FedCircuitBlog

Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit in patent cases. Since our last update, two new responses were filed. One responds to a petition raising questions related to infringement and claim construction in design patent cases. The other responds to a petition raising a question related to admissibility of expert testimony. Two new amicus briefs were also filed supporting a petition raising questions related to the domestic industry requirement at the International Trade Commission. Finally, the court denied two petitions in cases raising questions related to obviousness, apportionment, and eligibility. Here are the details.

Late last month, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. v. Amarin Pharma, Inc., a case originally decided by the Federal Circuit. The Supreme Court granted review to consider the following two questions:

1. “When a generic drug label fully carves out a patented use, are allegations that the generic drugmaker calls its product a ‘generic version’ and cites public information about the branded drug (e.g., sales) enough to plead induced infringement of the patented use?”
2. “Does a complaint state a claim for induced infringement of a patented method if it does not allege any instruction or other statement by the defendant that encourages, or even mentions, the patented use?”

This is our argument recap.

Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. In the only pending case, a patent case addressing inducement of infringement and so-called skinny-labeling, oral argument took place in late April. As for pending petitions, since our last update, six new petitions were filed; three waivers of the right to respond to petitions were filed; three briefs in opposition were filed; three reply briefs were filed; two amicus briefs were filed; and the Supreme Court denied petitions in five cases. Here are the details.

Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit in patent cases. Since our last update, five new petitions for en banc rehearing have been filed raising questions related to correction of inventorship, damages, the domestic industry requirement, and infringement. Three new amicus briefs were also filed in a case raising questions related to design patent infringement. Finally, four petitions were denied in cases raising questions related to eligibility and infringement. Here are the details.

Here is an update on activity in patent cases pending before panels of the Federal Circuit where the cases have attracted at least one amicus brief. We keep track of these cases in the “Other Cases” section of our blog. Today, with respect to these cases, we highlight two recent opinions and one recent order, four newly identified cases, and two recent oral arguments. Here are the details.

This week (and, as it turns out, next Monday) is Court week at the Federal Circuit. The court will convene 14 panels to consider 77 cases. Of the 77 cases, the court will hear oral argument in 55. The Federal Circuit provides access to live audio of these arguments via the Federal Circuit’s YouTube channel. This month, two cases scheduled for oral argument attracted amicus briefs. Here’s what you need to know about these two cases.

Two cases being argued at the Federal Circuit in May attracted amicus briefs. One of these cases is Wyeth LLC v. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, a patent case. In it, Wyeth appeals a lower court’s grant of judgment as a matter of law of invalidity. The case presents questions related to claim construction as well as whether pre-issuance provisional rights under the Patent Act extend to induced infringement. This is our argument preview.

Two cases being argued at the Federal Circuit in May attracted amicus briefs. One of these cases is VLSI Technology LLC v. OpenSky Industries, LLC. This is a patent case on an appeal from a judgment of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in an inter partes review proceeding. Notably, it includes both an appeal and a cross-appeal, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office intervened. This is our argument preview.

Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. In the only pending case, a patent case addressing inducement of infringement and so-called skinny-labeling, there has been no new activity since our last update. As for pending petitions, since our last update, one new petition was filed in a veterans benefits case; two waivers of the right to respond to petitions were filed in a patent case and a case addressing Federal Circuit Rule 36; a brief in opposition was filed in a government contracts case; and the Supreme Court denied petitions in a patent case, a trademark case, and three pro se cases. Here are the details.

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

• an article discussing how an en banc petition “is drawing new attention to the question of when altered DNA becomes different enough from nature to be patented”;
• a blog post suggesting a recent Federal Circuit “opinion is a useful teaching vehicle on the patent/trade-secret interface”; and
• an article explaining how the “U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Artificial Intelligence Search Automated Pilot, or ASAP, program introduces earlier visibility into the prior art landscape by providing applicants with an automated search results notice prior to substantive examination.”