Articles lately have been discussing people/businesses being able to patent business methodology on a PC. Basically if someone has a way to do a shipping cart system for a website, they can technically patent the process if it gets approved because it involves tying it into a machine, which in this case is the PC. Normally under typical circumstances, the example they use was that Ford could not patent the assembly line and they did not. They are likening the software and PC argument to just that.

Most people have always thought it was a tough thing to deal with, giving patents out for methods used on an online businesses website for example. A ruling against the tech company could prove to be a huge issue for future companies when trying to file a patent for methodology style ideas.

What does all this mean? Depending on who you are, it can mean quite a bit. Imagine the drop in business for attorneys that deal specifically in web type patent infringement cases. Also web businesses may not be able to patent certain ways of doing business any longer.

So keep an eye out on this case, it really could change things.