FedCircuitBlog

This morning the Federal Circuit issued three precedential opinions in cases addressing trademark cancellation, damages for patent infringement, and alleged inequitable conduct during patent prosecution. The court also issued two nonprecedential opinions in cases addressing government employment and the jurisdiction of the Court of Federal Claims. Finally, the court also issued two Rule 36 judgments. Here are the introductions to the opinions and a list of the Rule 36 judgments.

Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit in patent cases. The court received a new petition raising questions related to cases requiring fair notice of asserted grounds of invalidity in an inter partes review and minimum standards of agency decision making under the Administrative Procedure Act. The court also denied a petition for rehearing en banc in a case raising a question concerning the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s ability to deny a petition for inter partes review based on the existence of pending litigation concerning the same patents. Here are the details.

This morning the Federal Circuit issued a precedential opinion in a trade case appealed from the United States Court of International Trade. The court also issued three nonprecedential opinions in employment and veteran cases appealed from the Merit Systems Protection Board and the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims respectively. Finally, the court also issued six Rule 36 judgments. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the Rule 36 judgments.

Here is a report on recent news and commentary related to the Federal Circuit and its cases. Today’s report highlights:

• a Federal Circuit opinion reversing a $1.2 billion dollar jury verdict;
• the use of court-appointed technical advisors by federal district courts in patent cases;
• how the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court’s order prohibiting certain expert testimony related to damages in a patent case; and
• a Federal Circuit opinion in a patent case addressing the construction of a claim preamble.

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

This week is Court Week at the Federal Circuit. Here’s what you need to know. The court will convene 11 panels to consider about 53 cases. Of these 53 cases, the court will hear oral arguments in 36. Notably, none of these argued cases attracted amicus briefs. Starting this month, the court will resume hearing oral arguments in person. Here is a list of cases being argued this week.

This morning, the Federal Circuit announced that the court has entered a new order concerning access to the National Courts Building complex in Washington, D.C., limiting access through October 31, 2021. Here is the text of today’s announcement.

This morning the Federal Circuit issued two nonprecedential opinions in related patent cases appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The cases also relate to Universal Secure Registry LLC v. Apple Inc., a precedential case released yesterday by the Federal Circuit. Here are the introductions to the opinions.

On August 23 the Federal Circuit issued its opinion in National Association of Manufacturers v. Department of the Treasury, a case we have been following because it attracted an amicus brief. The case was argued before Judges Lourie, Prost, and Reyna. These judges considered whether regulations promulgated by the Department of Treasury to curtail “double drawback” (two tax refunds for the same exported merchandise) are invalid. Judge Reyna authored the majority opinion in the case, affirming the U.S. Court of International Trade’s judgment finding the regulations to be invalid. This is our opinion summary. 

Here is a report on recent news and commentary related to the Federal Circuit and its cases. Today’s report highlights:

• an article discussing the filing of an amicus brief in the aftermath of the Federal Circuit’s recent treatment of “skinny labels;”
• a conversation about President Biden’s potential federal court nominations based on previous picks and patterns; and
• an article discussing how steel importers are urging the Federal Circuit to reverse a panel decision upholding levies on steel imports.