FedCircuitBlog

Recently, the Federal Circuit denied three petitions for writs of mandamus seeking to order the Western District of Texas to transfer cases. We have been following these cases because they attracted amicus briefs. This afternoon we will post three updates summarizing the court’s orders. Up first is in In re Apple Inc. On August 4, the Federal Circuit issued an order in this case denying a petition for a writ of mandamus. Judge Reyna authored the order, indicating on behalf of himself and Judges Chen and Stoll that “we cannot say that Apple has shown entitlement to this extraordinary relief.” Here is a summary of the case and the order. 

This morning the Federal Circuit issued a precedential opinion in a patent case appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, two nonprecedential opinions in patent cases appealed from a district court and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and two nonprecedential orders dismissing petitions for writs of mandamus. Here are the introductions to the opinions and orders.

Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. Currently, with respect to the Supreme Court’s October 2021 term, the Court has not granted any petitions in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. As for pending petitions, since our last update three new petitions were filed in patent cases addressing eligibility, procedure in inter partes review proceedings, and the printed publication category of prior art. Additionally, the Court requested responses to two pending petitions involving challenges to the use of administrative patent judges under the Appointments Clause. Here are the details.

This morning the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion in a case addressing 35 U.S.C. § 145, which governs the shifting of fees in successful appeals from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to federal district court to challenge the rejection of patent applications. The court also released two nonprecedential opinions in a patent case and a government contract case. Here are the introductions to the opinions.

Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit in patent cases. The court received a new petition raising issues related to patent eligibility. The court also received three new responses to petitions filed in two cases addressing (1) the Patent and Trademark Office’s ability to deny inter partes review based on pending litigation concerning related patents and (2) patent eligibility. Additionally, the court received an amicus brief in the case addressing the denial of inter partes review based on pending litigation. Lastly, the court denied two petitions for rehearing en banc in cases concerning claim construction and the replacement of a primary prior art reference after institution by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Here are the details.

This morning the Federal Circuit issued a precedential opinion in an appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and a Rule 36 judgment. Here is the introduction to the opinion and a link to the Rule 36 judgment.

Here is this month’s update on activity in cases pending before panels of the Federal Circuit where the cases involve 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 six dispositions, one new case, one case with new briefing, and one oral argument recap. Here are the details.

This morning the Federal Circuit issued two precedential opinions in patent cases appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, two nonprecedential opinions in another patent case appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and an employment case, a Rule 36 judgment, and one erratum. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the relevant orders.

Federal Circuit Upholds Teva-GlaxoSmithKline Decision, Landing Another Blow to ‘Skinny’ Labels – On EndPointsNews, Zachary Brennan wrote about the Federal Circuit’s most recent disposition in the case GlaxoSmithKline LLC v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and its impact on generic drug competition.

CAFC Again Says Teva Induced Infringement on Carvedilol, Assures Holding Narrowly Applies – Eileen McDermott also reports on GlaxoSmithKline LLC v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., noting that the Federal Circuit “underscored its October 2020 ruling.”

Fed Circ Upholds VA Cutoff On Resuming Disability Benefits – Barbara Grzincic wrote an article for Reuters explaining the Federal Circuit’s decision in Buffington v. McDonough.

Is the Federal Circuit Too Trigger-Happy Invalidating Means Claims? – This question is asked by Dennis Crouch on PatentlyO, where Crouch focuses on “an interesting petition to the Supreme Court focusing on indefiniteness and means-plus-function claims.”

This morning the Federal Circuit issued two nonprecedential opinions in patent cases appealed from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a nonprecedential order denying a petition for writ of mandamus along with a concurring opinion by Judge Reyna, and one Rule 36 judgment. Here are the introductions to the opinions and order and a link to the Rule 36 judgment.