US Supreme Court rejects new Intel challenge to federal patent policy

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied a bid by Intel and Edwards Lifesciences to revive part of their lawsuit challenging a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office policy that reduced the number of patents the federal agency reviews.

The justices turned away an appeal by the companies of a lower court’s ruling dismissing their challenge. Intel and Edwards told the Supreme Court that letting that decision stand would give the office “free rein” to adopt standards that “undermine the patent system with no judicial oversight.”