FedCircuitBlog

Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit in patent cases. Highlights include a new petition raising a question related to the Federal Circuit’s review of the grant of a motion for attorneys’ fees. Additionally, the court invited a response to a petition raising questions regarding the written description requirement and obvious-type double patenting. Finally, the court denied a petition presenting a question regarding the effect of a remand overturning a holding of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board on which a patent owner relied in drafting amended claims. Here are the details.

Late yesterday, the Federal Circuit released a nonprecedential order voluntarily dismissing an appeal. This morning, the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion, one nonprecedential opinion, one nonprecedential order, and one Rule 36 judgment. The precedential opinion affirms a district court’s judgment with respect to validity and infringement in a patent case; the nonprecedential opinion affirms a final written decision of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board invalidating all claims of a patent; and today’s order also dismisses an appeal. Here are the introductions to the opinions and links to the dismissals and Rule 36 judgment.

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 legal battle between Judge Newman and “her fellow judges on the Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, who have tried to pressure her to step aside”;
• a blog post discussing a Federal Circuit opinion vacating an attorneys’ fees award in a patent case, an opinion authored by Western District of Texas Judge Alan Albright, who sat by designation;
• an article reporting on amicus briefs filed with the U.S. Supreme Court “urging it to leave in place” a Federal Circuit decision regarding the application of the obviousness-type double patenting doctrine to patent term adjustments; and
• an article discussing a Federal Circuit opinion holding that patent law’s on-sale bar still applies to secret processes after the America Invents Act.

This morning the Federal Circuit released one precedential opinion. The opinion vacates and remands an award of attorneys fees by the District of Colorado in a patent case. Here is the introduction to the opinion.

This morning, the Federal Circuit released a precedential opinion and a nonprecedential opinion in two cases appealed from the Merit Systems Protection Board. The court also released five nonprecedential orders, which included three summary affirmances and two dismissals. Here are the introductions of the opinion and links to the orders.

This morning the Federal Circuit issued a precedential opinion in a trademark case appealed from the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. The opinion affirms the Board’s refusal to register a stylized form of “.SUCKS” as a trademark. The court also issued a nonprecedential opinion in a patent case appealed from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Here are the introductions to the opinions.  

Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit in patent cases. The court received a new petition raising a question related to indefiniteness. Additionally, the court received a response to a petition concerning the treatment of expert opinions. Lastly, the court denied three petitions raising questions related to the termination of inter partes review proceedings, jurisdiction, and enablement. Here are the details.

Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit. In patent cases, the court received four new petitions this week, addressing issues of claim construction, the replacement of a primary prior art reference after institution by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, the evaluation of patent eligibility, and contractual patent ownership. The court also received a response to a petition that raised a question related to the power of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board to terminate an instituted proceeding on the eve of a merits-based final written decision. Here are the details.

Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit in patent cases. It was a busy week at the Federal Circuit. The court received two new petitions in cases addressing issues of enablement, eligibility, and personal jurisdiction. Additionally, the court invited responses in three cases addressing termination of inter partes review proceedings, evaluation of expert opinions on summary judgment, and competitor standing. The court also received a response to a petition raising a question related to enablement. Lastly, the court issued two new denials, one in a case concerning 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) and another in a pro se case. Here are the details.

Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit. We are still waiting for the court to issue an opinion in Arellano v. McDonough, an en banc veterans case. As for pending petitions in patent cases, highlights include new petitions concerning Patent Trial and Appeal Board termination of inter partes review proceedings, reviewability of Board discovery rulings related to real-party-in-interest disputes, the utilization of expert witnesses in district court summary judgment proceedings, and standing before the Board. Here are the details.