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Over the past decade, thousands of patents have been granted for what are called business methods. Amazon.com received one for its “one-click” online payment system. Merrill Lynch got legal protection for an asset allocation strategy. One inventor patented a technique for lifting a box.

Now the nation’s top patent court appears completely ready to scale back on business-method patent, which have been controversial ever since they were first authorized 10 years ago. In a move that has intellectual-property lawyers abuzz, the U.S. court of Appeals for the federal circuit said it would use a particular case to conduct a broad review of business-mothed patents. In re Biliski, as the case is known, is a “very big deal”, says Dennis’ D Crouch of the University of Missouri School of law. It “has the potential to eliminate an entire class of patents.”

Curbs on business-mothed claims would be a dramatic about-face, because it was the federal circuit itself that introduced such patents with is 1998 decision in the so-called state Street Bank case, approving a patent on a way of pooling mutual-fund assets. That ruling produced an explosion in business-mothed patent filings, initially by emerging internet companies trying to stake out exclusive rights to specific types of online transactions. Later, more eatablished companies raced to add such patents to their files, if only as a defensive move against rivals that might bent them to the punch. In 2005, IBM noted in a court filing that it had been issued more than 300 business-method patents despite the fact that it questioned the legal basis for granting them. Similarly, some Wall Street investment films armed themselves with patents for financial products, even as they took positions in court cases opposing the practice.

The Biliski case involves a claimed patent on a method for hedging risk in the energy market. The Federal circuit issued an unusual order stating that the case would be heard by all 12 of the court’s judges, rather than a typical panel of three and that one issue it wants to evaluate is whether it should “reconsider” its state street Banking ruling.

The Federal Circuit’s action comes in the wake of a series of recent decisions by the Supreme Count that has narrowed the scope of protections for patent holders. Last April, for example, the justices signaled that too many patents were been upheld for “inventions” that are obvious. The judges on the Federal Circuit are “reacting to the antipatent trend at the Supreme Court,” says Harold C. Wegner, a patent attorney and professor at George Washington University Law School.

 

 

题目

26. Business-mothod patents have recently aroused concern because of_____.

[A] their limited value to business.

[B] their connection with asset allocation.

[C] the possible restriction on their granting.

[D] the controversy over authorization.

 

27. Which of the following is true of the Bilski case?

[A] Its ruling complies with the court decisions.

[B] Its involves a very big business transaction.

[C] It has been dismissed by the Federal Circuit.

[D] It may change the legal practices in the U.S..

 

28. The word “about-face” (Line 1, Para 3) most probably means______.

[A] lose of good will.

[B] increase of hostility.

[C] change of attitude.

[D] enhancement of dignity.

 

29. We learn from the last two paragraphs that business-method patents_____.

[A] are immune to legal challenges.

[B] are often unnecessarily issued.

[C] lower the esteem for patent holders.

[D] increase the incidence of risks.

 

30. Which of the following would be the subject of the text?

[A] A looming threat to business-method patent.

[B] Protection for business-method patent holder.

[C] A legal case regarding business-method patent.

[D] A prevailing trend against business-method patents.

 

 

全文翻译

在过去的十年里，成千上万的专利被授予给被称作为商业方法的东西。亚马逊因为在线一键支付系统获得了一项专利。Merrill Lynch因为一项资产分配战略获得了法律保护。一位发明者因为提箱子技术获得了专利。

现在国家最高专利法院似乎完全准备缩减自从他们十年前第一次授权时就备受争议的商业方法专利。这次行动已经使得知识产权律师们议论纷纷，美国联邦巡回上诉法院说：它将使用一个特殊的案例去引导一个广泛的商业模式专利的评论。密苏里大学法律学院的Dennis’ D Crouch说，众所周知的Biliski是一个大交易。它有淘汰一整个类型专利的可能。

在商业方法上，法院宣称将有一次显著的转变，因为这种专利是联邦巡回法院自己在1998年的被称为道富银行案例的决定中引入的，这件案例认可了一种合并共同资产基金方式的专利。这条规定引起了商业方法专利文件的激增，最初是由一些新兴的网络公司试图霸占独有在线交易的类型。后来，许多老牌公司在文档中相继增加了此类专利，仅仅用来做为防止竞争对手以此打击他们自己。在2005年，IBM注意到他们在法院文件中发布的商业模式专利已经超过300个，尽管事实上他们也质疑获得这些专利的法律依据。同样的，一些华尔街电影公司为了金融产品也用专利来武装他们自己，即使他们对法院专利的做法持反对意见。

Biliski案件包含了一项声称能源市场规避风险的方式的专利。联邦巡回法院发布了一个不同寻常的命令，这个案件将有法院的全部12名法官听审，而不是典型的3人团队，一名法官说法院想去评估是否应该重新评估道富银行案的规定。

联邦巡回法院的行为紧随最高法院缩减对专利享有人保护的一系列的最近决定。例如，去年四月，法官们暗示：太多的专利被授予给了显而易见的发明。律师代理人同时也是乔治华盛顿法律学院的教授Harold C. Wegner说，联邦巡回法院的法官们正在对“最高法院的反专利趋势做出回应”。

 

 

逐句翻译

第一段

Over the past decade, thousands of patents(专利；专利权) have been granted for what are called business methods.

在过去的十年里，成千上万的专利被授予给被称作为商业方法的东西。

 

 

Amazon.com received one for its “one-click” online payment system.

亚马逊因为在线一键支付系统获得了一项专利。

 

 

Merrill Lynch got legal protection for an asset(资产；有利条件) allocation(分配；安置) strategy(战略，策略).

Merrill Lynch因为一项资产分配战略获得了法律保护。

 

 

One inventor patented a technique for lifting a box.

一位发明者因为提箱子技术获得了专利。

 

 

 

第二段

Now the nation’s top patent court appears(出现；呈现；看上去好像) completely ready to scale back on business-method patent, which have been controversial(有争议的；有争论的) ever since they were first authorized 10 years ago.

现在国家最高专利法院似乎完全准备缩减自从他们十年前第一次授权时就备受争议的商业方法专利。

 

 

In a move that has intellectual-property lawyers abuzz(议论纷纷的), the U.S. court of Appeals(上诉；恳求；有吸引力；将…上诉) for the federal circuit(巡回；回路；绕行) said it would use a particular case to conduct(引导；管理；实施) a broad review of business-mothed patents.

这次行动已经使得知识产权律师们议论纷纷，美国联邦巡回上诉法院说：它将使用一个特殊的案例去引导一个广泛的商业模式专利的评论。

 

 

In re Biliski, as the case is known, is a “very big deal”, says Dennis’ D Crouch of the University of Missouri School of law.

密苏里大学法律学院的Dennis’ D Crouch说，众所周知的Biliski是一个大交易。

 

 

It “has the potential to eliminate(淘汰；消除；排除) an entire(全部的；整个的) class of patents.”

它有淘汰一整个类型专利的可能。

 

 

第三段

Curbs on business-mothed claims would be a dramatic(显著的；引人注目的) about-face, because it was the federal circuit itself that introduced such patents with is 1998 decision in the so-called state Street Bank case, approving a patent on a way of pooling(合并；联营) mutual(共有的；共同的)-fund assets.

在商业方法上，法院宣称将有一次显著的转变，因为这种专利是联邦巡回法院自己在1998年的被称为道富银行案例的决定中引入的，这件案例认可了一种合并共同资产基金方式的专利。

 

 

That ruling produced an explosion(爆炸；激增) in business-mothed patent filings, initially(最初；起先) by emerging internet companies trying to stake out(立桩标出；霸占) exclusive(独有的) rights to specific types of online transactions.

这条规定引起了商业方法专利文件的激增，最初是由一些新兴的网络公司试图霸占独有在线交易的类型。

 

 

Later, more eatablished companies raced to add such patents to their files, if only as a defensive move against rivals that might bent them to the punch.

后来，许多老牌公司在文档中相继增加了此类专利，仅仅用来做为防止竞争对手以此打击他们自己。

 

 

In 2005, IBM noted in a court filing that it had been issued(发布，发行) more than 300 business-method patents despite the fact that it questioned the legal basis for granting them.

在2005年，IBM注意到他们在法院文件中发布的商业模式专利已经超过300个，尽管事实上他们也质疑获得这些专利的法律依据。

 

 

Similarly, some Wall Street investment films armed themselves with patents for financial products, even as they took positions in court cases opposing the practice.

同样的，一些华尔街电影公司为了金融产品也用专利来武装他们自己，即使他们对法院专利的做法持反对意见。

 

 

第四段

The Biliski case involves a claimed patent on a method for hedging(规避) risk in the energy market.

Biliski案件包含了一项声称能源市场规避风险的方式的专利。

 

 

The Federal circuit issued an unusual order stating that the case would be heard by all 12 of the court’s judges, rather than a typical panel of three and that one issue it wants to evaluate is whether it should “reconsider” its state street Banking ruling.

联邦巡回法院发布了一个不同寻常的命令，这个案件将有法院的全部12名法官听审，而不是典型的3人团队，一名法官说法院想去评估是否应该重新评估道富银行案的规定。

 

 

第五段

The Federal Circuit’s action comes in the wake of a series of recent decisions by the Supreme Count that has narrowed the scope of protections for patent holders.

联邦巡回法院的行为紧随最高法院缩减对专利享有人保护的一系列的最近决定。

 

 

Last April, for example, the justices signaled(向…发信号) that too many patents were been upheld for “inventions” that are obvious.

例如，去年四月，法官们暗示：太多的专利被授予给了显而易见的发明。

 

 

The judges on the Federal Circuit are “reacting to(作出反应) the antipatent trend at the Supreme Court,” says Harold C. Wegner, a patent attorney(律师；代理人) and professor at George Washington University Law School.

律师代理人同时也是乔治华盛顿法律学院的教授Harold C. Wegner说，联邦巡回法院的法官们正在对“最高法院的反专利趋势做出回应”。

 

 

题目翻译

26. Business-mothod patents have recently aroused concern because of_____.

[A] their limited value to business.

[B] their connection with asset allocation.

[C] the possible restriction(限制；约束) on their granting.

[D] the controversy over authorization.

 

26.商业方法专利最近唤起了担忧是因为________。

[A] 他们限制了商业的价值。

[B] 他们跟资产分配有关系。

[C] 可能限制了他们的批准。

[D] 争论胜过权威。

 

27. Which of the following is true of the Bilski case?

[A] Its ruling complies with the court decisions.

[B] Its involves a very big business transaction.

[C] It has been dismissed(开除；摒弃；解散的) by the Federal Circuit.

[D] It may change the legal practices in the U.S..

 

27. 根据Biliski案件，下面哪一个是对的？

[A] 它的规定顺从于法院的决定。

[B] 它包含了一个大的商业交易。

[C] Biliski已经被联邦巡回法院摒弃。

[D] 它可能改变美国的法律实践。

 

28. The word “about-face” (Line 1, Para 3) most probably means______.

[A] lose of good will(善意；信誉).

[B] increase of hostility(敌意；战争行动).

[C] change of attitude.

[D] enhancement(增加；放大) of dignity(尊严；高贵).

 

28. 单词“about-face”（第三段第一行）最有可能的意思是_______。

[A] 失去信誉。

[B] 增加敌意。

[C] 改变态度。

[D] 提高尊严。

 

29. We learn from the last two paragraphs that business-method patents____.

[A] are immune to(对…有免疫力；不受…的影响) legal challenges.

[B] are often unnecessarily issued.

[C] lower the esteem(尊敬；认为；考虑) for patent holders.

[D] increase the incidence(发生率；影响) of risks.

 

29. 从最后两段我们学习到商业模式专利_____。

[A] 不受法律挑战的影响。

[B] 常常被没有必要的发布。

[C] 对专利持有者的不尊敬。

[D] 增加了危险的发生率。

 

30. Which of the following would be the subject of the text?

[A] A looming(若隐若现的) threat to business-method patent.

[B] Protection for business-method patent holder.

[C] A legal case regarding(关于，至于)business-method patent.

[D] A prevailing(流行) trend against business-method patents.

 

30. 下面哪一个是文章的主题？

[A] 商业模式专利的一个隐隐约约的威胁。

[B] 商业模式专利持有者的保护。

[C] 一个关于商业模式专利的法律案件。

[D] 反商业模式专利的流行趋势。