Case Summary
**Case Summary: Realtime Data, LLC v. Iancu**
**Docket Number:** 8142499
**Court:** United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
**Date:** The case was filed in 2018.
**Overview:**
Realtime Data, LLC filed a suit against Andrei Iancu, then Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), challenging the decision regarding the patentability of certain claims associated with data retrieval and storage technologies.
**Background:**
Realtime Data, LLC is a technology company focusing on innovative data storage and retrieval solutions. The company had sought to patent its technology but faced rejections and challenges from the USPTO. The core of the case revolved around the patent claims that were found to be unpatentable, as the USPTO asserted that they were either abstract ideas or lacked the necessary novelty or non-obviousness required for patentability under 35 U.S.C. § 101 and § 103.
**Key Issues:**
1. **Patent Eligibility:** The primary legal question was whether the claims in Realtime Data's patent application were directed to abstract ideas and whether they contained sufficient inventive concepts to qualify for patent protection.
2. **Standards of Review:** The case examined the standards applied by the USPTO in evaluating patent claims, particularly in light of the Supreme Court's decisions in *Mayo Collaborative Services v. Prometheus Laboratories* and *Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International*, which clarified the criteria for determining patent eligibility.
3. **Procedural Challenges:** Realtime Data argued that the USPTO's examination process and the subsequent decisions were flawed, particularly regarding the guidance and treatment of its claims.
**Court’s Decision:**
The Court of Appeals ultimately ruled in favor of Iancu, upholding the decisions made by the USPTO regarding the unpatentability of Realtime Data's claims. The court reiterated the importance of the guidelines established in prior Supreme Court decisions and confirmed the USPTO's authority to deny patents that do not meet the required standards.
**Impact:**
This case reinforced the scrutiny applied to patent claims in the realm of technology, particularly in relation to abstract ideas. It sent a clear message to applicants regarding the need for demonstrable novelty and non-obviousness in their claims, emphasizing the challenges faced by technology companies in navigating patent law.
**Conclusion:**
Realtime Data, LLC v. Iancu serves as a significant case reflecting ongoing challenges in the patent landscape, particularly for emerging technologies. It highlights the balance between encouraging innovation and protecting public access to fundamental concepts and ideas. The ruling solidifies the precedential standards which applicants must consider when pursuing patent protection for their inventions.