Here is an update on recent activity at the Supreme Court in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. With respect to the Supreme Court’s October 2021 term, the Court still has not granted any petitions in cases decided by the Federal Circuit. As for pending petitions, since our last update one new petition was filed in a trademark case. Additionally, the government filed two waivers of right to respond. The Court also requested responses to two pending petitions in patent cases. Lastly, the Court denied seven petitions. Here are the details.
Recent News on the Federal Circuit
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.”
Recent Supreme Court Activity
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 four new petitions were filed in a patent case, a case challenging the Federal Circuit’s use of Rule 36 summary affirmances, and two pro se cases; the government submitted waivers of right to respond in four pro se cases; and the government filed a brief in opposition in a veterans case. Here are the details.
Opinions & Orders – March 2, 2021
This morning, the Federal Circuit issued a precedential opinion in a patent case, reversing a district court’s judgment on indefiniteness. Additionally, the Federal Circuit issued two Rule 36 judgments. The introduction to the opinion and links to the Rule 36 judgments can be found here.