FedCircuitBlog

Three cases being argued in February at the Federal Circuit attracted amicus briefs. One of those cases is C.R. Bard, Inc. v. Medical Components, Inc., a patent case that includes both an appeal and a cross-appeal. In this case, the Federal Circuit will review a determination by a district court that Bard’s claims are directed to patent-ineligible printed matter under 35 U.S.C. § 101 and, moreover, lack an inventive concept. With respect to the cross-appeal, the court will similarly consider whether MedComp’s claims are ineligible. This is our argument preview.

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 a disposition in a veterans case, two new patent cases that attracted amicus briefs, and a reply brief in a patent case. Here are the details.

This morning the Federal Circuit issued two nonprecedential opinions in patent cases appealed from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a nonprecedential order denying a petition for writ of mandamus along with a concurring opinion by Judge Reyna, and one Rule 36 judgment.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

• Printed Matter Is Patentable If It’s Functional, Not Just Communicative – Bard’s suit of patent infringement by AngioDynamics may continue after the Federal Circuit reversed the lower court’s finding of non-infringement and invalidity.
• Functional claiming in the aftermath of Williamson – Analyses of means plus function limitations have shifted more than anticipated in the past few years following the Federal Circuit’s decision in Williamson v. Citrix Online LLC.
• Federal Circuit Considers CBM Review Under Thryv on Remand from SCOTUS – The Federal Circuit affirmed in SIPCO, LLC v. Emerson Electric that the decision to institute a covered business method (“CBM”) review cannot be reviewed based on Supreme Court precedent.

Here’s the latest.

This morning, the Federal Circuit issued a nonprecedential errata. Here is the text of the errata.

This morning, the Federal Circuit issued two precedential opinions in patent cases. The court also issued three nonprecedential opinions: one in a case involving an appeal from the Merit Systems Protection Board, one in a trade case, and one in a veterans case. Finally, the court issued four Rule 36 judgments. Here are the introductions to the opinions and a list of the Rule 36 judgments.