Controversy erupted in 1999 when the J.M. Smucker Company sued a Michigan bakery, Albie’s, for infringing on its patent by marketing a crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwich crimped on the edges. (See U.S. patent 6,004,596.) Albie’s argued that the patent was issued in error because the invention was obvious. Look up the Smucker patent.

Do you believe that the Smucker’s invention is nonobvious? Why or why not?P-968