On Tuesday the U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether Monsanto can claim patent protection for later-generation seed grown from its patented line of genetically modified soybean seed. The case has implications for other self-replicating technologies such as stem cells and vaccines.

Five years ago, Papyrus Technology sued the New York Stock Exchange for allegedly infringing its patents that govern wireless trading platforms, seeking hundreds of millions of dollars. On Thursday, a federal court judge threw out Papyrus's final two infringement claims.

For the last five years, a division of generic drug manufacturer Mylan has been trying to assert its rights to Perforomist, a brand-name drug used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). But a precedent-setting decision on Friday will considerably reduce the potential damages that Mylan could land in a case against Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, which markets its own COPD drug, Brovana.