Based on the reports in the post “Bilski Case Provokes Skepticism from Justices” it is clear that the Supremes do not understand patent laws or innovation economics.

It is unfortunate that the Supreme Court justices are so ignorant of patent law and innovation economics.  Justice Sotomayor’s comment that patents in fact “limit the free flow of information” is complete nonsense.  First, the information in the patent would not exist if the inventor had not created it.  Second, patents trade the disclosure of information for a limited term property right.  As a result, patents foster the creation and dissemination of information.  Justice Breyer’s comment if everything that “helps a businessman succeed” is patent-eligible, it would “stop the wheels of progress” shows a complete ignorance of the history of patents and technological progress.  Before the advent of the modern patent system in the US, technological progress was so slow that per capita incomes had not changed in over 2000 years.  Since the advent of the modern patent system, we have had an unprecedented explosion in technological innovation.