Failure to raise KSR post-trial but pre-judgment results in waiver In a recent decision, the Federal Circuit affirmed a jury's verdict of infringement, no obviousness, and no inequitable conduct. On appeal, the defendant for the first time argued the jury's verdict should be reversed in light of KSR. The Federal Circuit held the argument had been waived. The jury reached its verdict on December 8, […] Continue Reading →
Covenant to sue that does not cover future infringement insufficient to defeat DJ jurisdiction In a recent decision, the Federal Circuit reversed a district court's dismissal for lack of declaratory judgment jurisdiction over a defendant's counterclaims for non-infringement, invalidity, and unenforceability of a patent. The plaintiff brought suit against the defendant for infringement in 2003, and on the eve of trial on the issues of invalidity and unenforceability, offered […] Continue Reading →
Scope of prior art teachings incorrect; summary judgment of obviousness reversed In a recent decision, the Federal Circuit reversed a district court's summary judgment of obviousness. The patent related to dessicant packages. The district court held a prior art reference taught all limitations of the claims with the exception of the type of absorbent material contained in the package, and that, under KSR, it would be […] Continue Reading →
United States did not waive immunity for copyright infringement claim brought by prisoner In a recent decision, the Federal Circuit held the Court of Federal Claims correctly dismissed a copyright infringement suit against the United States for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The plaintiff is a federal prisoner who created various coyprightable works while in federal prison. He brought suit alleging copyright infringement after his works were distributed […] Continue Reading →
Federal Circuit hears arguments in In re Kubin; what will be obvious in biotechnology? Thursday, the Federal Circuit held oral arguments in In re Kubin, a biotechnology case involving a patent over a gene sequence in humans, and specifically whether the claims were obvious. This was the first precedential decision by the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences on the issue of obviousness in this field after KSR, so […] Continue Reading →
Existence of other licenses under patent does not preclude finding of irreparable harm In a decision Tuesday, the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of a permanent injunction. The district had previously granted a permanent injunction after a jury found willful infringement. In a previous appeal, the Federal Circuit affirmed the finding of willful infringement, but vacated the permanent injunction because the district court did not consider […] Continue Reading →
Grant of stay while preliminary injunction motion pending abuse of discretion In a recent decision, the Federal Circuit found that a district court's grant of a stay pending inter partes reexamination without considering the patentee's pending motion for a preliminary injunction was an abuse of discretion. The Federal Circuit held the grant of the stay effectively denied the preliminary injunction motion, thereby making the stay order […] Continue Reading →
On appeal, BPAI cannot group claims that do not share a common reason for rejection In a recent decision, the Federal Circuit affirmed a distirct court's vacatur of a decision of the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. In an appeal of rejections in twelve different applications involving approximately 2,400 claims, the Board only addressed the rejection of 21 "represntative" claims pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.192(c)(7) [now 37 C.F.R. […] Continue Reading →
Today’s prosecution practice tip: don’t use the phrase “the present invention” in the specification In a decision last week, the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court's claim construction and its related summary judgment of noninfringement. The district court held the applicable claim term was narrower than the "lay understanding" of the term, based on the specification. Because the specification was clear, the district court refused to consider the prosecution […] Continue Reading →
Use of “mechanism” in claim without more may result in means-plus-function interpretation In a decision Monday, the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court's claim construction and related judgment of noninfringement. The decision focused on the issue of claim construction in means plus function claims. The critical limitation used the term "mechanism" without any additional structural elements, and as a result the district court construed it to be […] Continue Reading →