Patent News Podcast

In a special edition of Patent News Podcast, this episode covers the Update memorandum from the USPTO regarding subject matter eligibility.

On July 12, 2019, the Federal Circuit issued a precedential opinion from an appeal of a decision from the District of Delaware addressing patentable subject matter under section 101, claim construction, anticipation, sua sponte summary judgment, willful infringement, attorneys’ fees, and ongoing royalties.SRI Int’l., Inc. v. Cisco Sys., Inc., Docket No. 17-2223 (CAFC July 12, 2019) - http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/17-2223.Opinion.7-12-2019.pdfU.S. Patent No. 6,484,203https://patents.google.com/patent/US6484203B1U.S. Patent No. 6,711,615https://patents.google.com/patent/US6711615B2

On July 10, 2019, the Federal Circuit issued two precedential opinions appealing decisions from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board addressing the Administrative Procedure Act, claim construction, and obviousness.TQ Delta, LLC v. Dish Network LLC, Docket No. 18-1799 (CAFC July 10, 2019) - http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/18-1799.Opinion.7-10-2019.pdfCisco Sys., Inc. v. TQ Delta, LLC, Docket No. 18-1806 (CAFC July 10, 2019) - http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/18-1806.Opinion.7-10-2019.pdfU.S. Patent No. 8,611,404https://patents.google.com/patent/US8611404B2

On July 10, 2019, the Federal Circuit issued two precedential opinions appealing decisions from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board addressing written description and jurisdiction.Quake v. Lo, Docket No. 18-1779 (CAFC July 10, 2019) - http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/18-1779.Opinion.7-10-2019.pdfU.S. Patent No. 8,008,018https://patents.google.com/patent/US8008018B2U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2009/0170114, publication of U.S. App. No. 12/393,833https://patents.google.com/patent/US20090170114A1General Electric Co. v. United Technologies Corp., 17-2497 (CAFC July 10, 2019) - http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/17-2497.Opinion.7-10-2019.pdfU.S. Patent No. 8,511,605https://patents.google.com/patent/US8511605B2

On July 5, 2019, the Federal Circuit issued three precedential opinions regarding patent law: In re Global, Enzo v. Roche, and Westech v. 3M. The court addressed reissue claims and written description, lack of enablement, and improper venue along with Attorneys fees and costs. In Re: Global IP Holdings LLC, Docket No. 18-1426 (CAFC July 5, 2019) - http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/18-1426.Opinion.7-5-2019.pdfU.S. Patent No. 8,690,233 - https://patents.google.com/patent/US8690233B2Enzo Life Sciences, Inc. v. Roche Molecular Sys., Inc., Docket No. 17-2498 (CAFC July 5, 2019) - http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/17-2498.Opinion.7-5-2019.pdfU.S. Patent No. 6,992,180 - https://patents.google.com/patent/US6992180B1U.S. Patent No. 8,097,405 - https://patents.google.com/patent/US8097405B1Westech Aerosol Corp. v. 3M Co., Docket No. 18-1699 (CAFC July 5, 2019) - http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/18-1699.Opinion.7-5-2019.pdfU.S. Patent No. 7,705,056 - https://patents.google.com/patent/US7705056B1

On July 3, 2019, in a 7-5 split, the Federal Circuit denied an en banc rehearing of Athena Diagnostics v. Mayo regarding questions of 101 and patentability of medical diagnostic claims under the current Alice/Mayo test and the Court's own precedent. Eight of the twelve judges in the case authored their own opinions.Athena Diagnostics, Inc., et al. v. Mayo Collaborative Services, LLC, Docket No. 2017-2508 (CAFC July 3, 2019) - http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/17-2508.Order.7-3-2019.1.pdfU.S. Patent No. 7,267,820 - https://patents.google.com/patent/US7267820B2Full video of The State of Patent Eligibility in America: Part I - https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/the-state-of-patent-eligibility-in-america-part-i

On June 21, 2019, the Federal Circuit issued a precedential opinion regarding patent law: Kolcraft Ent. v. Graco Children's Products. The court addressed evidence of prior conception in an IPR proceeding.Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc. v. Graco Children’s Products, Inc., Docket No. 2018-1259 (CAFC July 2, 2019) - http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/18-1259.Opinion.7-2-2019.pdfU.S. Patent No. D604,970 - https://patents.google.com/patent/USD604970S1U.S. Patent No. D616,231 - https://patents.google.com/patent/USD616231S1

On June 24, 2019, the Federal Circuit issued two precedential opinions regarding patent law: Elbit Systems Land and C4i Ltd. v. Hughes Network Systems, LLC and Cellspin Soft, Inc. v. Fitbit Inc. The court addressed unquantified attorney’s fees and the Mayo/Alice two step test for section 101.

On June 24, 2019, the court issued a precedential opinion regarding patent law: UCB, Inc. v. Watson Laboratories and Actavis Laboratories. The court addressed the doctrine of equivalents with regard to restriction requirements.

On June 21, 2019, the Federal Circuit issued two precedential opinions regarding patent law: Hyosung TNS Inc. v. ITC and Forum US v. Flow Valve, LLC. The court addressed amendments to cease and desist orders, prior art as evidence, the domestic industry requirement under § 1337, and claim validity in reissued patents.