> The single-use/no-resale restrictions in Lexmark’s contracts with customers may have been clear and enforceable under contract law...
IANAL, but this makes me think that the case would only be applied to patent issues, because it doesn't rule about anything concerning contracts. That kind of suit will have to come later.
My reading of the decision was that the court wasn't just clarifying the bounds of patent law, with no real interest in the consumer perspective. I felt a court that was concerned about the way consumer rights are heading.
If companies start spamming the public with grabby adhesion contracts for everyday purchases, I think the court is going to be very concerned.
Of course, this is just my intuition and reading. We won't know for sure until the next consumer rights case, but I am optimistic.
Given this change in thinking, I am optimistic future cases dealing with non-patent issues will yield similar results.