On April 5, 2019, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) at the United States Patent and Trademark Office designated as “Informative” two prior decisions relating to the PTAB’s discretion about whether to institute inter partes review (“IPR”) proceedings for trial.  In each, the PTAB exercised its discretion to deny institution of an IPR proceeding, even though the Petitioner demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on some claims.

On April 1, 2019, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion affirming a dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Cleveland Clinic Foundation et al. v. True Health Diagnostics, —F. App’x—, (Fed. Cir. Apr. 1, 2019).  The CAFC ruled that the district court had correctly decided that the asserted claims are invalid as patent ineligible abstract ideas under 35 U.S.C. § 101.

On March 18, 2019, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office designated as precedential a Decision on Patent Owner’s Request for Rehearing.  Amazon.com, Inc. v. Uniloc Luxembourg S.A., IPR Case No. IPR2017-00948 (PTAB Jan. 18, 2019).  The PTAB held that, while a Petitioner may only challenge patent claims in an inter partes review based on prior art patents and publications under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103, it is nonetheless proper to consider patent eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101 for any proposed substitute claims.

On Monday, March 4, 2019, the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion affirming a dismissal of the plaintiff’s copyright claim. Fourth Estate Public Benefit Corp. v. Wall-Street.com, LLC, 586 U.S. ____ (2019). The Supreme Court held that a copyright plaintiff may not commence a lawsuit until after the Register of Copyrights officially registers the copyright.

On Tuesday, February 26, 2019, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“CAFC”) issued an opinion affirming a dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. v. General Electric Company, —F.3d— (Fed. Cir. Feb. 26, 2019). The CAFC ruled that the district court had correctly decided that the patent claims are invalid under 35 U.S.C. § 101.


On February 14, 2019, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion reversing and remanding a decision by the United States District Court for the District of Delaware granting summary judgment of invalidity for lack of written description.  CenTrak, Inc. v. Sonitor Techs., Inc., —F.3d—, (Fed. Cir. Feb. 14, 2019).  The CAFC ruled that there were genuine issues of material fact as to whether it was necessary to disclose in the patent specification particular implementation details to satisfy the written description requirement.

On February 13, 2019, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion vacating covered-business-method review (CBM) decisions by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).  Trading Technologies International, Inc. v. IBG LLC, —F.App’x—, (Fed. Cir. Feb. 13, 2019).  The CAFC ruled that the challenged patents were not eligible for CBM review because they were for “technological inventions.”

On Wednesday, January 30, 2019, Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York denied the request of defendant Presidio Components, Inc., (the “Company”) to supplement its invalidity contentions.  American Technical Ceramics Corp. et al. v. Presidio Components, Inc., Case No. 14-cv-6544 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 30, 2019).  Judge Matsumoto determined that the Company was statutorily estopped from raising invalidity grounds that it did not include in its petition for inter partes review (“IPR”) to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”), and, thus barred the Company from supplementing its invalidity contentions in the subsequent district court proceeding. 

On Thursday, January 24, 2019, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a decision exercising its statutorily authorized discretion to deny institution of a petition for inter partes review (IPR).  Deeper, UAB v. Vexilar, Inc., IPR Case No. 2018-01310 (PTAB Jan. 24, 2019).  The PTAB determined that instituting IPR would be an inefficient use of the PTAB’s finite resources because the petitioner had shown a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on its invalidity challenges with respect to only two of the twenty-three challenged claims as to one of the four grounds.
 

On January 22, 2019, the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion affirming a decision by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) that the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) did not change the “on sale” bar.  Helsinn Healthcare S.A. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., 586 U.S., case no. 17-1229.  The Supreme Court held that a commercial sale to a third party may still place the invention “on sale” under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) of the AIA, even if the third party was required to keep confidential the details of the invention.

On Monday, January 14, 2019, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“CAFC”) issued an opinion vacating and remanding a decision by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) refusing to register a design mark based on likelihood of confusion.   In re Guild Mortgage Co., —F.3—, (Fed. Cir. January 14, 2019).  The CAFC ruled that the TTAB failed to consider the relevant evidence and argument directed to DuPont factor 8.

On January 9, 2019, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion affirming a decision on reconsideration by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) that held challenged claims to be unpatentable on a non-instituted ground that was not addressed by the PTAB in its final written decision.  AG Technologies S.A. v. Amazon.com Inc., —F.3d—, (Fed. Cir. Jan. 9, 2019).  The CAFC ruled that the PTAB had not exceeded its statutory authority or deprived the patent owner of fair process by belatedly considering the additional ground.

On Thursday, December 20, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion affirming a dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.  Glasswall Solutions Ltd. v. Clearswift Ltd., —F.App’x—, (Fed. Cir. Dec. 20, 2018).  The CAFC ruled that the district court had correctly decided that the asserted claims are invalid as patent ineligible abstract ideas under 35 U.S.C. § 101.

On Friday, December 7, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“CAFC”) issued an opinion reversing and remanding a decision by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, in which the district court dismissed plaintiff’s declaratory judgment action against defendant for lack of personal jurisdiction.  Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. v. Plano Encryption Technologies LLC, —F.3d— (Fed. Cir. Dec. 7, 2018).  The CAFC ruled that defendant’s patent assertion campaign against multiple banks in the Northern District of Texas was sufficient to establish the minimum contacts necessary to subject PET to personal jurisdiction in that venue.

On Thursday, November 29, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion affirming a decision by the District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee dismissing Maxchief Investments Limited’s (“Maxchief”) declaratory judgment action against Wok & Pan, Ind., Inc. (“Wok”) for lack of personal jurisdiction.  Maxchief Investments Limited v. Wok & Pan, Ind., Inc., —F.3d— (Fed. Cir. Nov. 29, 2018).  The CAFC ruled that Wok lacked sufficient contacts with the forum state of Tennessee to support a finding of specific personal jurisdiction.

On November 19, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion reversing in part a patent-infringement judgment of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.  Enplas Display Device Corp. v. Seoul Semiconductor Co., —F.3d—, (Fed. Cir. November 19, 2018).  The CAFC ruled that the jury’s damages award was based on sales of non-infringing products, and reversed the District Court’s denial of judgment as a matter of law as to the damages award.

On Friday, November 9, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion affirming in part a final written decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).   Arista Networks, Inc. v. Cisco Sys., Inc., —F.3d— (Fed. Cir. Nov. 9, 2018).  The CAFC ruled that the PTAB had correctly decided that the equitable doctrine of assignor estoppel does not apply in inter partes review (“IPR”) proceedings.

On November 6, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion affirming a final written decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) finding the patent claims that had been challenged by inter partes review (IPR) to be not unpatentable.   Acceleration Bay, LLC v. Activision Blizzard Inc., —F.3d—, (Fed. Cir. November 6, 2018).  The CAFC ruled that the patent challenger had not proved that an article available on the Internet before the critical date was a “printed publication,” and that the article therefore was not available as prior art.

On October 30, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an opinion vacating an earlier decision from the International Trade Commission (“ITC”) regarding a shoe company’s (the “Company”) trademark in its All Star shoes trade dress.  Converse, Inc. v. Int’l Trade Comm’n, —F.3d—, (Fed. Cir. October 20, 2018).  The Court held that the presumption of secondary meaning that applies to registered marks does not apply before the registration.  The Court also clarified the considerations to be assessed in determining whether a mark has acquired secondary meaning. 

On October 23, 2018, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a final written decision in an inter partes review (IPR) challenging United States Patent No. 9,073,641.  C&D Zodiac, Inc. v. B/E Aerospace, Inc., Case IPR2017-01275, paper no. 41 (October 23, 2018).  In that decision, the PTAB relied on evidence of prior-art designs to show unpatentability, even though prior art in IPRs is limited to patents and printed publications.

On Tuesday, October 2, 2018, the International Trade Commission (ITC) issued the public version of an initial determination issued by Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Clark S. Cheney. In re Certain Magnetic Tape Cartridges and Components Thereof, Investigation No. 337-TA-1058,—Fed. Reg.— (October 2, 2018).  The ALJ applied prior art to find asserted patent claims invalid, even though the respondents may have been estopped by statute from relying on that prior art.

 

On October 10, 2018, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) announced that it had published its final rule changing the America Invents Act (“AIA”) trial proceeding claim-construction standard to the same standard used in district court and International Trade Commission (“ITC”) proceedings.  (83 FR 51340.)  As we previously reported, see Shearman & Sterling LLP, USPTO Issues Proposed Rulemaking to Adopt District-Court Claim Construction Standard for AIA Trial Proceedings, the USPTO in May 2018 proposed this change as part of its ongoing efforts to “shape and improve” AIA trial proceedings.

On October 1, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion affirming a decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) cancelling a patent in inter partes reexamination.  Natural Alternatives Int’l, Inc. v. Iancu, —F.3d— (Fed. Cir. Oct. 1, 2018).  The PTAB and the CAFC both rejected the patent-owner’s argument that the patent in question was entitled to claim priority to one of the owner’s earlier patent applications.

On September 28, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion reversing a decision by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in which the District Court had sanctioned plaintiff’s counsel with an award of attorneys’ fees pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1927.  Gust, Inc. v. AlphaCap Ventures, LLC, —F.3d— (Fed. Cir. September 28, 2018).  Applying an “exacting” abuse-of-discretion standard, the CAFC ruled that the District Court erred in finding plaintiff’s lawyers to have litigated in bad faith, and therefore reversed the award of attorneys’ fees.

On Monday, September 17, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion reversing a final written decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and finding the patent claims that had been challenged by inter partes review (IPR) to be unpatentable for obviousness.  E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. v. Synvina C.V., —F.3d—, (Fed. Cir. September 17, 2018).  The CAFC first ruled that the patent challenger had standing to appeal, and then on the merits determined that the PTAB had applied the wrong legal standard for obviousness, and therefore reversed.

On September 12, 2018, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a decision exercising its statutorily authorized discretion to deny institution of a petition for inter partes review (IPR).  NHK Spring Co., Ltd. v. Intri-Plex Techs., Inc., IPR Case No. 2018-00752 (PTAB Sept. 12, 2018).  In doing so, the PTAB ruled that the IPR petition’s reliance on substantially the same arguments that the patent owner overcame during original prosecution justified a discretionary denial in this instance, as did the advanced stage of a parallel litigation involving the same parties.

On September 4, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion affirming a judgment of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware finding a patent claim invalid for indefiniteness.  Intellectual Ventures I LLC v. T-Mobile USA, Inc. et al., —F.3d—(Fed. Cir. September 4, 2018).  The CAFC ruled that the claim was invalid because it included a limitation that was entirely subjective and user-defined.

On August 20, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion reversing a decision of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in which the PTAB had rejected a design patent application for indefiniteness.  In re Ron Maatita, —F.3d—, (Fed. Cir. Aug. 20, 2018).  The CAFC ruled that the PTAB had wrongly applied the indefiniteness standard in the context of a design patent claiming the design of the sole of an athletic shoe.

On Thursday, August 16, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion denying a patent challenger’s petition for a writ of mandamus in connection with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s decision not to institute requested inter partes reviews (IPR).  In re. Power Integrations, Inc., —F.3d—, (Fed. Cir. August 16, 2018).  The CAFC ruled that the mandamus petition was tantamount to an appeal of the non-institution decision, which is foreclosed by statute.

On Thursday, August 16, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC), sitting en banc, issued an opinion reversing the Patent and Trial Board’s determination that a dismissal without prejudice of a district-court complaint resets the statutory clock for filing inter partes reviews (IPR), and vacating the Patent and Trial Board’s final written decision.  Oracle Corp. v. Click-to-Call Techs. LP, —F.3d—, (Fed. Cir. August 16, 2018).  The CAFC held that service of an infringement complaint triggers the one-year bar regardless of whether that complaint is later dismissed without prejudice.

On Friday, August 3, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion dismissing the patent challenger’s appeal in an inter partes review (IPR) proceeding. JTEKT Corp. v. GKN Automotive Ltd., —F.3d—, (Fed. Cir. August 3, 2018).  The CAFC determined that the unsuccessful patent challenger lacked standing to pursue the appeal and so dismissed it, leaving the unsuccessful patent challenger subject to the estoppel attached to an unsuccessful IPR under the America Invents Act, without any review by an Article III court.

On Wednesday, August 1, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion reversing a district court dismissal in a design-patent case.  Advantek Marketing, Inc. v. Shanghai Walk-Long Tools Co., —F.3d—, (Fed. Cir. August 1, 2018).  The CAFC determined that prosecution-history estoppel did not bar the patent owner’s infringement claim, and remanded the case for further proceedings.

On July 24, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“CAFC”) unsealed an opinion vacating a final written decision in two inter partes reviews (“IPRs”).  Applications in Internet Time, LLC v. RPX Corp., —F.3d— (Fed. Cir. July 9, 2018).  The CAFC remanded the IPRs to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) for further consideration of whether an RPX client was a real party-in-interest (“RPI”) to the IPRs, in which RPX had claimed to be the sole RPI.

In Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe et al. v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. et al., the Federal Circuit held that tribal sovereign immunity cannot be asserted in inter partes review (“IPR”) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“Board”).

On July 10, 2018, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an opinion in an appeal from a District Court decision in a patent-infringement case, affirming the District Court’s finding of patent validity, but vacating the District Court’s award of enhanced damages of two-and-a-half times the original damages amount. Polara Eng. Inc. v. Campbell Co., Appeal Nos. 2017-1974 and 2017-2033 (Fed. Cir. July 10, 2018). The CAFC found that the District Court wrongly assessed the closeness of the case, and remanded the enhanced-damages issue to the District Court for further consideration.

On July 2, 2018, a motions panel of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued an order remanding an inter partes review (IPR) to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Adidas AG v. Nike, Inc., Appeal Nos. 2018-1180 and 2018-1181. The CAFC noted that the final written decision that was the subject of the appeal had addressed only one of the two sets of grounds of unpatentability that had been asserted in the petition for inter partes review, and directed the PTAB to issue a new decision addressing both grounds.

On June 22, 2018, the United States Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) on the issue of whether damages suffered overseas can be recovered as remedy for infringement under the U.S. patent laws. WesternGeco LLC v. ION Geophysical Corp., 585 U.S. ____, case no. 16-1011. The Supreme Court ruled that such damages can be recoverable.

On June 11, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) affirmed a district court’s denial of a motion for recovery of attorneys’ fees. Stone Basket Innovations, LLC v. Cook Medical LLC, appeal no. 2017-2330. The CAFC ruled that the fee-seeking defendant had not made its litigation position sufficiently clear early enough in the litigation to justify an award of attorneys’ fees pursuant to the “exceptional case” provision of 35 U.S.C. § 285.

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On June 1, 2018, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office designated as precedential an opinion in which it issued instructions concerning patent claim amendments in inter partes review (“IPR”) proceedings.  Western Digital v. SPEX Techs., Case No. IPR2018-00082, paper no. 13 (April 25, 2018).  The PTAB also made a specific note of the duty of candor applicable to both patent owners and petitioners.

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On May 31, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) denied a request for en banc rehearing of its Berkheimer patent-eligibility panel opinion.  Berkheimer v. HP Inc., Appeal No. 2017-1437.  (See our prior post on the CAFC’s Berkheimer opinion here.)  Eight of the Court’s twelve judges who decided the issue signed opinions concurring in or dissenting from the decision declining en banc rehearing.  The concurring opinion filed by five of the judges (Judges Moore, Dyk, O’Malley, Taranto, and Stoll) is of particular interest because of its emphasis on the fact issue the Court recently found to be underlying the question of patent eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101.

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On May 19, 2018, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin denied a patent owner’s request for reconsideration of a decision that the patent owner had not complied with the marking statute, and that therefore its damages in the pending infringement case would be limited, pursuant to that statute.  Acantha LLC v. Depuy Orthopaedics, Inc., et al., Case No. 15-C-1257 (E.D. Wis. May 19, 2018).  The Court rejected the patent owner’s argument that placing a patent notice in its surgical guide constituted sufficient marking.

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Between May 8, 2018 and May 11, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a series of three opinions clarifying questions left open in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Grp. Brands LLC, which held that for purposes of the patent venue statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1400(b), a domestic corporation “resides” only in its state of incorporation.

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As part of its ongoing efforts to “shape and improve” post-grant trial proceedings under the America Invents Act (AIA), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced on May 8, 2018, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to change the AIA trial proceeding claim-construction standard to the same standard used in district court and International Trade Commission (ITC) proceedings.  83 FR 21221.    

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On Tuesday, May 1, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a decision affirming liability of plaintiff’s trade secret misappropriation claim, but vacating the monetary damages award.  Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions, Inc. v. Renesas Electronics America, Inc., f/k/a Intersil Corp., Appeal Nos. 2016-2121, 2016-2208, and 2016-2235.  The Court held that plaintiff Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions (“TAOS”) did not have a jury trial right on its claim for disgorgement of defendant Intersil’s profits, since disgorgement is equitable in nature and was not historically heard by law courts, at least as it concerned intellectual property claims. 

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On April 25, 2018, the United States Supreme Court ruled on two cases concerning inter partes review (“IPR”) proceedings:  Oil States Energy Svcs. v. Green’s Energy Grp., case no. 16-712, and SAS Inst. Inc. v. Iancu, case no. 16-969.  In the first case, the Court ruled that IPRs can be a Constitutionally permissible way for the Patent Office to revoke already-issued patents, and in the second case, the Court ruled that the Patent Office is required to rule on either all or none of the patent claims challenged in a request for IPR.

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On April 16, 2018, the United States Supreme Court heard oral argument in the case of WesternGeco LLC v. ION Geophysical Corporation, which presents the question whether a patent owner can recover damages suffered outside of the United States for infringing acts that occurred within the United States.

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On April 5, 2018, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) published the public version of an earlier order by an ITC administrative law judge (ALJ) denying a motion in limine seeking to exclude evidence of the development of a domestic industry after the filing of the complaint.  In re Certain Digital Cameras, Software, and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1059, Order No. 52.  The ALJ ruled that, while the filing date “may be the bench mark,” there is “no rigid rule that the Commission must consider only at [sic] the investments in a domestic industry at the time of the filing of the complaint.”

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On April 6, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“CAFC”) issued an opinion affirming an examiner’s rejection of various patent claims in an inter partes reexamination. Knowles Elec. LLC v. Iancu, case no. 2016-1954.  The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”) had intervened in the appeal to defend the examiner’s rejection.  In its opinion, the CAFC ruled that the PTO had standing to defend the examiner’s rejection even though the petitioner in the inter partes reexamination had abandoned the appeal.
 

On March 27, 2018, Judge Leonard P. Stark of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware granted a motion to dismiss, finding the subject matter of plaintiff’s patent claims to be unpatentable pursuant to the abstract-idea exception to 35 U.S.C. § 101.  Triplay, Inc. v. WhatsApp, Inc., No. 13-1703 (D. Del. Mar. 27, 2018).  The Court based its ruling on, among other things, the lack of allegations relating to patentability in the complaint, explicitly declining to convert the motion from one for judgment on the pleadings into one for summary judgment.

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On March 23, 2018, a divided panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) found that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) had not sufficiently explained its reasoning in a final written decision invalidating certain patent claims, and reversed the invalidity ruling.  DSS Tech. Mgmt. v. Apple Inc., appeal nos. 2016-2523 and 2016-2524.  One member of the panel (Newman, J.) dissented, both on the merits, and on whether the panel should have ordered remand instead of reversing.

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