Coca-Cola Knocks Out Soda Dispenser Patent Suit

Coca-Cola Co. succeeded in killing inventory management patents it was accused of infringing with some beverage dispensers.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Feb. 16, upholding a 2016 lower court ruling, found Automated Tracking Solutions LLC’s patents covering a specialized radio frequency identification (RFID) system used in inventory management were ineligible for patenting because they covered an abstract idea.

The ruling helps Coca-Cola end a patent fight that threatened sales from dispensers such as self-serve “Coca-Cola Freestyle” touchscreen machines widely used in public spaces such as theaters, malls, and restaurants.

The Federal Circuit did “not see ...