problem, and recite standard computer operations to perform some of those steps. The principal flaw in these patents is that they do not contain an “inventive concept” that solves practical problems and ensures that the patent is directed to something “significantly more than” the ineligible abstract idea itself. [Citing Alice and Mayo.] As such, they represent little more than functional descriptions of objectives, rather than inventive solutions. In addition, because they describe the claimed methods in functional terms, they preempt any subsequent specific solutions to the problem at issue. [Citing Alice and Mayo.] It is for those reasons that the Supreme Court has characterized such patents as claiming “abstract ideas” and has held that they are not directed to patentable subject matter. See also Criticism of patents Debates within software engineering European Information, Communications and Consumer Electronics Technology Industry Associations (EICTA) Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII) Free Software Foundation Irish Free Software Organisation Jacobsen v. Katzer Piano roll blues Mozilla Open Software Patent License References Debate Intellectual property activism Discovery and invention controversies Legal disputes