#43: Zynga and the Impact of Classification

Megan reviews the prosecution history and examiner statistics for U.S. Patent No. 8,272,961, a patent owned by gaming giant Zynga. The patent covers a broad range of online gameplay but was issued surprisingly quickly. However, even more interesting than the application's faster-than-normal prosecution is its classification. It appears to be an outlier in an art unit that mainly focuses on hardware and electronics, and which has a favorable allowance profile compared with art units where gaming applications would typically be found.