Patents for computer inventions
Innovaport v. Target
In brief
- Where it stands
- Petition Pending
Awaiting an order on the petition
- What it’s about
- The Federal Circuit ruled that Innovaport’s patent claims for answering product-location inquiries with extra information were ineligible as abstract ideas.
- What's at stake
- For Innovaport and Target, the Federal Circuit's ruling that the patent claims are ineligible remains in place while the Supreme Court petition is pending.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
Innovaport asks the Supreme Court to review that ruling and the court’s treatment of USPTO findings, preemption, and evidence about whether the claims were conventional; the petition was distributed for conference, but the Supreme Court has not agreed to hear it.
The dispute concerns the federal law that sets which inventions qualify for patent protection (35 U.S.C. § 101).
Question presented
1. Whether a court can disregard the USPTO’s eligibility findings under 35 U.S.C. § 101? 2. Whether a court may disregard preemption considerations when evaluating patent eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101? 3. Whether a computer-related invention can be patent eligible when directed toward a useful, practical application even if the invention does not change or improve computer technology, computer capabilities, or computer functionality? 4. Whether a court may make factual findings on a motion for summary judgment regarding conventionality of recited claim limitations under Alice without supporting evidence in the record?
What happens next
The petition was distributed for the Court's Nov. 13, 2026 conference. That does not mean review has been granted or guarantee an order date.
Documents
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
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Case data updated: documents, description, proceeding_type
Case data updated: documents, description, document_url, proceeding_type
Brief added: Petition
Court Order added: Lower Court Orders/Opinions
More questions
- What does Innovaport ask about USPTO findings and preemption?
- It asks whether courts may disregard the USPTO's eligibility findings or concerns that the claims would block others from using an idea.
- Can a practical computer application qualify without improving the computer?
- Innovaport asks whether a useful, practical application can qualify for a patent without changing or improving computer technology, capabilities, or function.
- What evidence issue does Innovaport raise?
- It asks whether a judge may find claim limits conventional when deciding a case without trial if the record has no evidence supporting that finding.
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.