No opinions and orders were released today in observance of the federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday. Late Friday, two nonprecedential orders dismissing appeals were released. Here are links to the dismissals.
Breaking News – Supreme Court Grants Review to Address Skinny Labeling and Inducement of Patent Infringement
On Friday, the Supreme Court granted the petition for certiorari in Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. v. Amarin Pharma, Inc, a patent case decided by the Federal Circuit. The Supreme Court will review the following questions:
- “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?”
- “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?”
Here is more information about the case.
Update on Important Panel Activity
Here is an update on activity in 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 one recent opinion, two recent orders, and five new cases. Here are the details.
Opinions & Orders – January 16, 2026
This morning, the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential opinions. Both come in patent infringement cases. Here are the introductions.
Recent News on the Federal Circuit
Here is a report on recent news and commentary related to the Federal Circuit and its cases. Today we highlight:
- an article suggesting “[t]he longer the Supreme Court delays its tariff decision, the better it is for President Trump”;
- an article highlighting how “[t]he year 2025 was eventful for patent attorneys”;
- an article discussing how the Supreme Court left “intact a line of decisions that treat foreign-language marks through the lens of direct translation”; and
- a blog post analyzing “seven patent issues from 2025 that deserve ongoing consideration.”
Opinions & Orders – January 15, 2026
This morning, the Federal Circuit released two nonprecedential opinions and one nonprecedential order dismissing an appeal. One of the opinions comes in a pro se appeal of a decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board, and the other comes in an appeal of a decision of the Court of Federal Claims. Here are the introductions to the opinions and a link to the dismissal.
Recent Supreme Activity
Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. Since our last update, there has been no new activity at the Supreme Court in the only pending case decided by the Federal Circuit. As for petitions, a new petition was filed in a patent case addressing appellate procedure; waivers of the right to respond to petitions were filed in a patent case and five pro se cases; a reply brief in support of a petition was filed in a veterans case; and the Supreme Court denied petitions in ten cases. Here are the details.
Opinions & Orders – January 14, 2026
Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released three nonprecedential orders dismissing appeals. This morning, the court released one precedential opinion, four nonprecedential opinions, and one Rule 36 judgment. The precedential opinion comes in a veterans case. Two of the nonprecedential opinions come in patent cases; one comes in a pro se appeal of a decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board; and the fourth comes in a pro se appeal of a decision of the Court of Federal Claims. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the judgment and dismissals.
Recent En Banc Activity
Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit in patent cases. Since our last update, one new petition for en banc rehearing has been filed, raising a question related to venue for patent infringement claims; the Federal Circuit also invited a response to this petition; and another response was filed in another patent case raising questions related to prior art and the Administrative Procedure Act. Here are the details.
Opinions & Orders – January 13, 2026
Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released a nonprecedential opinion dismissing an appeal. This morning, the court released two precedential opinions, four nonprecedential opinions, and a Rule 36 judgment. One of the precedential opinions comes in an appeal of a decision of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; the other comes in an appeal of a decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Of the nonprecedential opinions, one comes in appeals of a decision of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board; another comes in an appeal of a decision of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board; another comes in a pro se appeal of a decision of the Court of Federal Claims; and the fourth comes in the form of a pro se petition for review of an arbitrator’s decision. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the judgment and yesterday’s dismissal.
