FedCircuitBlog

On May 12, the Federal Circuit issued its opinion in Regents of the University of California v. Broad Institute Inc., a case we have been following because it attracted an amicus brief. In this appeal, the Federal Circuit reviewed a judgment of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in an interference proceeding concerning competing patent applications related to using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system in eukaryotic (e.g., plant or animal) cells. In a unanimous opinion authored by Judge Reyna and joined by Judges Hughes and Cunningham, the Federal Circuit vacated the Board’s decision, holding the Board incorrectly applied the legal standard for conception. The panel also affirmed the Board’s determination of compliance with the written requirement and dismissed a cross-appeal as moot. This is our opinion summary. 

This morning the Federal Circuit released two precedential opinions, three nonprecedential opinions, and two nonprecedential orders dismissing appeals. Both of the precedential opinions came in patent cases, where one was appealed from a district court and the other appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Of the nonprecedential opinions, two were appealed from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, while one was appealed from a district court in a false advertising case. Here are the introductions to the opinions and a link to the dismissals.

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released a nonpreceential order dismissing an appeal in a patent case. This morning, the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion affirming a decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board and one nonprecedential opinion vacating and remanding a decision of the Trademark trial and Appeal Board. The Federal Circuit also released three nonprecedential orders. One transfers a case, and one dismisses an appeal. Notably, in the third order, the Federal Circuit adopted a briefing schedule and set oral argument for July 31 in the case challenging President Trump’s tariffs. Here are the introductions to the opinions and the order in the tariff case and links to the transfer and dismissals.

This morning, the Federal Circuit released three opinions in patent cases appealed from the Eastern District of Texas. Two were precedential and one was nonprecedential. The precedential opinions address subject matter jurisdiction in a declaratory judgment action and patent eligibility, respectively. The nonprecedential opinion addresses patent eligibility. Notably, all three opinions address patents asserted by United Services Automobile Association, and the two opinions addressing eligibility invalidate the asserted patents. Here are the introductions to the opinions.

In late April, the Federal Circuit issued its opinion in Marmen Inc. v. United States, a case we’ve been tracking because it attracted an amicus brief. In this case, Marmen appealed a judgment of the Court of International Trade, which sustained a final determination by the Department of Commerce of a 4.94% dumping margin for utility-scale wind towers from Canada. In an opinion authored by Judge Prost and joined by Judges Taranto and Chen, the Federal Circuit vacated the judgment and remanded the case for further proceedings. This is our opinion summary.

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released three nonprecedential orders. As we separately noted, in one of these orders the en banc Federal Circuit stayed the Court of International Trade’s injunctions of President Trump’s tariffs. In yesterday’s other two nonprecedential orders, the court dismissed appeals. This morning, the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion and one nonprecedential opinion. The precedential opinion comes in a patent case, in which the court affirmed two final written decisions of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. In the nonprecedential opinion, the court dismissed a case appealed from the Merit Systems Protection Board. Here are the introductions to the opinions and orders (other than yesterday’s en banc order, which can be found here) and links to the dismissals.

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit issued an en banc nonprecedential order granting the motions filed by the United States for stays of the judgments and permanent injunctions entered by the Court of International Trade against President Trump’s Executive Orders imposing various tariffs. The court concluded that “a stay is warranted under the circumstances,” and that “these cases present issues of exceptional importance warranting expedited en banc consideration of the merits in the first instance.” Here is the full text of the order.

This morning the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential opinions and one Rule 36 summary affirmance. The first nonprecedential opinion comes in an appeal from a decision of an arbitrator in a case in which a former employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs challenged her 90-day suspension and requirements she agree to random drug testing and the release of her medical records. The second nonprecedential opinion comes in an appeal from the Merit Systems Protection Board. Here are the introductions to the opinions and a link to the summary affirmance.

Late Friday, the Federal Circuit released a nonprecedential order dismissing an appeal. This morning, the Federal Circuit released two precedential opinions, nine nonprecedential opinions, and four Rule 36 judgments. The precedential opinions come in a patent case and a case involving a claim under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Act of 1976. The nonprecedential opinions come in various patent, veterans, and federal personnel cases. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the judgments and dismissals.

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released a nonprecedential order dismissing an appeal. This morning, the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion in a vaccine case, affirming-in-part and reversing-in-part a decision of the Court of Federal Claims. The Federal Circuit also released five nonprecedential opinions, two in appeals from the Merit Systems Protection Board, one in an appeal from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, one from the Court of Federal Claims, and one from the Armed Service Board of Contract Appeals. The Federal Circuit also released four nonprecedential orders dismissing appeals. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the dismissals.