Patent No. 8,609,158 claims to be a cure for cancer and many other ailments through various combinations of natural ingredients. There are a multitude of reasons why this patent should have been rejected by the US Patent Office, such as enablement, indefiniteness, and utility, but it was accepted anyways. Since invalidation of patents requires clear and convincing evidence in the court of law, costs of defending against patents like this are often extraordinary. This patent is not unique however, as many unclear patents like this are accepted on a regular basis, pointing towards a clear need for extensive patent reform in the US.
