The secrecy order has already become something of a charade.
They presented him with the secrecy order now before the Supreme Court.
To the patent office, the secrecy order may have seemed routine.
Since 1980, the result has been a softening of tensions, which is one reason mathematicians were concerned about the new secrecy order.
The cases, filed in 1990 under a secrecy order, were settled in April.
Congress and court committees have been studying rules to discourage such secrecy orders.
The case had been handled under a secrecy order until last week's hearing.
Others might not face publication if their applications fall under a secrecy order (those have to come from the government's national security agencies).
They are the first tests of legal reforms introduced two months ago to allow judges' secrecy orders to be reviewed.
The secrecy agreement or secrecy order continues throughout the case and even after final judgment.