A patent case can tie up a judge's calendar for months, sometimes for years, and often involves technical issues that the judge doesn't understand.

专利案件在法官的日程表上可能被推迟几个月，甚至几年，而且其中通常包含法官不能理解的技术问题。

youdao

In a patent case a judge is asked to dissect the indivisible stream that is technical progress, to say where one man's inspiration ends and another's begins.

在专利案件中，法官被要求将原本不可分割的技术进程分解，并决定一个发明人的灵感止于何处，另一个发明人的灵感又始于何处。

youdao

You said it was a patent case, didn't you?

你说过是件专利案，不是吗？

youdao

That's too abstract." In the Bilski case, the court said patent examiners could consider what is known as the machine-or-transformation test.

VOA: special.2010.07.16

But they only said no to a patent in this case.

VOA: special.2010.07.16

Apple and Samsung recently agreed to enter settlement talks in a California patent case.

WSJ: Apple Profit Surges 94% on Strong iPhone, iPad Sales

The big win so far for Apple has been the patent case in California.

FORBES: Links 2 March: Apple's Patent Damages Award Slashed. But Why?

But when they have a patent case to prosecute, they do the same thing.

FORBES: Magazine Article