I have done my share of griping about the deluge of overly broad intellectual-property claims pouring out of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. So I suppose I should cheer when the courts try to block this stream. But this spring, a Hoover Dam of a ruling-in a patent case involving broad ownership rights to the latest generation of painkillers-raises more painful questions about our patent system than it resolves.

Select from the choices above to read the entire article.