5 Game-Changing Patents from the 2010s That Revolutionized Modern Life

Last Updated: February 2026

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Key Takeaways

• The 2010s produced foundational patents in gene editing, smartphone technology, renewable energy, and cloud computing
• CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing patents sparked one of the most significant patent disputes in biotechnology history
• Smartphone patents from Apple, Samsung, and others generated billions in licensing revenue and litigation damages
• Cloud computing architecture patents enabled the shift from on-premise to cloud-based enterprise software
• 3D printing patents expired during this decade, democratizing manufacturing technology worldwide
• Understanding these landmark cases is essential preparation for the USPTO Patent Bar Exam
• The decade saw patent law evolve significantly with major Supreme Court decisions affecting subject matter eligibility

What Are the Most Important Patents from the 2010s?

The 2010s introduced transformative patents including CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing systems, smartphone gesture and interface technologies, Tesla’s electric vehicle battery management systems, cloud computing virtualization architectures, and advanced 3D printing methods. These innovations fundamentally changed biotechnology, mobile computing, transportation, enterprise IT infrastructure, and manufacturing, while generating landmark patent litigation that shaped modern intellectual property law and practice standards.

The 2010s: A Transformative Decade for Patents and Innovation

The 2010s began in the shadow of the 2008 financial crisis but quickly emerged as one of the most innovative decades in patent history. This was the era when smartphones became ubiquitous, gene editing became practical, electric vehicles went mainstream, cloud computing replaced on-premise IT infrastructure, and 3D printing moved from industrial applications to consumer products.

For patent professionals, the 2010s represent a pivotal decade in intellectual property law. Major Supreme Court decisions reshaped patent eligibility standards, the America Invents Act fundamentally changed patent prosecution procedures, and high-profile patent wars between technology giants demonstrated the enormous commercial value of well-crafted patent portfolios.

The decade also saw patent practice become increasingly specialized. The technical complexity of inventions, combined with evolving legal standards, made it nearly impossible for generalist practitioners to compete effectively. Patent agents who developed deep expertise in specific technology areas found themselves in high demand—a trend that continues today.

For those pursuing a patent agent career, understanding the patents and legal developments of the 2010s provides essential context for modern practice. These cases appear frequently on the USPTO Patent Bar Exam and form the foundation for contemporary patent prosecution strategies.

Let’s explore five patents that defined the decade and understand their lasting impact on technology and patent law.

1. CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Technology (2012-2014)

The Biotechnology Revolution That Sparked a Patent War

CRISPR-Cas9 represents one of the most significant biotechnology breakthroughs in history—a precise, efficient, and relatively inexpensive method for editing genes in living organisms. The technology has applications ranging from treating genetic diseases to creating drought-resistant crops to developing new cancer therapies. It also spawned one of the most contentious patent disputes in modern intellectual property history.

Key Patent Details:

• Primary Patents: UC Berkeley (Doudna/Charpentier) and Broad Institute (Zhang) competing patent families
• Technology Class: C12N 15/10 (Processes for the isolation, preparation or purification of DNA or RNA)
• Core Innovation: Using the Cas9 enzyme as molecular scissors guided by RNA to make precise cuts in DNA
• Nobel Recognition: Doudna and Charpentier awarded 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

The CRISPR Patent Interference: A Masterclass in Patent Strategy

The dispute between UC Berkeley and the Broad Institute over CRISPR patents provides invaluable lessons for patent professionals:

• First to File vs. First to Invent: The interference occurred during the transition from first-to-invent to first-to-file systems under the America Invents Act
• Conception and Reduction to Practice: The case turned on who first achieved CRISPR gene editing in eukaryotic cells (more complex organisms)
• Claim Scope Disputes: Berkeley claimed broad rights to CRISPR in all cells; Broad argued eukaryotic applications were non-obvious
• Commercial Stakes: Billions of dollars in licensing revenue and company valuations hung in the balance

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) ultimately ruled that the Broad Institute’s patents covering CRISPR use in eukaryotic cells were patentably distinct from Berkeley’s more general claims. This decision demonstrated the critical importance of claim drafting—a core skill tested on the patent bar exam.

Strategic Lessons for Patent Agents

The CRISPR patent dispute illustrates several principles essential for biotechnology patent practice:

• Laboratory Notebooks Matter: Detailed documentation of conception and reduction to practice proved crucial
• Provisional Applications Are Strategic Tools: Early filing dates established priority while work continued
• Claim Differentiation Is Critical: Berkeley’s broader claims and Broad’s narrower but earlier-filing claims both had value
• International Prosecution Varies: European Patent Office decisions diverged from USPTO outcomes, creating complex global landscapes

For patent agents specializing in biotechnology, this case study provides endless material for understanding patent prosecution strategy, interference proceedings, and the business implications of patent scope.

CRISPR’s Impact on Patent Practice

Beyond the specific dispute, CRISPR patents accelerated several trends in biotechnology patent practice:

• Increased emphasis on clear enablement requirements for gene editing methods
• Greater scrutiny of written description support for genus claims covering multiple applications
• More aggressive use of PTAB proceedings to challenge competitor patents
• Complex licensing structures to avoid blocking positions in the patent thicket

The CRISPR story also demonstrates how academic research transitions to commercial application—and why universities increasingly emphasize strong patent portfolios. For patent agents interested in working with university technology transfer offices, understanding this case is essential.

2. Apple’s Smartphone Interface and Gesture Patents (2010-2015)

The Patents That Defined the Smartphone Era

Apple’s patents covering touchscreen gestures, user interface elements, and smartphone design features became the centerpiece of the “smartphone patent wars” of the 2010s. These patents protected innovations like pinch-to-zoom, slide-to-unlock, bounce-back scrolling, and the overall iPhone design aesthetic. The resulting litigation with Samsung generated billions in damages and fundamentally shaped how technology companies approach patent strategy.

Key Patent Details:

• Representative Patents: US 8,046,721 (unlocking device), US 7,844,915 (scrolling), US 7,864,163 (touch screen)
• Technology Class: G06F 3/041 (Digitiser characterized by the transducing means)
• Design Patents: D618,677 (iPhone design) and related ornamental design patents
• Litigation Impact: Over $1 billion in damages awarded across multiple lawsuits

The Apple v. Samsung Patent Wars

The litigation between Apple and Samsung became the defining patent battle of the 2010s, with cases filed in over 10 countries and generating thousands of pages of court documents. Key issues included:

• Design Patent Scope: How much similarity constitutes infringement of ornamental designs
• Damages Calculations: Whether design patent damages should be based on entire device value or component value
• Obviousness Standards: Whether interface gestures were obvious combinations of known elements
• Prior Art Challenges: Samsung’s attempts to invalidate Apple patents using earlier touchscreen devices

The Supreme Court’s 2016 decision in Samsung Electronics Co. v. Apple Inc. addressed design patent damages, holding that damages could be based on a component’s value rather than the entire product. This case appears regularly on the patent bar exam and represents a crucial development in design patent law.

Patent Strategy in the Smartphone Industry

The smartphone patent wars demonstrated several strategic principles:

• Portfolio Approach: Companies need both utility and design patents for comprehensive protection
• Continuations Matter: Apple filed numerous continuation applications, refining claims based on competitor products
• Standard Essential Patents: Patents covering industry standards have special licensing obligations (FRAND terms)
• Cross-Licensing: Most smartphone patent disputes eventually settled with cross-license agreements

For patent agents working with consumer electronics companies, this period established the playbook for defensive patent portfolio development, aggressive prosecution strategies, and coordinated litigation campaigns.

The Legacy of Smartphone Patents

By the end of the 2010s, smartphone patent litigation had largely subsided as companies recognized the mutual benefits of licensing over warfare. However, the patents filed during this era continue to generate significant revenue through licensing programs. Apple, Qualcomm, Ericsson, and others earn billions annually from smartphone patent portfolios developed during the 2010s.

The smartphone wars also accelerated patent examination procedures, with the USPTO creating specialized art units for mobile device technologies and developing more sophisticated prior art search tools to handle the flood of applications.

3. Tesla’s Battery Management and Electric Vehicle Patents (2010-2014)

Making Electric Vehicles Practical and Profitable

While Tesla didn’t invent the electric vehicle, their patents covering battery management systems, cooling technologies, and charging infrastructure made EVs practical for mainstream consumers. Tesla’s battery pack designs, thermal management systems, and Supercharger network patents enabled the Model S to achieve 300+ mile range—the threshold that transformed EVs from niche products to viable alternatives to gasoline vehicles.

Key Patent Details:

• Core Patents: Battery pack configurations, thermal management systems, charge balancing methods
• Technology Class: H01M 10/42 (Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells)
• Innovation Focus: Using thousands of small lithium-ion cells with sophisticated management systems instead of large custom batteries
• Strategic Move: Tesla’s 2014 “open source” patent pledge for good-faith users

Tesla’s Unconventional Patent Strategy

In 2014, Elon Musk announced that Tesla would not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone using their technology “in good faith.” This unconventional approach raised important questions about patent strategy:

• Market Expansion vs. Exclusion: Tesla prioritized growing the EV market over excluding competitors
• Network Effects: More EVs meant more charging infrastructure investment, benefiting Tesla
• Defensive Purposes: Patents remained enforceable if others sued Tesla first
• Talent Attraction: The pledge aligned with Tesla’s mission-driven brand and helped recruit engineers

Despite the pledge, Tesla continued filing patents aggressively. The portfolio serves defensive purposes, provides negotiating leverage in cross-licensing discussions, and protects against patent trolls. This demonstrates that “open source” patents aren’t truly abandoned—they’re strategically deployed assets.

Battery Management System Patents

Tesla’s most valuable patents address the complex challenge of managing thousands of individual battery cells:

• Thermal Management: Cooling systems that prevent thermal runaway while maximizing performance
• Charge Balancing: Ensuring all cells charge and discharge evenly to maximize lifespan
• State of Charge Estimation: Accurately predicting remaining range despite battery degradation
• Fast Charging Protocols: Methods for rapid charging without damaging battery chemistry

These patents required extensive experimental data to demonstrate enablement and overcome obviousness rejections. The prosecution histories provide excellent examples of how to overcome prior art in crowded technology spaces where many individual elements are known but the combination is non-obvious.

Impact on the EV Industry

Tesla’s patents (and patent strategy) accelerated the entire automotive industry’s shift toward electrification. Traditional automakers who might have delayed EV development found themselves competing with Tesla’s rapidly improving technology. The patents established technical benchmarks that competitors had to meet or exceed.

For patent agents, the EV patent landscape illustrates the convergence of multiple disciplines: electrochemistry (batteries), mechanical engineering (cooling and packaging), electrical engineering (power management), and software (control algorithms). Successful prosecution requires understanding how these elements integrate into a cohesive system.

4. Cloud Computing Architecture and Virtualization Patents (2010-2016)

Enabling the Infrastructure Revolution

The 2010s saw enterprise computing shift from on-premise data centers to cloud-based infrastructure. Patents covering virtualization technologies, distributed computing architectures, and cloud management systems from companies like Amazon (AWS), Microsoft (Azure), and VMware enabled this transformation. These patents protected methods for efficiently allocating computing resources, managing virtual machines, and ensuring data security in multi-tenant environments.

Key Patent Details:

• Representative Patents: AWS patents on elastic computing resource allocation, Azure patents on hybrid cloud architectures
• Technology Class: G06F 9/455 (Emulation; Interpretation; Software simulation)
• Core Innovations: Methods for dynamically allocating computing resources, containerization technologies, serverless computing architectures
• Market Impact: Enabled $500+ billion cloud computing industry

Navigating Section 101 Challenges

Cloud computing patents faced significant challenges under 35 U.S.C. § 101 following the Supreme Court’s 2014 Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank decision. The Court held that abstract ideas implemented on generic computer hardware are not patent-eligible, creating uncertainty for software patents.

Successful cloud computing patents overcame these challenges by:

• Focusing on Technical Improvements: Claims emphasizing improved computer performance rather than business methods
• Specific Implementation Details: Including hardware architecture specifics rather than purely functional claiming
• Solving Technical Problems: Addressing efficiency, security, or reliability challenges inherent to distributed systems
• Careful Claim Drafting: Avoiding abstract idea language while maintaining adequate scope

For patent agents preparing for the USPTO exam, understanding Alice and its progeny is essential. The cloud computing patents of the 2010s provide numerous examples of successful prosecution strategies in the post-Alice environment.

Patent Strategy in Cloud Infrastructure

Cloud computing companies developed sophisticated patent strategies to protect their market positions:

• Layered Protection: Patents at hardware, virtualization, management, and application layers
• Defensive Publications: Publishing innovations as prior art to prevent competitor patents
• Open Source Plus Patents: Contributing to open source projects while retaining patents on key differentiators
• Patent Pools: Collaborative licensing arrangements to avoid blocking positions

The cloud computing patent landscape demonstrates how established companies use patents strategically to maintain competitive advantages in rapidly evolving markets. Rather than focusing solely on exclusion, these patents serve as negotiating tools, revenue sources through licensing, and defensive shields against patent assertions.

Containerization and Microservices Patents

As cloud architecture evolved during the 2010s, patents shifted from virtual machine technologies to containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and microservices architectures. These patents addressed:

• Efficient resource isolation with minimal overhead
• Orchestration of distributed container deployments
• Service discovery and load balancing in dynamic environments
• Security boundaries between containerized applications

The rapid evolution of cloud technologies during this decade created challenges for patent drafting. Applications filed early in the decade often seemed outdated by issuance. Successful patent agents learned to draft claims with sufficient abstraction to cover future implementations while maintaining the specificity needed to overcome Section 101 rejections.

5. Advanced 3D Printing Methods and Materials (2010-2019)

Democratizing Manufacturing Through Expired Patents

The 2010s witnessed an explosion in 3D printing adoption, largely because key patents from the 1980s and 1990s expired during this decade. However, the 2010s also produced important new patents covering advanced materials, multi-material printing, metal additive manufacturing, and industrial-scale production methods that pushed 3D printing beyond prototyping into production manufacturing.

Key Patent Details:

• Notable Patents: Carbon’s continuous liquid interface production (CLIP), Desktop Metal’s bound metal deposition
• Technology Class: B29C 64/10 (Processes of additive manufacturing)
• Core Innovations: Continuous printing processes, new photopolymer chemistries, metal printing methods, multi-material capabilities
• Speed Improvements: 25-100x faster than traditional layer-by-layer methods

The Impact of Patent Expiration

The expiration of foundational 3D printing patents during the 2010s created a natural experiment in patent policy. When the basic fused deposition modeling (FDM) patents expired around 2009-2010, the results were dramatic:

• Price Collapse: 3D printer prices fell from $10,000+ to under $500
• Market Expansion: The industry grew from tens of millions to billions in annual revenue
• Innovation Acceleration: Hundreds of companies entered the market with improvements and variations
• Open Source Movement: Projects like RepRap made 3D printing accessible to hobbyists worldwide

This demonstrates an important principle in patent law: patents are temporary monopolies designed to incentivize innovation, with the ultimate goal of enriching the public domain. The 3D printing industry’s explosion after patent expiration shows the system working as intended.

Next-Generation 3D Printing Patents

While basic 3D printing became commoditized, companies developed valuable new patents covering:

• Speed Improvements: Carbon’s CLIP technology uses continuous printing rather than discrete layers
• Material Innovations: New resins, metals, ceramics, and composite materials with superior properties
• Multi-Material Printing: Methods for printing objects with varying properties in a single build
• Industrial Scale: Systems for volume production rather than just prototyping
• Post-Processing: Automated methods for finishing printed parts

These patents demonstrate how innovation continues even after foundational patents expire. The competitive market enabled by expired patents incentivizes new improvements that can themselves be patented.

Patent Prosecution Lessons from 3D Printing

3D printing patents illustrate several important prosecution considerations:

• Crowded Prior Art: Extensive existing patents and publications require careful differentiation
• Combination Inventions: Many 3D printing innovations combine known elements in non-obvious ways
• Process vs. Apparatus Claims: Strategic claiming of both the method and the equipment
• Material Compositions: Claiming both the printing method and the materials used

For patent agents, the 3D printing field offers excellent examples of how to navigate crowded art, draft continuation applications to protect incremental improvements, and develop patent portfolios that maintain value even as basic technologies become public domain.

The Business Model Evolution

As printer patents expired, companies shifted their patent strategies to consumables—the materials used for printing. This “razor and blade” model appears across industries and demonstrates an important principle: when core technology becomes commoditized, value often migrates to complementary products and services.

Patent agents advising 3D printing companies learned to look beyond the printer itself, protecting innovations in:

• Proprietary material formulations
• Software for print preparation and optimization
• Quality control and monitoring systems
• Post-processing and finishing techniques
• Application-specific printing methods

The Changing Patent Landscape of the 2010s

Beyond specific technologies, the 2010s fundamentally transformed patent law and practice through major legal developments:

The America Invents Act (AIA)

The 2011 America Invents Act represented the most significant patent law reform in decades:

• First-to-File: Changed from first-to-invent to first-to-file priority
• Post-Grant Review: Created new mechanisms for challenging issued patents at the PTAB
• Prior Art Definition: Expanded what constitutes prior art under pre-AIA vs. post-AIA rules
• Inventor’s Oath: Simplified declaration requirements
• Supplemental Examination: Allowed patent owners to correct defects before litigation

For patent agents, understanding AIA provisions is essential for the exam and practice. The law created a clear dividing line, with different rules applying to applications filed before and after March 16, 2013.

Major Supreme Court Decisions

The Supreme Court issued several landmark patent decisions during the 2010s:

• Mayo v. Prometheus (2012): Laws of nature are not patentable, affecting diagnostic method patents
• Myriad (2013): Naturally occurring DNA sequences are not patentable
• Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank (2014): Abstract ideas on generic computers are not patent-eligible
• Nautilus v. Biosig (2014): Clarified definiteness requirements for claims
• Teva v. Sandoz (2015): Addressed standard of review for claim construction

These cases fundamentally reshaped patent prosecution strategy, particularly for software, biotechnology, and diagnostic method patents. They appear frequently on the patent bar exam and represent essential knowledge for practicing patent agents.

The Rise of PTAB Proceedings

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) proceedings became powerful tools for challenging patents:

• Faster and cheaper than district court litigation
• High institution rates (70%+ of petitions granted)
• Significant invalidity rates (claims canceled in majority of instituted cases)
• Strategic use by accused infringers to avoid litigation

Patent agents learned to draft applications defensively, anticipating potential PTAB challenges and ensuring prosecution records support claim validity.

What the 2010s Mean for Modern Patent Practice

The patents and legal developments of the 2010s established the framework for contemporary patent practice:

Increased Prosecution Rigor

Patent prosecution became more demanding as examiners received training on post-Alice subject matter eligibility and grew more skeptical of broad software claims. Successful patent agents adapted by:

• Including detailed technical implementations in specifications
• Emphasizing technological improvements in claims and arguments
• Using continuation practice to refine claims based on examiner feedback
• Building prosecution records that could withstand PTAB review

Strategic Portfolio Development

Companies moved beyond simply accumulating patents to developing strategic portfolios aligned with business objectives. This required patent agents to understand:

• Competitive landscapes and freedom-to-operate considerations
• Licensing strategies and potential revenue opportunities
• Defensive postures against patent assertion entities
• International filing strategies based on market priorities

Interdisciplinary Expertise

The technologies of the 2010s increasingly combined multiple disciplines. CRISPR required molecular biology and genetics knowledge; smartphones demanded mechanical, electrical, and software expertise; cloud computing integrated hardware, networking, and software layers. Patent agents who could work across disciplines became increasingly valuable.

Business and Technical Integration

Successful patent agents learned to connect technical innovation with business strategy. Understanding why a patent matters commercially—not just whether it’s technically patentable—became essential for providing value to clients and advancing in the profession.

Preparing for a Patent Career Based on 2010s Lessons

If you’re studying for the patent bar exam or considering a patent agent career, the 2010s provide a roadmap:

Master the AIA

The America Invents Act provisions appear extensively on the exam. Understand the differences between pre-AIA and post-AIA law, particularly regarding:

• Prior art date determinations
• Grace period provisions
• Derivation proceedings vs. interferences
• Post-grant review procedures

Study Major Case Law

The Supreme Court decisions of the 2010s fundamentally changed patent law. Focus on:

• Alice Corp. and the two-step test for subject matter eligibility
• Mayo’s framework for evaluating laws of nature
• Nautilus and the definiteness requirement
• Samsung v. Apple on design patent damages

Develop Technical Depth

The technologies discussed here—gene editing, smartphone interfaces, battery systems, cloud computing, additive manufacturing—represent high-demand practice areas. If your background aligns with any of these fields, develop deep expertise. Broad technical knowledge is less valuable than deep understanding of specific domains.

Understand Strategic Prosecution

Modern patent practice requires thinking strategically about claim scope, continuation strategy, PTAB risks, and business objectives. Study the prosecution histories of important patents to see how successful agents navigate these challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Building Your Career on 2010s Foundations

The patents and legal developments of the 2010s established the framework for modern patent practice. Whether you’re drawn to biotechnology, consumer electronics, clean energy, software, or advanced manufacturing, understanding how these technologies developed and how patent law evolved to address them provides essential context for your career.

The decade demonstrated that successful patent practice requires more than technical knowledge and legal expertise—it demands strategic thinking, business acumen, and the ability to see how innovations fit into larger technological and competitive landscapes. Patent agents who developed these skills during the 2010s found themselves in high demand as companies recognized the commercial value of well-crafted patent portfolios.

As you prepare for the USPTO Patent Bar Exam, study the cases and statutory provisions from the 2010s carefully. The America Invents Act, Alice and its progeny, PTAB procedures, and the major patent disputes of the decade form the foundation of exam content. More importantly, they provide the framework you’ll use throughout your career as a patent agent.

The technologies we’ve discussed—CRISPR, smartphones, electric vehicles, cloud computing, and 3D printing—transformed their industries and generated enormous value for patent holders who protected their innovations effectively. As you build your career, look for the next generation of transformative technologies where your expertise can help inventors secure the protection they need to bring innovations to market.

Continue Exploring Patent History

This article is part of our “Inventions Through the Decades” series:

• 5 Revolutionary Patents from the 2020s Transforming Technology and Industry
• 5 Game-Changing Patents from the 2010s That Revolutionized Modern Life (you are here)
• Coming next: 5 Breakthrough Patents from the 2000s That Launched the Digital Revolution
• Also explore: 5 Transformative Patents from the 1990s

Ready to start your patent agent journey? Explore our comprehensive resources:

• Complete Guide to Patent Agent Careers
• USPTO Patent Bar Review Course

The innovations of the 2010s set the stage for the technologies defining the 2020s. As a patent professional, you’ll help protect the next generation of groundbreaking inventions.

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