Patent Board Reversed: Motivation for Obviousness Doesn’t Have to Match Inventor’s Reason

Honeywell Int’l Inc. v. 3G Licensing, S.A. Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky In a recent decision, the Federal Circuit reversed the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s (PTAB) finding that claims of U.S. Patent No. 7,319,718 were not obvious. The patent,…

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A “Quotation” Can Trigger the On-Sale Bar: Federal Circuit Invalidates Crown Packaging Patents

Crown Packaging Tech., Inc. v. Belvac Prod. Mach., Inc Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky In a recent decision, the Federal Circuit clarified how easily a patent can be invalidated under the “on-sale bar” rule, even when the supposed “offer” is…

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Patent Damages and Willfulness Standards Tightened in Food Machinery Patent Dispute

Provisur Techs., Inc. v. Weber, Inc Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky A recent appellate decision has clarified several important issues in patent law, particularly around proving infringement, willful infringement, and calculating damages. The case involved Provisur Technologies, Inc., which owns…

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Federal Circuit Admonishes District Court for Deciding Patent Eligibility Issue That Neither Party Raised

Astellas Pharma, Inc. v. Sandoz Inc Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky In a recent decision, the Federal Circuit vacated a district court ruling that had invalidated key claims of Astellas Pharma’s patent for its overactive bladder drug, Myrbetriq® (U.S. Patent…

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Federal Circuit Affirms: Video-On-Demand Guide Patents Fail Under Section 101

Broadband iTV, Inc. v. Amazon.Com, Inc Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky In a recent decision, the Federal Circuit affirmed that several patents owned by Broadband iTV, Inc. covering electronic program guides for video-on-demand systems are not eligible for patent protection…

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Secret Process Sales Still Trigger On-Sale Bar Under the AIA, Says Federal Circuit

Celanese Int’l Corp. v. Int’l Trade Comm’n Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky In a significant decision for patent owners and applicants, the Federal Circuit has reaffirmed that selling products made by a secret process before filing for a patent can…

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Private Sales Don’t Count as “Public Disclosure” to Block Patent Prior Art

Sanho Corp. v. Kaijet Tech. Int’l Ltd Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky A recent Federal Circuit decision clarifies an important rule for inventors: selling your invention privately—even without a confidentiality agreement—does not count as “publicly disclosing” it for the purposes…

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Patent Office Estoppel Rule Survives Challenge, But Its Reach Is Limited

SoftView LLC v. Apple Inc Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky A recent decision from the Federal Circuit clarified how far the Patent Office can go in preventing patent owners from reclaiming lost ground after losing claims in an inter partes…

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Patent Claims for Background Check Software Found Ineligible

Miller Mendel, Inc. v. City of Anna Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky In a recent decision, the Federal Circuit affirmed that certain patent claims covering a software system for managing pre-employment background checks are not eligible for patent protection. Miller…

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Remote Gambling Patent Claims Dealt a Loss Under Patent Eligibility Rules

Beteiro, LLC v. Draftkings Inc. Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky In a recent decision, the Federal Circuit affirmed the dismissal of several patent infringement lawsuits brought by Beteiro, LLC against major online gambling companies like DraftKings, BetMGM, and others. Beteiro…

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Patent Time Limits: When Amending Claims Can Cost You the Patent

Speck v. Bates Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky A recent Federal Circuit decision highlights the importance of timing and claim amendments in patent interference proceedings. The dispute centered on a drug-coated balloon catheter, with Ulrich Speck and Bruno Scheller challenging…

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Federal Circuit Overhauls Design Patent Obviousness Test, Making It Easier to Challenge Patents

LKQ Corp. v. GM Glob. Tech. Operations LLC Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky In a major shift for design patent law, the Federal Circuit has thrown out the long-standing Rosen-Durling test, which made it difficult to challenge the validity of…

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