Legal Definitions - State Street Bank

State Street Bank is a landmark court decision that made it easier to get patents on computer software and questioned the idea that business methods cannot be patented. The decision was made in 1998 by the Federal Circuit.

The court ruled that mathematical algorithms, which are the foundation of software, can be patented if they result in something useful, concrete, and tangible in practice. This decision opened the door for many software patents that were previously not allowed.

For example, a company could now patent a software program that helps with financial analysis or a business method that improves efficiency in a certain industry.

The State Street Bank decision has had a significant impact on the technology industry and has led to many new patents being granted. It has also sparked debate about the role of patents in the software industry and whether they hinder innovation or promote it.