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

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,voting7-2, said April 24 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.

Silicon Valley companies have used the system as a less-expensive way to ward off demands for royalties, particularly from patent owners derided as “trolls” because ...