2015 Federal Circuit US Court of Appeals Case Law
Opinions 1 - 500 of 790
Date: December 31, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1047
Justia Opinion Summary: STAR owns a patent that describes methods for generating smoke that “enables the presence and location of leaks in a fluid system (e.g. the evaporative or brake system of a motor vehicle) to be accurately and visually…
Date: December 28, 2015
Docket Number: 12-1042
Justia Opinion Summary: In a wireless system, devices communicate with fixed “base stations” according to “protocols,” which are standardized procedures that govern how data exchanged between devices is formatted, ordered, maintained, and…
Date: December 28, 2015
Docket Number: 13-5098
Justia Opinion Summary: Abutting landowners claimed that the United States effected a taking of their property without just compensation when it converted a former railroad corridor between Sarasota and Venice, Florida, into a recreational…
Date: December 22, 2015
Citation: 808 F. 3d 1321
Docket Number: 14-1203
Justia Opinion Summary: Tam, the “front man” for Asian-American rock band, The Slants, sought to register the mark THE SLANTS and attached specimens featuring the name set against Asian motifs. The examining attorney found the mark disparaging…
Date: December 17, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1431
Date: December 17, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1778
Justia Opinion Summary: The Patent Trial and Appeal Board granted SAMSF’s motion to cancel certain claims prior to its review of SAMSF’s patents relating to administering the “natural” stereoisomer of 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolic acid (L-5-MTHF)…
Date: December 17, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1779
Justia Opinion Summary: At the request of Gnosis, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board instituted inter partes review of claims of Merck’s patent, which relates to methods of using folates to lower levels of homocysteine in the human body.…
Date: December 17, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1453
Justia Opinion Summary: DiStefano’s patent application claims a method that enables an individual to design a web page without having to “learn HTML or to interact extensively with a web page designer.” Its primary embodiment includes a…
Date: December 15, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1108
Justia Opinion Summary: Unwired Planet sued the defendants for infringement, then initiated an action with the International Trade Commission (ITC). The district court stayed its litigation pending resolution of the ITC proceedings. After…
Date: December 15, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1159
Justia Opinion Summary: SightSound’s patents disclose methods for sale and distribution of digital audio and video signals, requiring: connection, by telecommunications lines, between a party’s memory and a second party’s memory; selling…
Date: December 15, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1880
Date: December 14, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1216
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2006, the Department of Commerce announced that it was changing a method it used to calculate whether imported goods are being sold in the United States at less than fair value, i.e., being dumped. Previously,…
Date: December 9, 2015
Docket Number: 15-3131
Justia Opinion Summary: Dean, a preference-eligible veteran, applied for a position as a “Recent Graduate” Wage and Hour Specialist within the Department of Labor. The announcement stated that the position “is a part of the Pathways Employment…
Date: December 4, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1020
Justia Opinion Summary: Prolitec, Inc. owned U.S. Patent No. 7,712,268 (“‘683 patent”). The ‘683 patent had only two apparatus claims. The United States Patent and trademark Office, Patent Trial and Appeal Board found that the two claims were…
Date: December 3, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1066
Justia Opinion Summary: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) filed the instant suit for infringement of CSIRO’s U.S. Patent No. 5,487,069 (“’069 patent”) against Cicso Systems, Inc. The district court accepted a…
Date: December 2, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1135
Justia Opinion Summary: In CardSoft v. VeriFone, Inc., the Federal Circuit reversed the district court’s decision in favor of CardSoft. The district court adopted CardSoft’s proposed construction for the claim term “vertical machine." Applying…
Date: December 2, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1091
Justia Opinion Summary: MCM Portfolio LLC owns U.S. Patent No. 7,162,549 (the ‘549 patent). Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) filed a petition requesting inter partes review of claims 7, 11, 19, and 21 of the ‘549 patent. The Patent Trial and Appeal…
Date: December 1, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1166
Justia Opinion Summary: Between 2001 and 2004, Nitek Electronics, Inc. entered thirty-six shipments of pipe fitting components used for gas meters into the United States from China. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“Customs”) claimed that…
Date: November 25, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1725
Justia Opinion Summary: The Department of Commerce determined that utility scale wind towers from the People’s Republic of China and utility scale wind towers from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (together, the subject merchandise) were sold…
Date: November 25, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1212
Justia Opinion Summary: Straight Path IP Group owns U.S. Patent No. 6,108,704 (“the ’704 patent”), entitled Point-to-Point Internet Protocol, which describes protocols for establishing communication links through a network. Sipnet EU S.R.O.…
Date: November 20, 2015
Docket Number: 14-5135
Justia Opinion Summary: Normandy Apartments, Ltd. owned and managed a low-income rental housing project where tenants’ rents were federally subsidized under the Section 8 project-based program. In 2004, Normandy and the United States Department…
Date: November 17, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1492
Date: November 16, 2015
Docket Number: 09-1372
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2009, a jury found Akamai’s 703 patent not invalid and directly infringed by Limelight, but the court entered judgment as a matter of law overturning the infringement verdict on the basis of divided infringement. …
Date: November 16, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1215
Justia Opinion Summary: Verinata and Ariosa compete in the field of noninvasive prenatal diagnostics, including testing for fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Verinata owns the 430 patent, which describes methods of noninvasive prenatal testing…
Date: November 13, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1179
Justia Opinion Summary: Netlist’s 537 patent, entitled “Memory Module with a Circuit Providing Load Isolation and Memory Domain Translation” has a 2006 application date and relates to computer system memory modules, which Netlist designs and…
Date: November 12, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1572
Justia Opinion Summary: The International Trade Commission investigated DeLorme for violating the Tariff Act, 19 U.S.C. 1337, by importing, selling for importation, or selling after importation “two-way global satellite communication devices,…
Date: November 12, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1829
Justia Opinion Summary: Advanced Steel owns a patent describing systems and methods of loading shipping containers with bulk material for storage or transport. Material is loaded into the top of a rectangular container packer, which is moved…
Date: November 12, 2015
Docket Number: 14-7137
Justia Opinion Summary: Mulder served in the Army for three separate periods between 1982 and 1994, accumulating about two years of honorable service. In 1998, the VA assigned Mulder a 50% disability rating for two service-connected conditions.…
Date: November 12, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1197
Justia Opinion Summary: Cubist Pharmaceuticals owns five follow-on patents that relate to the antibiotic daptomycin, which it sells under the name Cubicin. Hospira sought authorization to sell a generic version of Cubist’s daptomycin product,…
Date: November 12, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1324
Date: November 10, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1274
Justia Opinion Summary: Enoxaparin, an anticoagulant that helps prevent blood clots, was approved for U.S. marketing in 1993 under the name Lovenox. In 2010, Momentaed market a generic version of enoxaparin. Momenta is also the assignee of the…
Date: November 10, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1527
Justia Opinion Summary: The Tariff Act of 1930 gives the International Trade Commission authority to remedy only those unfair acts that involve the importation of “articles” as described in 19 U.S.C. 1337(a). The Commission instituted an…
Date: November 10, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1634
Justia Opinion Summary: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition defined and diagnosed by its constellation of symptoms. A patient’s symptoms define the type of IBS with which a patient is diagnosed. Prometheus sued, alleging infringement…
Date: November 10, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1845
Justia Opinion Summary: Imaginal sued L&P and Simmons alleging that L&P’s TopOff Automatic Stapling Machine infringed the 402 Patent, which is directed to a process for building box springs. After a jury awarded damages for infringement, L&P…
Date: November 10, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1286
Date: November 10, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1355
Date: November 6, 2015
Docket Number: 15-5036
Justia Opinion Summary: USF&G filed suit in the Court of Federal Claims under the Tucker Act, 28 U.S.C. 1491(a)(1), seeking reimbursement from the government for legal expenses and settlement costs it allegedly incurred in its capacity as…
Date: November 5, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1575
Justia Opinion Summary: Belden and Berk-Tek compete in making and selling telecommunications cable and cabling systems. Belden’s 503 patent, issued in 2000, discloses a method of making a cable by passing a core and conducting wires through one…
Date: October 30, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1041
Justia Opinion Summary: Tesco sued NOV for infringement of patents that involve an apparatus and method for handling sections of pipe used for lining a well-bore. NOV filed an answer, counterclaims, a request for attorney’s fees, and motions…
Date: October 29, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1071
Justia Opinion Summary: Atlas owns the patent, which describes and claims a protocol for controlling wireless network communications between a hub and remotes. The patent, entitled “Medium Access Control Protocol for Wireless Network,” notes…
Date: October 29, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1190
Justia Opinion Summary: Atlas’s patent describes a protocol for controlling wireless network communications between a hub and remotes. The patent notes the existence of prior-art, but says those systems consumed large amounts of battery power;…
Date: October 28, 2015
Docket Number: 15-5006
Justia Opinion Summary: Between April 23 and June 1, 2008, there were 57 reported cases of salmonellosis. The FDA, federal and state agencies, and food industry began an investigation to determine the source of contamination. On June 3, 2008,…
Date: October 23, 2015
Docket Number: 15-5086
Justia Opinion Summary: The U.S. Air Force solicited bids from private companies to supply equipment and services to build a new radar system. Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin cleared early hurdles; each received a solicitation…
Date: October 21, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1820
Date: October 20, 2015
Docket Number: 14-3175
Justia Opinion Summary: The National Federation of Federal Employees Local 1442 filed a group grievance on behalf of 138 NFFE bargaining unit employees at Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD); Local 2109 filed two grievances on behalf of all of…
Date: October 19, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1107
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2013 the Federal Circuit affirmed the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s rejection of claims 181, 184, 188-203, 206, 210-25, 228, 232-47, 250, and 254-68 of utility patent application No. 60/211228, as obvious in light…
Date: October 14, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1208
Date: October 13, 2015
Docket Number: 14-5127
Justia Opinion Summary: FICA tax includes social security tax and hospital insurance tax, 26 U.S.C. 3101(a)–(b). Balestra was a United Airlines pilot from 1979 until his 2004 retirement. He was eligible for life-long retirement benefits through…
Date: October 13, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1245
Date: October 9, 2015
Docket Number: 15-5028
Justia Opinion Summary: Trona is a sodium carbonate compound that is processed into soda ash or baking soda. Because oil and gas development posed a risk to the extraction of trona and trona worker safety, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM),…
Date: October 5, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1514
Justia Opinion Summary: These appeals involve the Fourth and Fifth Administrative Reviews of an anti-dumping duty order covering frozen warm-water shrimp from China. Hilltop, an exporter of subject merchandise from China, was a mandatory…
Date: October 5, 2015
Docket Number: 14-5089
Justia Opinion Summary: Plaintiffs own land adjacent to central Iowa railway corridors. Pursuant to the National Trail System Act Amendments of 1982, the Surface Transportation Board issued Notices of Interim Trail Use (NITUs) for the…
Date: October 2, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1406
Justia Opinion Summary: In 1997 Seagate recruited Dr. Shukh, a native of Belarus, to move to the U.S. Shukh executed Seagate’s standard Employment Agreement, assigning to Seagate all “right, title, and interest in and to any inventions” made…
Date: October 2, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1407
Justia Opinion Summary: Leucovorin is a compound used to ameliorate the toxic effects of methotrexate, a chemotherapy treatment; to treat folate deficiency; and to enhance the efficacy of a 5-fluorouracil cancer treatment. Spectrum, the…
Date: October 1, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1458
Justia Opinion Summary: The 600 Application, entitled “Web-Integrated OnLine Financial Database System and Method for Debt Recovery,” was filed in 2004, with priority claimed to a provisional application filed on November 13, 2003. The…
Date: October 1, 2015
Docket Number: 15-3117
Justia Opinion Summary: The Department of the Navy furloughed Einboden, a civilian employee for six days in 2013 as part of budget cuts made pursuant to sequestration legislation, 2 U.S.C. 901a. Einboden argued that his position was not subject…
Date: September 30, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1767
Justia Opinion Summary: Achates sued QuickOffice, Apple, and others for infringing its patents.Apple sought inter partes review. The Patent and Trademark Office found certain claims invalid, rejecting Achates’s claim that, based on a blank…
Date: September 29, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1762
Justia Opinion Summary: Nordock and Systems are rivals in the loading dock device industry.Both design, manufacture, and sell dock levelers--mechanical devices used to create a bridge between loading dock surfaces and the surfaces of truckload…
Date: September 28, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1310
Justia Opinion Summary: The state filed a complaint, alleging that letters mailed by MPHJ to Vermont businesses informing them that they may be infringing certain patents were deceptive and violated the Vermont Consumer Protection Act, 9 V.S.A.…
Date: September 24, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1617
Date: September 24, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1736
Justia Opinion Summary: Shire’s patents are directed to derivatives of amphetamines, used to treat various disorders, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A drawback to the use of amphetamines is their potential for abuse. The…
Date: September 22, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1617
Date: September 21, 2015
Docket Number: 13-1648
Justia Opinion Summary: Summit owns the 482 patent, entitled “Web-based Media Submission Tool,” relating to the processing of digital content, such as digital photos. The invention “provides an improved web-based media submission tool” that…
Date: September 18, 2015
Docket Number: 13-1564
Justia Opinion Summary: SCA owns the 646 patent, relating to adult incontinence products. In 2003 SCA wrote to First Quality, stating that First’s products might infringe the patent. First responded that the patent was invalidated by an earlier…
Date: September 17, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1718
Justia Opinion Summary: R+L claimed infringement of the 078 patent, which generally relates to an improved method of consolidating freight into trailers to optimize delivery efficiencies for the loads in each trailer. While the case was…
Date: September 17, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1802
Justia Opinion Summary: Apple has multiple patents for features of the iPhone and, in 2012, sued Samsung, alleging infringement of five patents directed to smartphone and tablet interfaces. The district court held on summary judgment that…
Date: September 17, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1854
Justia Opinion Summary: Astornet alleges that it is sole exclusive licensee and owner of all rights in the 844 patent, issued in 2009 to Haddad as the inventor and entitled “Airport vehicular gate entry access system” and asserted the patent…
Date: September 16, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1668
Date: September 16, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1252
Date: September 15, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1855
Date: September 11, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1641
Date: September 8, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1613
Justia Opinion Summary: The three patents at issue share the same written description and explain that medical implements, such as catheters and luer ports, are common sites for transmissions of pathogens into patients. To prevent such…
Date: September 4, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1218
Justia Opinion Summary: Media Rights sued Capital One, alleging infringement of its patent, entitled “Method of Controlling Recording of Media.” The patent prevents unauthorized recording via a compliance mechanism, which diverts incoming media…
Date: September 4, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1214
Justia Opinion Summary: National Graphics owns the 196 patent, which is directed to making molded plastic articles bearing a “lenticular” image. The patent issued in 2003, from an application filed in 2000. Dynamic petitioned the Patent and…
Date: September 3, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1203
Date: September 3, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1673
Justia Opinion Summary: Dome owns a patent for making contact-lens materials that are rigid and gas permeable. On reexamination, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office found that the claimed method at issue was obvious and therefore unpatentable.…
Date: September 2, 2015
Docket Number: 14-3101
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2008 Miller was appointed by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, as Park Superintendent, GS-13, for Sitka National Historical Park (SNHP). In 2010, Miller was removed from her position after she…
Date: September 2, 2015
Docket Number: 14-5140
Justia Opinion Summary: The Navy, Military Sealift Command (MSC), issued a contract solicitation, involving management and coordination of lodging and transportation for federal civil service mariners who were completing required training at…
Date: September 1, 2015
Docket Number: 14-3113
Justia Opinion Summary: Shapiro began working for the Social Security Administration as an administrative law judge in 1997. As early as 1998, the Agency informed Shapiro that his performance was lacking. Shapiro’s poor performance continued…
Date: August 28, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1431
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2005, Dow sued NOVA, alleging infringement of claims of patents covering ethylene polymer compositions (a type of plastic) with improved modulus, yield strength, impact strength, and tear strength. These polymers can…
Date: August 27, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1305
Justia Opinion Summary: Inline’s patented products are plastic food containers with tamper-evident and tamper-resistant features. The containers have a hinged plastic bridge between the top and bottom portions of the container, the bridge…
Date: August 20, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1596
Justia Opinion Summary: Hyatt is the named inventor on at least 75 issued patents and nearly 400 pending applications, all filed before June 8, 1995. Each pending application incorporates by reference, and claims the benefit of priority from, a…
Date: August 19, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1618
Justia Opinion Summary: The 017 patent relates to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and explains that prior art thermostats for forced-air HVAC systems typically have two modes of operation for the system fan. The first…
Date: August 19, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1789
Justia Opinion Summary: Wolfskin applied to the Patent and Trademark Office to register a design mark consisting of an angled paw print for use with its clothing, footwear, and accessory products. New Millennium opposed the registration on the…
Date: August 18, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1841
Justia Opinion Summary: Konig’s SRI Employment Agreement, stated: I agree ….To promptly disclose… all discoveries, improvements, and inventions, including software … during … my employment, and … to effect transfer of ownership … to SRI . . . .…
Date: August 17, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1011
Justia Opinion Summary: JVC sued Nero for contributory and induced infringement of JVC patents directed to uses of DVD and Blu-ray optical discs, based on Nero’s sale of software to end users of DVD and Blu-ray discs, who allegedly directly…
Date: August 14, 2015
Docket Number: 13-1619
Justia Opinion Summary: Louisiana Fish Fry filed a use-based application with the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) for the mark LOUISIANA FISH FRY PRODUCTS BRING THE TASTE OF LOUISIANA HOME!, and a design, identifying the following goods for…
Date: August 14, 2015
Docket Number: 15-3101
Justia Opinion Summary: The Defense Contract Management Agency within the Department of Defense (DOD) employed Vassallo as a computer engineer in 2012. That summer, it announced a vacancy for the position of Lead Interdisciplinary Engineer,…
Date: August 13, 2015
Docket Number: 09-1372
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2006, Akamai alleged that Limelight infringed several patents, including the 703 patent, which claims methods for delivering content over the Internet. At trial, the parties agreed that Limelight’s customers—not…
Date: August 13, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1360
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2010, Keranos sued 49 parties for infringing three patents by using a specific type of flash memory technology developed by SST, called “SuperFlash,” that implements a split-gate flash memory design. Keranos, which…
Date: August 13, 2015
Docket Number: 15-5015
Justia Opinion Summary: In 1996, a Belgian subsidiary of Albemarle issued 20-year debentures to Albemarle. Interest payments were made on the debentures from 1997-2001. The Belgian subsidiary did not pay Belgian withholding taxes on the…
Date: August 12, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1123
Justia Opinion Summary: Power Integrations’ 876 patent is entitled “Frequency Jittering Control for Varying the Switching Frequency of a Power Supply.” It is directed to a technique for reducing electromagnetic interference by jittering the…
Date: August 12, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1191
Date: August 11, 2015
Docket Number: 14-5149
Justia Opinion Summary: Bay County Utilities provides water and sewer services. The County Commissioners establish rates. In 1966, the U.S. Air Force contracted with the County for water services at Tyndall Air Force Base. The parties entered…
Date: August 11, 2015
Docket Number: 14-7093
Justia Opinion Summary: During the Vietnam War, herbicides were applied near the Korean DMZ in 1968-1969. The 2003 Veterans Benefits Act authorized benefits for children with spina bifida born to certain veterans, 38 U.S.C. 1821. In 2004, the…
Date: August 11, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1073
Date: August 10, 2015
Docket Number: 12-1170
Justia Opinion Summary: Cross Match claimed that defendants violated 19 U.S.C. 1337(a)(1)(B)(i) by importing articles that infringe or are used to infringe its patents. The International Trade Commission entered a limited exclusion order…
Date: August 10, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1633
Date: August 7, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1370
Justia Opinion Summary: Ethicon’s patents are directed to surgical instruments that use ultrasonic energy created by blades vibrating at high frequencies to cut tissue and blood vessels and use heat generated from friction to coagulate and seal…
Date: August 6, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1492
Date: August 4, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1275
Justia Opinion Summary: Glaucoma is an eye disease associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Treatments that effectively reduce IOP can slow the progression of the disease. In 2001, the FDA approved Lumigan 0.03%®, a topical…
Date: August 4, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1492
Justia Opinion Summary: Carnegie Mellon University sued Marvell for infringing two patents related to hard-disk drives. A jury found for CMU on infringement and validity, and awarded roughly $1.17 billion as a reasonable royalty for the…
Date: July 29, 2015
Docket Number: 14-5037
Justia Opinion Summary: In 1999, the Pettinati family was about to realize a large capital gain from the sale of their printing business. Attorney Mayer contacted them and proposed “a tax advantaged investment opportunity.” After the proposed…
Date: July 28, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1155
Justia Opinion Summary: Manufacturers of circuit boards used in electronic devices, use circuit board testers before the boards are integrated into finished products. Many testers require an interface plate, which is a plastic grid with holes…
Date: July 22, 2015
Docket Number: 15-112
Justia Opinion Summary: Nippon Steel filed suit, charging POSCO with patent infringement and unfair competition. The court entered a protective order prohibiting cross-use of confidential materials which “shall be used by the receiving Party…
Date: July 21, 2015
Docket Number: 14-7122
Justia Opinion Summary: Carter served in the Army, 1965-1967. In 1989, he sought disability benefits for an injury to his back. The VA denied his claim. He sought to reopen in 2005, filing new evidence that he had aggravated the injury during…
Date: July 21, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1499
Justia Opinion Summary: Under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA), 124 Stat. 119, an abbreviated biologics license application (aBLA) requires proof that a product is “biosimilar” to an approved reference product, plus…
Date: July 20, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1853
Justia Opinion Summary: Juice Generation, which operates New York City juice bars, applied to the Patent and Trademark Office to register a mark consisting of “PEACE LOVE AND JUICE,” 15 U.S.C. 1051(b), and a design for use with its juice bar…
Date: July 17, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1808
Justia Opinion Summary: Firepass owns the 752 patent, directed to using hypoxic compositions for preventing and extinguishing fires and sued Airbus for infringement. Airbus requested inter partes reexamination of the patent, proposing that…
Date: July 17, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1125
Date: July 17, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1143
Date: July 13, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1145
Justia Opinion Summary: Versata successfully sued SAP for infringement. The Federal Circuit affirmed a damages award, but vacated an injunction, and remanded. Meanwhile, SAP petitioned the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to institute covered…
Date: July 13, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1814
Justia Opinion Summary: After receiving antidumping and countervailing duty petitions from an association of U.S. manufacturers of multilayered wood flooring, the International Trade Commission initiated investigations of imports of…
Date: July 13, 2015
Docket Number: 14-3181
Justia Opinion Summary: Ryan was employed by FEMA (Department of Homeland Security). Her position required top secret security clearance. The agency suspended Ryan’s access to classified information after learning she had been indicted on…
Date: July 10, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1712
Justia Opinion Summary: SFA’s patents relate to a computer sales system that includes multiple subsystems or components; each component corresponds to a different phase of the sales process. The patents disclose “an event manager” that detects…
Date: July 9, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1194
Justia Opinion Summary: Versata sued SAP for infringing its 350 patent, entitled “method and apparatus for pricing products in multi-level product and organizational groups.” A jury awarded damages. Meanwhile, SAP petitioned the Patent Trial…
Date: July 8, 2015
Docket Number: 14-3123
Justia Opinion Summary: Appleberry worked for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, under a collective bargaining agreement. Deeming her performance unsatisfactory, the agency placed her on a “performance improvement plan” and then…
Date: July 6, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1506
Justia Opinion Summary: Intellectual Ventures owns the 137 patent, entitled “Administration of Financial Accounts,” claims methods of budgeting, particularly methods of tracking and storing information relating to a user’s purchases and…
Date: July 6, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1807
Justia Opinion Summary: Celgard is a developer and manufacturer of battery membranes, used to separate chemical cell components in lithium-ion batteries, preventing contact between the positive and negative electrodes. The patents concerns a…
Date: July 2, 2015
Docket Number: 13-1527
Justia Opinion Summary: WesternGeco’s patents relate to technologies used to search for oil and gas beneath the ocean floor. Ships tow long streamers equipped with sensors. An airgun bounces sound waves off of the ocean floor. The sensors pick…
Date: July 2, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1280
Justia Opinion Summary: The Patent Act restores a patent’s term for delay during prosecution: “A Delay,” arises when the PTO fails to meet statutory deadlines; “B Delay,” arises when, through the fault of the PTO, the agency fails to issue a…
Date: July 2, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1469
Justia Opinion Summary: TMC owns patents relating to the drug bivalirudin, a synthetic peptide anti-coagulant. TMC sells the drug for injection under the Angiomax® brand and, from 1997 to 2006, purchased pharmaceutical batches from BV…
Date: July 2, 2015
Docket Number: 14-7111
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2000, Herbert, a Navy veteran, sought disability benefits for PTSD, which he alleged was connected to a typhoon that his ship encountered travelling to Japan in 1956. Ship logs and letters confirm that the USS Mount…
Date: June 30, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1475
Justia Opinion Summary: SpeedTrack’s patent, entitled “Method for Accessing Computer Files and Data, Using Linked Categories Assigned to Each Data File Record on Entry of the Data File Record,” describes methods for searching and accessing…
Date: June 30, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1644
Justia Opinion Summary: ICP imports products sold to food manufacturers, including “white sauce.” In 1998, Customs issued a Ruling Letter, classifying “white sauce” under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S. (HTSUS) 2103.90.9060 as “sauces…
Date: June 26, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1112
Justia Opinion Summary: Carbon imported three entries from China in June-July, 2007, which were subject to an antidumping duty order from the Department of Commerce covering activated carbon from China. Carbon deposited estimated antidumping…
Date: June 25, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1174
Justia Opinion Summary: Gaymar ‘s patent is directed to a patient temperature control system, including a blanket that can conductively warm or cool the patient. In 2008, Gaymar sued CSZ, asserting that CSZ’s Blanketrol device infringed claims…
Date: June 25, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1499
Justia Opinion Summary: Under 35 U.S.C. 154, the PTO must extend a patent term if issue of an original patent is delayed due to the failure of the Patent and Trademark Office to provide notifications under section 132 or a notice of allowance…
Date: June 24, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1774
Justia Opinion Summary: The Department of Commerce issued an antidumping duty order covering polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Film from United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2008. JBF manufactures and exports PET Film from UAE, and, pursuant to 19…
Date: June 23, 2015
Docket Number: 12-1014
Justia Opinion Summary: Fluorescent lamp fixtures typically regulate electric current by an electronic ballast, which maintains current levels high enough to start the lamp but prevents current from reaching destructive levels. When a lamp is…
Date: June 23, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1048
Justia Opinion Summary: The 505 Patent claims “the use of a conventional web browser Back and Forward navigational functionalities without data loss in an online application consisting of dynamically generated web pages,” “retaining information…
Date: June 23, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1476
Justia Opinion Summary: On the day the RE 048 patent issued, Pfizer filed suit against five generic drug manufacturers, alleging infringement. The district court granted the defendants summary judgment in part in part, finding that the RE 048…
Date: June 19, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1699
Justia Opinion Summary: The 836 patent describes “[a] method and device for generating, merging and updating data” that can then be used to provide a mobile unit with current, and continuously updated, accurate road network, route, and traffic…
Date: June 18, 2015
Docket Number: 12-1567
Justia Opinion Summary: Generic manufacturers submitted Abbreviated New Drug Applications seeking FDA approval to market generic versions of Copaxone®, to treat multiple sclerosis. Teva, which markets Copaxone®, sued for infringement under 35…
Date: June 18, 2015
Docket Number: 14-7084
Justia Opinion Summary: Delisle served on active duty in the U.S. Army, 1952-1954, and injured his left knee in a ski accident. After that injury, Delisle also began to experience chronic pain in his other knee. In 1978, the Department of…
Date: June 18, 2015
Docket Number: 14-7095
Justia Opinion Summary: Scott served on active duty in 1972. In 1999, Scott tested positive for hepatitis C. He applied for disability benefits in 2005, alleging that he contracted hepatitis C in service from air-gun inoculations. The VA denied…
Date: June 17, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1292
Justia Opinion Summary: Following a 1996 investigation, the Department of Commerce declared that freshwater crawfish tail meat imported from China was subject to antidumping duties. In 2001, JCOF imported that product from Yangzhou, which…
Date: June 17, 2015
Docket Number: 14-7054
Justia Opinion Summary: In the “NOVA” decision, the Federal Circuit approved a plan requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to identify and rectify harms caused by wrongful application of former 38 C.F.R. 3.103. The Plan required…
Date: June 16, 2015
Docket Number: 13-1130
Justia Opinion Summary: Williamson's patent describes methods and systems for “distributed learning” that utilize standard computer hardware and software linked by a network to provide a virtual classroom. The system includes a presenter…
Date: June 16, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1542
Justia Opinion Summary: The 717 patent relates to a system for increasing the speed of data access in a packet-switched network, making use of “digital digests” that act as short digital fingerprints for the content of their corresponding…
Date: June 16, 2015
Docket Number: 15-1349
Justia Opinion Summary: INTTRA owns patents relating to online methods for coordinating containerized shipping. GT sought a declaratory judgment that INTTRA’s shipping methods patents were invalid. While the case was pending, GT petitioned the…
Date: June 12, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1139
Justia Opinion Summary: In 1996, Drs. Lo and Wainscoat discovered cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in maternal plasma and serum, the portion of maternal blood samples that other researchers had previously discarded as medical waste. cffDNA is…
Date: June 11, 2015
Docket Number: 12-1696
Justia Opinion Summary: OIP Technologies sued Amazon.com alleging infringement of its 713 patent, which claims computer-implemented methods for “pricing a product for sale.” The patent explains that traditionally merchandisers manually…
Date: June 11, 2015
Docket Number: 14-3083
Justia Opinion Summary: The Forest Service removed Bernard, a firefighter, from his position as supervisor. Bernard appealed. The agency and Bernard settled: the agency reinstated him in a non-supervisory role and provided back pay, promising…
Date: June 10, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1373
Justia Opinion Summary: Kaneka owns the 340 Patent, which describes processes for producing oxidized and reduced coenzyme Q10. The claims at issue describe processes for producing oxidized coenzyme Q10. Coenzyme Q10 exists in animal cells.…
Date: June 10, 2015
Docket Number: 14-5036
Justia Opinion Summary: The Government Printing Office (GPO) received nine bids for a printing order. Colonial was the lowest bidder ($2,418,443.54); Fry was the second lowest ($2,502,545.05). Colonial was a small business. Under its Printing…
Date: June 9, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1477
Date: June 5, 2015
Docket Number: 13-1452
Justia Opinion Summary: The 109 patent, entitled “Gelatinous Elastomer Compositions and Articles,” is directed to composite articles of a thermoplastic gel and a substrate, such as foam or fabric, used as a protective liner between an amputated…
Date: June 4, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1219
Justia Opinion Summary: Berger manufactures, imports, and sells watches, clocks, and personal care products. It filed an intent-to-use application at the Patent and Trademark Office, to register the mark “iWatch” for 30 different goods in the…
Date: June 3, 2015
Docket Number: 13-1409
Justia Opinion Summary: Shire markets oral pharmaceuticals under the brand name LIALDA®. Its patent, entitled “Mesalazine Controlled Release Oral Pharmaceutical Composition,” concerns controlled-release compositions for treating inflammatory…
Date: June 1, 2015
Docket Number: 14-5093
Justia Opinion Summary: Lost Tree entered into an option to purchase 2,750 acres on the mid-Atlantic coast of Florida, including a barrier island, a peninsula bordering the Indian River, and islands in the Indian River. From 1969 to 1974, Lost…
Date: May 20, 2015
Docket Number: 14-5080
Justia Opinion Summary: K.P. , born in 2004, exhibited no apparent signs of disability for several months, but was then referred to an infant development service. Extensive testing revealed that K.P. suffered significant delays in motor skills.…
Date: May 19, 2015
Docket Number: 12-1269
Justia Opinion Summary: The International Trade Commission determines whether the dumping of certain imports has materially injured or threatened material injury to the domestic industry by sending questionnaires to foreign producers and…
Date: May 18, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1335
Justia Opinion Summary: A jury found that Samsung smartphones infringed and diluted Apple’s patents and trade dresses amd awarded Apple $290,456,793. The Federal Circuit affirmed the verdict on the design patent infringements, the validity of…
Date: May 15, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1517
Justia Opinion Summary: PV applied to register PRETZEL CRISPS in standard character format for “pretzels” on an intent-to-use basis under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1051. The trademark examiner refused registration on the Principal Register,…
Date: May 15, 2015
Docket Number: 14-5074
Justia Opinion Summary: Nurses employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs claimed entitlement to overtime pay under 38 U.S.C. 7453(e)(1), which requires the agency to compensate “officially ordered or approved” overtime work. The Claims…
Date: May 14, 2015
Docket Number: 14-5027
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2002, BB&T, a North Carolina financial holding company, entered into a transaction with Barclays, which is headquartered in the United Kingdom. The Structured Trust Advantaged Repackaged Securities transaction (STARS)…
Date: May 13, 2015
Docket Number: 09-1372
Justia Opinion Summary: The 703 patent concerns a method of delivering internet content. A jury found that Limelight practices every step of the methods disclosed in the patent’s four claims except the “tagging” step, which is performed by…
Date: May 13, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1671
Justia Opinion Summary: Elan marketed metaxalone, a muscle relaxant, under the brand-name Skelaxin. Years after Skelaxin’s approval, Elan learned that another company conducted in vivo bioequivalence fasting studies and in vitro dissolution…
Date: May 12, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1189
Justia Opinion Summary: ArcelorMittal alleged infringement of the 805 patent, directed toward a steel sheet with “a very high mechanical resistance” after thermal treatment. The court construed the phrase “very high mechanical resistance” as…
Date: May 12, 2015
Docket Number: 14-5069
Justia Opinion Summary: RI purchased 320 acres in Washington State for use as a landfill and, in 1989, applied for state permits. Because the proposed landfill involved filling wetland areas, it sought a Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) permit…
Date: May 11, 2015
Docket Number: 13-1582
Justia Opinion Summary: Standard markets kinesiotherapy devices, including models that practice claims of its 605 Patent. In 2009, Standard formed a subsidiary to distribute products in the U.S. Neither Standard nor Standard U.S. manufactures…
Date: May 8, 2015
Docket Number: 14-1529
Justia Opinion Summary: The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDA), 25 U.S.C. 450, authorizes self-determination (Title I) contracts. The Bureau of Indian Affairs reviews proposals for the Secretary of the Interior. A…
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