FedCircuitBlog

This morning the Federal Circuit issued a nonprecedential order in a patent case granting a petition for panel rehearing to the extent that the panel withdrew and replaced its precedential opinion in the same case. The order indicates that the precedential opinion, also issued today, differs from the original opinion only to the extent that the panel added one additional sentence, which explains why summary judgment was inappropriate. The court also issued a nonprecedential opinion in another patent case. Here is text from the order and the introductions to the opinions.

Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit in patent cases. While there were no recent petitions, responses to petitions, or denials of petitions, the court did receive several amicus briefs. One amicus brief came in Apple Inc. v. Qualcomm Inc., a case concerning the panel’s decision to deny competitor standing in an appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Three came in Amgen Inc. v. Sanofi, Aventisub LLC, where the petition raised questions related to “the panel’s new enablement test for genus claims with functional limitations” and whether that test is consistent with Supreme Court precedent on point. Here are the details.

This morning the Federal Circuit issued a nonprecedential order denying a petition for a writ of mandamus seeking to order the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas to stay all non-venue proceedings until ruling on a motion to dismiss or transfer. Here is language from the opinion.

Federal Circuit PTAB Appeal Statistics through April 30, 2021 – In an article posted to the National Law Review, Daniel Klodowski and Elliot Cook reported on statistics related to the Federal Circuit’s resolution of appeals from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

Partial Victory for L’Oreal In Hair Coloring Fight – Jillian Ambrose and Christine Hawes posted to CrowellTradeSecretsTrends.com about a recent opinion by the Federal Circuit in a trade secrets battle between Olaplex, Inc. and L’Oreal.

Vaccine Injury Victim Gets Pay, Despite Medical Records Silence – Mary Anne Pazanowski explained how a Vaccine Act claimant was awarded compensation after the Federal Circuit reversed a lower court’s decision.

Here is the latest.

This morning the Federal Circuit announced that newly-installed Chief Judge Moore (who on Saturday assumed the position of Chief Judge) has appointed seven new members of the court’s Advisory Council, including a new Chair of the Council. Here is the text of this morning’s announcement, along with a brief rundown of the new members of the Advisory Council.

This morning the Federal Circuit issued two nonprecedential opinions, one in a trademark case appealed from the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and one in a patent case appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The court affirmed the Boards in both opinions. Here are the opinions’ introductions.

Saturday, the Federal Circuit announced modified access restrictions to the National Courts Building due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, effective today the court is accessible to litigants and “any other parties who will be physically present in the courthouse because of their participation in a scheduled hearing that day.” In other words, it appears the court will return to in-person oral arguments. Here is the text of this weekend’s announcement.

The Federal Circuit did not release any opinions or orders this morning.

Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit.

• The Court invited the Acting Solicitor General to file a brief in American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. v. Neapco Holdings LLC, a patent case presenting questions related to eligibility.
• Five new petitions were filed in patent, veterans, Tucker Act, and trademark cases.
• Seventeen new briefs in opposition were filed in sixteen cases.
• Five new reply briefs were filed.
• One supplemental brief was filed.
• One amicus brief was filed in a patent case.
• Five waivers of right to respond were submitted.
• The Court denied eight petitions.

Here are the details.

This morning the Federal Circuit issued a precedential opinion reversing a judgment of the United States Court of Federal Claims in a vaccine case. The court also issued two nonprecedential opinions, one in a veterans case and one in a patent case. Here are the introductions to the opinions.