No claim broadening is allowed more than two years after the patent issues.

They believe patent issues are basically business questions and not only technical or legal matters.

The patent issue, Microsoft insists now, was the primary focus of the 1997 deal.

In fact, the patent issue was a major hurdle to starting the program.

"He essentially has made Washington understand that patent issues are important to overall economic strategy."

But he added, "We are looking at that patent issue very closely."

But they say those questions have no connection with the patent issue.

The Federal circuit has jurisdiction over patent issues and is usually the final authority in such disputes.

Following this success, the two co-inventors broke up over patent issues.

Of course, Amgen is not taking the patent issue lying down.