Federal Circuit Says You Can’t Disqualify Patent Structure Just Because It Doesn’t Do Something the Claim Never Required
March 11, 2026
GRAMM v. DEERE & COMPANY Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky The Federal Circuit reversed a district court’s finding that U.S. Patent No. 6,202,395 was invalid as indefinite, holding that the lower court improperly excluded a key piece of corresponding structure…
Read MoreA Conflict of Interest Doesn’t Destroy Attorney-Client Privilege, Federal Circuit Rules
March 11, 2026
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY v. GEN DIGITAL INC. Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky In a case involving Columbia University’s patent dispute with Gen Digital (formerly Symantec/NortonLifeLock), the Federal Circuit reversed a civil contempt finding against the law firm Quinn Emanuel…
Read MoreFederal Circuit Sends Columbia University’s Antivirus Patents Back for Another Look at Eligibility
March 11, 2026
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY v. GEN DIGITAL INC. Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky The Federal Circuit vacated a $185 million jury verdict in favor of Columbia University against Gen Digital Inc. (the company behind Norton antivirus software), finding that Columbia’s…
Read MorePost-Decision Inventorship Correction Argument Fails to Override Forfeiture in IPR Proceedings
March 9, 2026
IMPLICIT, LLC v. SONOS, INC. Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky The Federal Circuit recently affirmed that a patent owner cannot rely on a post-decision correction of inventorship to reopen final written decisions in inter partes review proceedings. The case centered…
Read MoreBeyond the Silver Screen: Hedy Lamarr’s Hidden Legacy as a Pioneer of Modern Technology
March 8, 2026
Celebrating the Untold Stories of Women Inventors this International Women’s Day When most people hear the name Hedy Lamarr, they picture the glamorous Hollywood actress who graced silver screens in the 1940s and 1950s. What they don’t envision is a…
Read MoreNo Infringement for One Structure Providing Multiple Functions
March 6, 2026
MAGNOLIA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. v. KURIN, INC. Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky When blood is drawn from a patient, microbes on the skin can contaminate the sample, leading to false-positive test results and unnecessary treatments. Both Magnolia Medical Technologies and…
Read MoreFederal Circuit Says Damages Can Be Tied to Unaccused Products When There’s a Causal Link
March 6, 2026
EXAFER LTD v. MICROSOFT CORPORATION Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky Exafer Ltd. sued Microsoft Corporation, alleging that Microsoft’s Azure Platform infringed two of Exafer’s patents: U.S. Patent Nos. 8,325,733 and 8,971,335. These patents relate to systems and methods for optimizing…
Read MoreInventor’s “Not Sure It’s a Good Idea to Disclose” Comment Wasn’t Enough for Summary Judgment on Inequitable Conduct
February 26, 2026
GLOBAL TUBING LLC v. TENARIS COILED TUBES LLC Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky The Federal Circuit vacated summary judgment on both sides of a dispute over coiled tubing patents, finding that genuine factual disputes remained about whether an inventor deliberately…
Read MoreU.S. Counsel Requirement for International Trademark Applicants: What Foreign Associates Need to Know
February 23, 2026
Authored by: Shane T. Moreillon Since August 3, 2019, the landscape for international trademark practice in the United States fundamentally changed. If you represent clients seeking trademark protection in the U.S. market, understanding the mandatory U.S. counsel requirement is essential…
Read MoreGenetically Engineered Host Cells Are Not “Nature’s Handiwork,” Federal Circuit Rules
February 20, 2026
REGENXBIO INC. v. SAREPTA THERAPEUTICS, INC. Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky The Federal Circuit reversed a district court decision that had invalidated claims of U.S. Patent No. 10,526,617 as patent-ineligible under 35 U.S.C. § 101. The patent, owned by REGENXBIO…
Read MorePatent Owner’s Shortcut Through a Complex Circuit Leads to Dead End on Infringement
February 19, 2026
GENUINE ENABLING TECHNOLOGY LLC v. SONY GROUP CORPORATION Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky When a patent claim uses “means-plus-function” language, it doesn’t describe a specific physical structure. Instead, it describes a *function*, and the patent’s specification fills in the blanks…
Read MoreCongratulations to Woodard Attorneys Named to the 2026 Indiana Super Lawyers® List
February 18, 2026
We are proud to announce that several of our attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 Indiana Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars lists. This honor highlights the top 5% of attorneys in Indiana, each selected based on a rigorous evaluation…
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