There are three important and recent US Federal Court decisions relating to software patents. Alice [1] and Bilski [2] strongly limit business method patents as

There are three important and recent US Federal Court decisions relating to software patents. Alice [1] and Bilski [2] strongly limit business method patents as falling under the abstract idea exception [4]. Enfish [3] goes the other way and protects software patent claims relating to the functioning of computers themselves. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Corp._v._CLS_Bank_International https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Corp._v._CLS_Bank_Intern... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilski_v._Kappos https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilski_v._Kappos [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enfish,_LLC_v._Microsoft_Corp. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enfish,_LLC_v._Microsoft_Corp., [4] https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s2106.html https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s2106.html