409/63/#72">63, 72</a> (1972).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-UsefulArts-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-UsefulArts_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-UsefulArts_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Gottschalk</i>, 409 U.S. at 72 (citing "To Promote the Progress of . . . Useful Arts," Report of the President's Commission on the Patent System (1966)).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/1972/71-485">"Gottschalk v. Benson"</a>. <i>Project Oyez</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 9,</span> 2017</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Project+Oyez&rft.atitle=Gottschalk+v.+Benson&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oyez.org%2Fcases%2F1972%2F71-485&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AGottschalk+v.+Benson" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Mackay Co. v. Radio Corp.</i>, <a href="/wiki/List_of_United_States_Supreme_Court_cases,_volume_306" title="List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 306">306</a> <a href="/wiki/United_States_Reports" title="United States Reports">U.S.</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/306/86/">86</a> (1939).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/documents/2100_2106_02.htm">2106.02 Mathematical Algorithms - 2100 Patentability</a> <a href="/wiki/Manual_of_Patent_Examining_Procedure" title="Manual of Patent Examining Procedure">Manual of Patent Examining Procedure</a> 8th ed.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.neweconomypatents.org/pdfs/Briefs/United_States_Patent_and_Trademark_Office.pdf">Supplemental Brief of Appellee Director of the USPTO in <i>In re Bilski</i>, Fed. Cir. App. No. 2007-1130</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081120115048/http://www.neweconomypatents.org/pdfs/Briefs/United_States_Patent_and_Trademark_Office.pdf">Archived</a> 2008-11-20 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, at pp. 6-14.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">See Petitioner’s Reply Brief on writ of certiorari in <i>Benson</i>, at 9 ("we submit that the cases follow such a rule—implicitly or explicitly—and that they cannot be rationalized otherwise").</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Gottschalk_v._Benson&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFDonner1992" class="citation journal cs1">Donner, Irah H. (1992). "Two Decades of <i>Gottschalk v. Benson</i>: Putting The "Rithm" Back Into The Patenting of Mathematical Algorithms". <i>Software Law Journal</i>. <b>5</b> (2): <span class="nowrap">419–</span>459.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Software+Law+Journal&rft.atitle=Two+Decades+of+Gottschalk+v.+Benson%3A+Putting+The+%22Rithm%22+Back+Into+The+Patenting+of+Mathematical+Algorithms&rft.volume=5&rft.issue=2&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E419-%3C%2Fspan%3E459&rft.date=1992&rft.aulast=Donner&rft.aufirst=Irah+H.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AGottschalk+v.+Benson" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFDreyfussEvans2011" class="citation journal cs1">Dreyfuss, Rochelle C.; Evans, James P. (2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924105954/http://www.stanfordlawreview.org/sites/default/files/articles/Dreyfuss-Evans-63-Stan-L-Rev-1349.pdf">"From <i>Bilski</i> Back to <i>Benson</i>: Preemption, Inventing Around, and the Case of Genetic Diagnostics"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i><a href="/wiki/Stanford_Law_Review" title="Stanford Law Review">Stanford Law Review</a></i>. <b>63</b> (6): <span class="nowrap">1349–</span>1376. <a href="/wiki/PMID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="PMID (identifier)">PMID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21774194">21774194</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.stanfordlawreview.org/sites/default/files/articles/Dreyfuss-Evans-63-Stan-L-Rev-1349.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on September 24, 2015.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Stanford+Law+Review&rft.atitle=From+Bilski+Back+to+Benson%3A+Preemption%2C+Inventing+Around%2C+and+the+Case+of+Genetic+Diagnostics&rft.volume=63&rft.issue=6&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E1349-%3C%2Fspan%3E1376&rft.date=2011&rft_id=info%3Apmid%2F21774194&rft.aulast=Dreyfuss&rft.aufirst=Rochelle+C.&rft.au=Evans%2C+James+P.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stanfordlawreview.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2FDreyfuss-Evans-63-Stan-L-Rev-1349.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AGottschalk+v.+Benson" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFSamuelson1990" class="citation journal cs1">Samuelson, Pamela (1990). "<i>Benson</i> Revisited: The Case Against Patent Protection For Algorithms and Other Computer Program-Related Inventions". <i>Emory Law Journal</i>. <b>39</b>: <span class="nowrap">1025–</span>1154.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Emory+Law+Journal&rft.atitle=Benson+Revisited%3A+The+Case+Against+Patent+Protection+For+Algorithms+and+Other+Computer+Program-Related+Inventions&rft.volume=39&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E1025-%3C%2Fspan%3E1154&rft.date=1990&rft.aulast=Samuelson&rft.aufirst=Pamela&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AGottschalk+v.+Benson" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Gottschalk_v._Benson&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Text of <i>Gottschalk v. Benson</i>, <a href="/wiki/List_of_United_States_Supreme_Court_cases,_volume_409" title="List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 409">409</a> <a href="/wiki/United_States_Reports" title="United States Reports">U.S.</a> 63 (1972) is available from: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/108630/gottschalk-v-benson/">CourtListener</a>  <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/409/63.html">Findlaw</a>  <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=14331103368635133702">Google Scholar</a>  <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/409/63/">Justia</a>  <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://cdn.loc.gov/service/ll/usrep/usrep409/usrep409063/usrep409063.pdf">Library of Congress</a>  <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/1972/71-485">Oyez (oral argument audio)</a> </li></ul>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=0" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gottschalk_v._Benson&oldid=1272413622">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gottschalk_v._Benson&oldid=1272413622</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Software_patent_case_law" title="Category:Software patent case law">Software patent case law</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:United_States_patent_case_law" title="Category:United States patent case law">United States patent case law</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:United_States_Supreme_Court_cases" title="Category:United States Supreme Court cases">United States Supreme Court cases</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:1972_in_United_States_case_law" title="Category:1972 in United States case law">1972 in United States case law</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:United_States_Supreme_Court_cases_of_the_Burger_Court" title="Category:United States Supreme Court cases of the Burger Court">United States Supreme Court cases of the Burger Court</a></li></ul></div><div id="mw-hidden-catlinks" class="mw-hidden-catlinks mw-hidden-cats-hidden">Hidden categories: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Webarchive_template_wayback_links" title="Category:Webarchive template wayback links">Webarchive template wayback links</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Use_mdy_dates_from_September_2023" title="Category:Use mdy dates from September 2023">Use mdy dates from September 2023</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description" title="Category:Articles with short description">Articles with short description</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Short_description_is_different_from_Wikidata" title="Category:Short description is different from Wikidata">Short description is different from Wikidata</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_articles_with_unsourced_statements" title="Category:All articles with unsourced statements">All articles with unsourced statements</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_unsourced_statements_from_June_2023" title="Category:Articles with unsourced statements from June 2023">Articles with unsourced statements from June 2023</a></li></ul></div></div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="mw-footer-container"> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" > <ul id="footer-info"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 28 January 2025, at 14:26<span class="anonymous-show"> (UTC)</span>.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Text is available under the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License" title="Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License</a>; additional terms may apply. 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