FedCircuitBlog

Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit in patent cases. Highlights include a new petition presenting questions related to obviousness, a response brief addressing standards governing reissue, and denials of two petitions presenting questions related to definiteness and claim construction. Here are the details.

Here is an update on recent en banc activity at the Federal Circuit in patent cases. Highlights include new petitions filed in four cases raising questions about the non-obviousness and novelty patentability requirements, the definiteness requirement, and principles of claim construction. The court also denied two petitions raising questions about eligibility and infringement. Here are the details.

Late Friday and this morning, the Federal Circuit issued two precedential opinions and a nonprecedential order. In the first opinion, the court affirmed a judgment of the Merit Systems Protection Board. In the second opinion, the Federal Circuit affirmed-in-part, vacated-in-part, and remanded a judgment in a patent case appealed from the Western District of Washington. Notably, Judge Clevenger dissented. The Federal Circuit also issued a nonprecedential order dismissing an appeal. Here are the introductions to the opinions and link to the dismissal.

Late yesterday and this morning the Federal Circuit released four orders dismissing appeals and one erratum. Here are links to these documents.

The Federal Circuit released four precedential opinions: a precedential opinion in a patent case decided by the Western District of Washington; two precedential opinions in cases addressing the Fair Labor Standards Act; and another precedential opinion addressing the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act and Back Pay Act. Notably, in the latter three cases, Judge Reyna filed dissenting opinions. The court also released two nonprecedential opinions in cases involving the same appellant challenging decisions of the Merit Systems Protection Board, along with four orders dismissing appeals. Here are the introductions to the majority opinions, portions of the dissenting opinions, and links to the orders.

This morning the Federal Circuit issued a precedential opinion in an appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and a Rule 36 judgment. Here is the introduction to the opinion and a link to the Rule 36 judgment.