Patent ‘Death Squad’ System Upheld by U.S. Supreme Court
- Justices vote 7-2 to back system used by Google, Apple
- Drugmakers opposed system as improperly taking away rights
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The U.S. Supreme Court upheld an administrative review system that has helped Google Inc., Apple Inc. and other companies invalidate hundreds of issued patents.
The justices, voting 7-2, said Tuesday a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office review board that critics call a patent "death squad" wasn’t unconstitutionally wielding powers that belong to the courts.