FedCircuitBlog

Today, the Federal Circuit released two opinions in patent cases. In the first opinion, which is precedential, the Federal Circuit reverses a decision of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board not to hold any claims unpatentable and remands the case for further consideration. In the second opinion, which is nonprecedential, the Federal Circuit affirms another decision of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board to hold some claims not unpatentable and another claim unpatentable and vacates and remands its decision to hold other claims not unpatentable. Here are the introductions to the opinions.

Here is a report on recent news and commentary related to the Federal Circuit and its cases. Today we highlight:

• an article describing how John Squires, “nominated by President Donald Trump to run the US Patent and Trademark Office,” was scheduled to appear at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday of this week;
• a follow-up article detailing how during his confirmation hearing John Squires said the country’s patent system “is going in the wrong direction”;
• a blog post discussing “a significant development” for practice at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board; and
• a piece examining the impact of LKQ Corporation v. GM Global Technology Operations LLC, an en banc case that “threw out longstanding tests for determining if design patents are invalid as obvious.”

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion in an en banc case appealed from the Western District of Texas. Notably, Judges Reyna and Stark concurred in part and dissented in part. Today, the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion in a trademark case. The court also released three nonprecedential opinions affirming judgments, the first in a veterans case, the second in a patent case, and the third in an appeal from the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals. The Federal Circuit also released one nonprecedential order dismissing an appeal. Here are the introductions to the opinions and a link to the dismissal.

Earlier this week, the Federal Circuit announced that on May 27 the court will launch a new caption generation utility for filers. The court explained that this feature “will allow parties and counsel associated with a case to easily generate the most up-to-date version of the case caption.” Here is the full text of the announcement.

This afternoon the Federal Circuit decided EcoFactor, Inc. v. Google LLC, an en banc patent case. In an opinion authored by Chief Judge Moore and joined by seven other judges, the court reversed a denial by the Western District of Texas of a motion for a new trial on damages. The Federal Circuit held the district court abused its discretion by failing to exclude expert testimony that prior licensees agreed to a particular royalty rate. Judges Reyna and Stark dissented in part. Here are the details.

Today, the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion affirming a decision in a case appealed from the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. The court also released two nonprecedential opinions in cases decided by the Merit Systems Protection Board. In the first nonprecedential opinion, the court affirmed the Board’s final decision. In the second nonprecedential opinion, the court reversed the Board’s final decision and remanded the case for further proceedings. Here are the introductions to the opinions.

Here is a report on recent news and commentary related to the Federal Circuit and its cases. Today we highlight:

• a piece discussing how the Federal Circuit recently “said scientists Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier will get another chance to show they ought to own the key patents on what many consider the defining biotechnology invention of the 21st century”;
• an article discussing how a panel of the D.C. Circuit “seemed skeptical” of Judge Newman’s argument “that a statute allowing courts to self-police instances of misconduct and disability is unconstitutional across the board”;
• a blog post criticizing a recent Federal Circuit decision that he says “appears to have unintentionally upended fundamental principles of [inter partes review] estoppel”; and
• a report that the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center filed an amicus brief with the Federal Circuit, urging the court to “review a decision rejecting Xencor’s application for an antibody patent.”

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released a nonprecedential order dismissing an appeal. This morning, the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential opinions in related cases affirming decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board. The court also released four nonprecedential orders. The first nonprecedential order grants the government’s petition to appeal and denies a cross-petitioner’s petition to appeal. The second nonprecedential order denies another petitioner’s permission to appeal. The third nonprecedential order summarily affirms a judgment. The fourth nonprecedential order dismisses an appeal. Here are the introductions to the opinions and orders ruling on petitions to appeal and links to the summary affirmance and dismissals.

Today, the Federal Circuit released three nonprecedential opinions. In the first, the court affirmed as to a direct appeal and reversed as to a cross-appeal in a patent case. Notably, Judge Stark dissented in part from the majority’s decision to reverse as to the cross-appeal. In the second nonprecedential opinion, the court affirmed a decision of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. In the third nonprecedential opinion, the Federal Circuit vacated and remanded a decision of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. The Federal Circuit also released one nonprecedential order granting a motion for summary affirmance and three nonprecedential orders dismissing appeals. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the summary affirmance and dismissals.

Today, the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion vacating and remanding a decision of the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals. The court also released three nonprecedential opinions in three patent cases. Finally, the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential orders dismissing appeals. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the dismissals.