VOICES FROM THE INDUSTRY: Patent-tying accusations get more difficult to prove
Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court clarified the boundaries between patent and antitrust law in Illinois Tool Works Inc. v. Independent Ink Inc. This decision has important implications for all companies that use the patent system to protect their intellectual property rights. It raises both the legal and financial stakes for businesses that wish to use the antitrust laws as a weapon to break into a market dominated by a competitor’s patented product. The case involved a claim of…