SAN FRANCISCO — A patent suit against online gaming companies may have been the “rare case” that didn’t meet Section 101 eligibility standards, but it’s probably not “exceptional” for the purpose of attorney fees.

So suggested U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg on Thursday, as he sounded ready to deny a request from Electronic Arts Inc., Zynga Inc. and two other companies for some $2 million in fees against Gametek, a subsidiary of patent holding company Acacia Research Corp.