The Appointments Clause: Ensuring That PTAB Decisions Are Subject to Constitutional Checks and Balances
In Arthrex, Inc. v. Smith & Nephew, Inc., Appeal No. 18-2251, the Federal Circuit ruled that, under the then-existing...more
12/30/2019
/ Abstract Ideas ,
Administrative Appeals ,
Administrative Patent Judges ,
Anticipatory Reference ,
Appeals ,
Appointments Clause ,
Claim Limitations ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Declaration ,
Final Written Decisions ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
Obviousness ,
Patent Applications ,
Patent Examinations ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patent-Eligible Subject Matter ,
Patents ,
Preamble ,
Presidential Appointments ,
Prior Art ,
Process Improvement ,
Publicly Accessible Data ,
Reaffirmation ,
Reversal ,
Severability Doctrine ,
Supplemental Evidence ,
Written Notice
The PTAB Cannot Approve or Deny Certificates of Correction -
In Honeywell International, Inc. v. Arkema Inc., Arkema France, Appeal Nos. 2018-1151, -1153, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“Board”) does not have the...more
11/25/2019
/ Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) ,
Abuse of Discretion ,
Appeals ,
Certificate of Correction ,
Claim Construction ,
CLS Bank v Alice Corp ,
Cross Motions ,
Enablement Inquiries ,
Indefiniteness ,
Induced Infringement ,
JMOL ,
Judgment As A Matter Of Law ,
Leave to Amend ,
Mayo v. Prometheus ,
Motion for Summary Judgment ,
Nonobvious ,
Partial Reversal ,
Patent Applications ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent Owner Preliminary Response ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patent-Eligible Subject Matter ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
Post-Grant Review ,
Priority Patent Claims ,
Product of Nature Doctrine ,
Reaffirmation ,
Remand ,
Scope of the Claim ,
Section 101 ,
Section 112 ,
Vacated ,
Written Descriptions
State Sovereignty Principles Do Not Allow a State to Bring a Patent Infringement Suit in an Improper Venue -
In Board of Regents v. Boston Scientific Corp., Appeal No. 2018-1700, the Federal Circuit ruled that the patent...more
10/30/2019
/ Appeals ,
Breach of Contract ,
Claim Construction ,
Combined References ,
Covered Business Method Patents ,
Covered Business Method Proceedings ,
Dismissals ,
Diversity Jurisdiction ,
Eleventh Amendment ,
Extrinsic Evidence ,
Federal Question Jurisdiction ,
Gunn Test ,
Jurisdiction ,
Nexus ,
Nonobvious ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patent-Eligible Subject Matter ,
Patents ,
Prior Art ,
Reaffirmation ,
Remand ,
Section 101 ,
Section 103 ,
Sovereign Immunity ,
State Law Claims ,
State Sovereignty ,
Subject Matter Jurisdiction ,
Summary Judgment ,
Transfer of Venue ,
Universities ,
Vacated ,
Venue
Mere Potential for Future Appeal Does Not Prevent Triggering Estoppel of Inter Partes Reexamination When Party Fails to Seek Relief in the First Instance -
In Virnetx Inc. v. Apple Inc., Appeal Nos. 2017-1591, -1592,...more
10/3/2019
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Appeals ,
Claim Construction ,
Equivalency Determinations ,
Estoppel ,
Foreign Entities ,
Foreign Sovereigns ,
Indefiniteness ,
Inter Partes Reexamination ,
International Litigation ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
IP License ,
Judgment As A Matter Of Law ,
Nonobvious ,
Novelty ,
Parallel Proceedings ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patent-Eligible Subject Matter ,
Patents ,
Personal Jurisdiction ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Reaffirmation ,
Remand ,
Section 101 ,
Subject Matter Jurisdiction ,
Universities ,
Vacated ,
Written Descriptions
Broad Claim Language and Unpredictability in the Art Lead to Non-Enablement -
In Enzo Life Sciences, Inc. v. Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., Appeal Nos. 2017-2498, -2499, -2545, -2546, broad patent claims were invalid as...more
8/26/2019
/ Abstract Ideas ,
Aesthetic Functionality ,
Appeals ,
CLS Bank v Alice Corp ,
Denial of Rehearing ,
Design Patent ,
Diagnostic Method ,
En Banc Review ,
Mayo v. Prometheus ,
Motion for Summary Judgment ,
Patent Exhaustion ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent-Eligible Subject Matter ,
Patents ,
Reaffirmation ,
Reversal ,
Section 101 ,
Standard of Review ,
Summary Judgment ,
USPTO ,
Written Descriptions
One-year Clock for Filing IPR Petition Applies to Litigants and Parties that Become Privies of the Litigant Prior to Institution.
In Power Integrations, Inc v. Semiconductor Components, Appeal No. 2018-1607, the Federal...more
7/16/2019
/ § 315(b) ,
Appeals ,
Claim Construction ,
Doctrine of Equivalents ,
First Amendment ,
Iancu v. Brunetti ,
In Rem Jurisdiction ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
Mergers ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
Obviousness ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patent Validity ,
Patents ,
Prior Art ,
Privity of Contract ,
Prosecution History Estoppel ,
Reaffirmation ,
Reversal ,
Samsung ,
Sovereign Immunity ,
State Universities ,
Time-Barred Claims ,
Tribal Governments ,
USPTO ,
Viewpoint Discrimination
Reasonably Continuous Diligence Is Not Negated If an Inventor Works On Improvements or Evaluates Alternatives to the Claimed Invention -
In ATI Technologies ULC v. IANCU, Appeal Nos. 2016-2222, -2406, -2608, the Federal...more
6/19/2019
/ Abstract Ideas ,
Appeals ,
Clinical Trials ,
CLS Bank v Alice Corp ,
Covered Business Method Proceedings ,
Eli Lilly ,
Graphical User Interface ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
Nonobvious ,
Obviousness ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patent Validity ,
Patent-Eligible Subject Matter ,
Patents ,
Prior Art ,
Reaffirmation ,
Reasonably Continuous Exercise of Diligence Standard ,
Reversal ,
Seventh Amendment ,
Trading Platforms
Just Because Something May Result From a Prior Art Teaching Does Not Make it Inherent in that Teaching -
In Personal Web Technologies, LLC v. Apple, Inc., Appeal No. 2018-1599, the Federal Circuit clarified that the mere...more
5/10/2019
/ Abstract Ideas ,
Appeals ,
Apple ,
Claim Construction ,
CLS Bank v Alice Corp ,
Diagnostic Method ,
Dismissal With Prejudice ,
Inherency ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
Jury Trial ,
Mayo v. Prometheus ,
Motion for JMOL ,
Motion for Summary Judgment ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
Obviousness ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patent-Eligible Subject Matter ,
Patents ,
Preamble ,
Prior Art ,
Product of Nature Doctrine ,
Reaffirmation ,
Remand ,
Reversal ,
Section 101 ,
Substantial Evidence Standard ,
Summary Judgment ,
Treatment Method Patents ,
Willful Infringement
Federal Circuit Determines Time-Barred Petitioner Joined to an IPR Has Appellate Standing -
In Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Research Corporation Tech., Appeal Nos. 2017-2088, -2089, -2091, the Federal Circuit held that a...more
4/11/2019
/ § 315(b) ,
Affirmative Defenses ,
Appeals ,
Counterclaims ,
Defense Strategies ,
Denial of Rehearing ,
Diagnostic Method ,
Dismissals ,
En Banc Review ,
Google ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
Joinder ,
Mandamus Petitions ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent-Eligible Subject Matter ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
Principal Place of Business ,
Product of Nature Doctrine ,
Reaffirmation ,
Rebuttal ,
Remand ,
Right To Appeal ,
Section 101 ,
Software Patents ,
Sovereign Immunity ,
Standing ,
States Rights ,
Time-Barred Claims ,
Universities ,
Venue ,
Waivers
PTAB May Invalidate Claims on Reconsideration Based on Grounds Raised in the Institution Decision that Were Not Originally Instituted -
In AC Technologies S.A., V. Amazon.Com, Inc., Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., Appeal No....more
3/14/2019
/ Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) ,
Amazon ,
Anticipation ,
Appeals ,
Article III ,
Due Process ,
Final Written Decisions ,
Generic Drugs ,
Hatch-Waxman ,
Hewlett-Packard ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
Motivation to Combine ,
Mylan Pharmaceuticals ,
Obviousness ,
Orange Book ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patents ,
Petition For Rehearing ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
Reaffirmation ,
Right To Appeal ,
Section 103 ,
Standing
A Post-URAA Patent that Issues After but Expires Before a Related Pre-URAA Patent Is Not a Double-Patenting Reference Against the Pre-URAA Patent -
In Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. v. Breckenridge Pharmaceutical Inc.,...more
2/8/2019
/ Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) ,
Abstract Ideas ,
Appeals ,
Declaratory Judgments ,
Dismissals ,
Dispute Letters ,
Double Patent ,
Due Process ,
Improper Venue ,
Long Arm Statute ,
Minimum Contacts ,
Obviousness-Type Double Patenting (ODP) ,
Patent Expiration ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patent Term Extensions ,
Patent Terms ,
Patent Validity ,
Patents ,
Personal Jurisdiction ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
Reaffirmation ,
Reversal ,
Stipulated Judgment ,
Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA)
Assignor Estoppel Does Not Apply in the IPR Context -
In Arista Networks, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., Appeal Nos. 2017-1525, 2017-1577, the Federal Circuit held that the plain language of 35 U.S.C. § 311(a) unambiguously...more
1/16/2019
/ Administrative Procedure Act ,
Appeals ,
Assignor Estoppel ,
Calculation of Damages ,
Claim Construction ,
Cross-Appeals ,
Damages ,
Declaratory Rulings ,
Employee Inventors ,
Forum State ,
Induced Infringement ,
Injunctive Relief ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
IP License ,
Minimum Contacts ,
Modification ,
Noninfringement ,
Notice Requirements ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent Royalties ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patent Validity ,
Patents ,
Personal Jurisdiction ,
Reaffirmation ,
Remand ,
Reversal ,
Tortious Interference
Federal Circuit Finds Claims Directed to Tabbed Spreadsheets Patent Eligible and Claims Directed to Tracking Changes in Documents Ineligible Under Section 101 -
In Data Engine Technologies LLC v. Google LLC, Appeal No....more
12/7/2018
/ Abstract Ideas ,
Appeals ,
CLS Bank v Alice Corp ,
Hatch-Waxman ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
Life Sciences ,
Mayo v. Prometheus ,
Mylan Pharmaceuticals ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patent-Eligible Subject Matter ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
POSITA ,
Prior Art ,
Product of Nature Doctrine ,
Reaffirmation ,
Remand ,
Reversal ,
Sandoz ,
Section 101 ,
Summary Judgment ,
Teva Pharmaceuticals
IPR Petitioner’s Initial Identification of the Real Parties in Interest Is to Be Accepted Unless and Until Disputed by a Patent Owner -
In Worlds Inc. v. Bungie, Inc., Appeal Nos. 2017-1481, -1546, -1583, the Federal...more
11/14/2018
/ § 315(b) ,
Appeals ,
Burden of Persuasion ,
Burden of Proof ,
Burden-Shifting ,
Dismissals ,
Evidence ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
Lack of Authority ,
Method Claims ,
Motivation to Combine ,
Obviousness ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patents ,
Prior Art ,
Reaffirmation ,
Real Party in Interest ,
Rebuttable Presumptions ,
Remand ,
Reversal ,
Sanctions ,
Time-Barred Claims ,
Vacated
Federal Circuit Finds Claims Issued from Reexamination Co-Pending with Appeal Ineligible Where the Changes Did Not Affect Section 101 Eligibility -
In SAP AMERICA, Inc. v. InvestPic, LLC, Appeal No. 2017-2081, the...more
10/30/2018
/ Abstract Ideas ,
Abuse of Discretion ,
Appeals ,
Attorney's Fees ,
Breach of Duty ,
Causation ,
Claim Limitations ,
CLS Bank v Alice Corp ,
Computer-Related Inventions ,
Duty to Disclose ,
Expert Testimony ,
Implied Waivers ,
Instrinsic Evidence ,
Inter Partes Reexamination ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
Judgment on the Pleadings ,
Means-Plus-Function ,
Motion for Summary Judgment ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent-Eligible Subject Matter ,
Patents ,
Reaffirmation ,
Rebuttable Presumptions ,
Remand ,
Reversal ,
Section 101 ,
Section 112 ,
Section 337 ,
Vacated ,
Willful Misconduct
The Board’s Final Written Decision Must Address All Grounds for Unpatentability Raised in a Petition for Inter Partes Review -
In Adidas AG v. Nike, Inc., Appeal Nos. 2018-1180, 2018-1181, the Federal Circuit held that...more
8/30/2018
/ Adidas ,
Anticipation ,
Appeals ,
Broadest Reasonable Interpretation Standard ,
Calculation of Damages ,
Claim Construction ,
Combined References ,
Enhanced Damages ,
Fair Market Value ,
Final Written Decisions ,
Genuine Issue of Material Fact ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
Jury Trial ,
Motivation to Combine ,
Nike ,
Obviousness ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patent Validity ,
Patents ,
Prior Art ,
Public Use ,
Reaffirmation ,
Rebuttable Presumptions ,
Remand ,
SAS Institute Inc. v Iancu ,
Substantial Evidence Standard ,
Vacated ,
Willful Infringement
Broadest Reasonable Interpretation Encompasses All Embodiments in the Absence of Support Specifically Excluding an Embodiment -
In Steuben Foods, Inc. v. Nestle USA, Inc., Appeal No. 2017-1290, the Federal Circuit...more
5/15/2018
/ Appeals ,
Apple ,
Broadest Reasonable Interpretation Standard ,
Claim Construction ,
Claim Terms ,
Collateral Estoppel ,
Evidence ,
Final Written Decisions ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
Nestle ,
Obviousness ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patents ,
Reaffirmation ,
Remand ,
Subsequent Litigation ,
Vacated
Fractured Federal Circuit Holds Patent Owner Does Not Bear Burden of Persuasion in IPR Motions to Amend -
In Aqua Products, Inc. v. Matal, Appeal No. 2015-1177, the Federal Circuit, sitting en banc, held that a patent...more
12/6/2017
/ Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) ,
Appeals ,
Burden of Persuasion ,
Burden of Production ,
Chevron Deference ,
Claim Amendments ,
Claim Construction ,
Commercial Success ,
Indefiniteness ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
Intrinsic Test ,
Motion to Amend ,
Obviousness ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patent Ownership ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patents ,
Prior Art ,
Reaffirmation ,
Remand ,
Reversal ,
Substantial Evidence Standard ,
USPTO ,
Vacated
District Court Abused Discretion in Ignoring Federal Circuit Mandate to Reconsider Attorneys’ Fees Under Octane Fitness -
In Adjustacam, LLC v. Newegg, Inc., Appeal No. 2016-1882, the Federal Circuit held that a district...more
9/15/2017
/ Abuse of Discretion ,
Adverse Inference Instructions ,
Appeals ,
Attorney's Fees ,
Broadest Reasonable Interpretation Standard ,
Damages ,
Discovery ,
Discovery Disputes ,
Document Productions ,
Exceptional Case ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
Judicial Mandates ,
Means-Plus-Function ,
Motion to Compel ,
Obviousness ,
Octane Fitness v. ICON ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patents ,
Prior Art ,
Reaffirmation ,
Remand ,
Reversal ,
Sanctions ,
Standard of Review ,
Totality of Circumstances Test ,
USPTO ,
Willful Misconduct