CAFCは、ビジネスメソッドクレームの特許性(法定主題に該当するか)について新たな案件(In re Bilski)を審理している。In re Bilskiで問題となっているのは、人間の行動が関与しているビジネスメソッドクレームである。In re Comiskeyで確認された、”abstract idea that is not embodied in, does not operate on, and does not transform a machine, manufacture, on, and does not transform a machine, manufacture, or composition of matter”は法定主題ではないとの判断と、State Street Ban最高裁判決との整合性も議論されるものと思われる。
対象となっているクレームは以下。
1. A method for managing the consumption risk costs of a commodity sold by a commodity provider at a fixed price comprising the steps of:
(a) initiating a series of transactions between said commodity provider and consumers of said commodity wherein said consumers purchase said commodity at a fixed rate based upon historical averages, said fixed rate corresponding to a risk position of said consumer;
(b) identifying market participants for said commodity having a counter-risk position to said consumers; and
(c) initiating a series of transactions between said commodity provider and said market participants at a second fixed rate such that said series of market participant transactions balances the risk position of said series of consumer transactions.
タウンゼント知財総合事務所/ 穐場 仁