On March 31, 2014, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear oral argument in Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International. The question presented by petitioner Alice is:

In this closely watched case, the Supreme Court is expected to provide much-needed clarification in the area of patent eligibility for computer-implemented inventions, following the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit's per curiam decision affirming the district court's determination that Alice's patent claims are not directed to patent-eligible subject matter (CLS Bank Int'l v. Alice Corp, 717 F.3d 1269 (May 10, 2013)). In particular, the Supreme Court will consider the viability and scope of the abstract ideas exception to patent eligibility.

The Supreme Court's decision in this case, which is expected by the end of June 2014, has the potential to drastically change how computer-implemented inventions are handled in the industry, before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and in the courts.

For a full discussion of the history of the case, including a summary of the arguments raised by the parties and the many amicus curiae, see Practice Note, In Dispute: CLS Bank International v. Alice Corporation.