Month: June 2026
Keeping Cool Through the Ages: Historical Inventions to Beat the Summer Heat
June 29, 2026
There is nothing quite like the oppressive weight of summer heat to inspire human creativity. Long before thermostats and central air conditioning became household staples, people across centuries and civilizations developed remarkably clever solutions to survive and even thrive during…
Read MoreA Single Carbon Atom Costs Enanta Its Priority Date in COVID Drug Patent Battle
June 23, 2026
ENANTA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. v. PFIZER INC. Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky In a decision highlighting the unforgiving nature of the written description requirement, the Federal Circuit affirmed a summary judgment ruling that Enanta Pharmaceuticals’ U.S. Patent 11,358,953 is invalid as…
Read MoreFederal Circuit Raises the Bar on IPR Estoppel: Classification Searches Alone May Not Be Enough
June 18, 2026
IRONBURG INVENTIONS LTD. v. VALVE CORPORATION Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky In a second trip to the Federal Circuit involving a video game controller patent dispute, the court has provided important guidance on what it takes to prove that a…
Read MoreU.S. Patent Maintenance Fees: Essential Deadlines and Requirements
June 11, 2026
Authored by: Joshua P. Astin For patent owners accustomed to the annuity systems used in other jurisdictions, the U.S. maintenance fee structure will feel broadly familiar in concept but differs in important ways when it comes to timing and process.…
Read MoreSotera Stipulation Violations Won’t Save Your Patent Once IPR Is Underway
June 5, 2026
HAFEMAN v. GOOGLE LLC Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky The Federal Circuit recently addressed whether a patent owner can challenge a final written decision based on a defendant’s post-institution violation of a Sotera stipulation, along with claim construction and secondary…
Read MoreSmart Thermostat Patent Verdict Unravels Over Jury Form and Section 101 Instructions
June 4, 2026
OLLNOVA TECHNOLOGIES LTD. v. ECOBEE TECHNOLOGIES ULC Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky A jury in the Eastern District of Texas awarded Ollnova Technologies Ltd. $11.5 million after finding that ecobee Technologies ULC’s smart thermostats infringed at least one of four…
Read MoreFarming Data Patents Plow Into Section 101 Trouble, But Fee Ruling Gets a Second Look
June 2, 2026
AGI SURETRACK LLC v. FARMERS EDGE INC. Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky The Federal Circuit recently addressed a dispute involving patents covering automated systems for collecting and sharing farming data, finding the claims patent ineligible while also sending the attorney’s…
Read MoreSmart Strategies to Minimize U.S. Trademark Fees
June 2, 2026
Authored by: Chris Roberts Navigating the costs associated with U.S. trademark prosecution can feel daunting, particularly for applicants managing portfolios across multiple jurisdictions. The good news is that with a bit of strategic planning, it is entirely possible to keep…
Read MoreSix Woodard Emhardt Attorneys Named to IAM Patent 1000’s 2026 Edition
June 1, 2026
Annual ranking recognizes top patent professionals and firms in key jurisdictions worldwide. Woodard, Emhardt, Henry, Reeves & Wagner is pleased to announce that six of its attorneys have been named to the 2026 edition of IAM Patent 1000, one of…
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