Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released a nonprecedential order dismissing an appeal. This morning, the court released one precedential order, three nonprecedential opinions, four nonprecedential orders, and an errata. The precedential order comes in a petition for a writ of mandamus seeking to order the Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to vacate an order deinstituting an inter partes review proceeding. Two of the orders deny similar petitions of writs of mandamus. All three nonprecedential opinions come in pro se appeals, two from the Merit Systems Protection Board and one from the Court of Federal Claims. The remaining two orders dismiss appeals. Here are introductions to the opinions and links to the orders and the errata.
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 was filed, raising a question regarding claim construction; one new response was filed in another case raising a different question regarding claim construction; and the Federal Circuit denied two petitions for en banc rehearing, both raising questions related to transfer. Here are the details.
Court Week – November 2025 – What You Need to Know
This week and, as it turns out next Monday, is Court Week at the Federal Circuit. The court will convene 13 panels to consider 70 cases. Of the 70 cases, the court will hear oral argument in 45. The Federal Circuit provides access to live audio of these arguments via the Federal Circuit’s YouTube channel. This month, five cases scheduled for oral argument attracted amicus briefs. Here’s what you need to know about these five cases.
Recent Supreme Court Activity
Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. Since our last update, three response briefs have been filed by parties opposing President Trump’s tariffs along with two amicus briefs in favor of the Federal Circuit’s judgment. Three new petitions have also been filed: one comes in a trademark case, another comes in a case addressing claims under the Quiet Title Act, and the third comes in a military disability retirement benefits case. Two waivers of the right to respond to petitions were filed in the same patent case, along with two amicus briefs favoring review. Two reply briefs were filed in another patent case. Finally, the Supreme Court rejected three petitions, one in a patent case and two in pro se cases. Here are the details.
Recent En Banc Activity
Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit in patent cases. Since our last update, the Federal Circuit has invited a response to a petition raising a question related to claim construction and preambles; one new response has been filed to a petition that raises a question related to the presumption of validity and the written description requirement; and three petitions for en banc rehearing have been denied in cases raising questions related to ineligibility, claim construction, and prosecution history estoppel. Here are the details.
Opinions & Orders – October 14, 2025
This morning, the Federal Circuit released one nonprecedential opinion, two nonprecedential orders, and five Rule 36 judgments. The opinion comes in a pro se appeal of a final order of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Both orders are dismissals of appeals. Here is the introduction to the opinion and links to the dismissals and Rule 36 judgments.
Update on Important Panel Activity
Here is an 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 new opinion in a patent infringement case, a recent oral argument in a case on appeal from the Merit Systems Protection Board, a new response and reply brief filed in a patent case, and two new patent cases that attracted amicus briefs. Here are the details.
Recent Supreme Court Activity
Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. Since our last update, the government filed its opening brief and several amicus briefs were filed in President Trump’s tariff case. Regarding pending petitions, three new petition were filed, one in a patent case and two in pro se cases. Additionally, respondents filed waivers of the right to respond in two cases. Here are the details.
Opinion Summary – Google LLC v. Sonos, Inc.
Late last month, the Federal Circuit released its opinion in Google LLC v. Sonos, Inc., a patent case we have been following because it attracted five amicus briefs. In this case, the Federal Circuit reviewed a judgment of the Northern District of California holding several patent claims invalid and two patents unenforceable based on prosecution laches. The panel, consisting of Federal Circuit Judges Lourie and Prost and District of New Jersey Chief Judge Renée Bumb, reversed in part and affirmed in part. This is our opinion summary.
Recent En Banc Activity
Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit. Since our last update, the en banc court heard oral argument in Lesko v. United States, an employment law case. Additionally, four new en banc petitions have been filed in patent cases raising questions related to the presumption of validity, eligibility, and claim construction. A new response was filed in a case concerning the appropriate test for design-patent infringement. Finally, the court denied petitions for en banc rehearing in two patent cases. Here are the details.
