Priya Randolph and another v. The Deputy Controller of Patents and Designs

The appellants applied for a patent for an invention designed to hide physical address information during e-commerce transactions using software, hardware, and firmware. The patent office initially rejected the application, citing a lack of inventive step and classifying the invention as a business method under Section 3(k) of the Patents Act. The High Court reviewed the decision, noting that while the e-commerce activity could be a business method, the invention itself concerned data privacy and protection through technical means. Thus, the court found the initial conclusion that it was purely a business method to be incorrect. Result: The patent office's order refusing the patent was set aside, and the case was sent back for re-evaluation by a different officer.