In a recent decision, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (the “PTAB”) held that a states’ sovereign immunity applies to patent inter partes review proceedings. Inter partes review is an alternative to traditional litigation...more
On January 13, 2016, the Federal Circuit affirmed the decision of the PTAB in Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. v. Covidien LP, IPR2013-00209, that all of the claims of U.S. Patent 8,317,070 are obvious. While the obviousness...more
In Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. v. Covidien LP, a 2-1 panel split of the Federal Circuit held that neither the American Invents Act (“AIA”) nor the Constitution precludes the same panel of the Patent Trial & Appeal Board...more
(January 26, 2015) Medtronic announced today that it has finally completed its previously announced acquisition of Covidien. According to the press release provided by Medtronic, the “cash-and-stock transaction is valued at...more
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit vacated a $176 million district court damages award to Covidien, formerly known as Tyco Healthcare Group LP, in a patent infringement suit against Ethicon...more
Med Device Online reports that Medtronic has been cleared by the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and EU’s European Commission to merge with Covidien. Also according to Med Device Online, the companies had to agree that...more