Core Optical v Nokia: Risks of Colloquial Contract Construction

April 28, 2025

The Federal Circuit vacated and remanded the Central California District Court’s summary judgement in Core Optical v Nokia after finding that the colloquial phrase of “one’s own time” in an employment agreement is not an unambiguous term as it relates to employer-sponsored research programs.[1] Core Optical sued Nokia for infringement of US Patent No. 6,782,211,… Read more »

Amarin Pharma, Inc. v. Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc: Turning Ballyhoo into Boo Hoo

April 07, 2025

Amarin Pharma, Inc. v. Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc: Turning Ballyhoo[1] into Boo Hoo In Amarin Pharma v. Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc[2]., the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed the District Court’s dismissal of Amarin Pharma, Inc.’s complaint alleging that generic drug company Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. induced infringement of two of its patents… Read more »

Cooperative Entertainment Inc. v. Kollective Technology: The Importance of Creating a Narrative of the Merits of the Invention

December 04, 2024

In Cooperative Entertainment Inc. v. Kollective Technology the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed the District Court’s dismissal of patent owner’s complaint on the basis that all claims of US 9,432,452 were patent ineligible under 35 U.S.C. § 101. The CAFC reasoned that the patent describes “several alleged inventive concepts which the specification… Read more »

Explicit Disclosure of Negative Claim Limitation is Required

June 10, 2024

In a relatively rare panel rehearing, the Federal Circuit vacated its prior decision and reversed the District Court’s decision that the patent at issue was not invalid for inadequate written description.[1] Novartis, the owner of U.S. Patent No. 9,187,405 (the ‘405 patent) directed to the use of Gilenya®, a drug for treating multiple sclerosis, sued… Read more »

Author: Kenneth Song

Federal Circuit Deals Another Harsh Blow to Software-Focused Patent Applications

May 08, 2024

The Federal Circuit struck down two of IBM’s patents – the ‘789 and ‘389 patents – on the ground of patent ineligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101, dealing another blow to software-based patents and applications.[1] The ‘789 patent is directed to methods for coordinated geospatial, list-based and filter-based selection, while the ‘389 patent is directed… Read more »

Recent Federal Circuit Case Sheds Light on Use of Terms of Degree and/or Relative Terms in Claims

February 06, 2024

The Federal Circuit’s recent decision in Grace Instrument Industries, LLC (Grace) v. Chandler Instruments Co. (Chandler)[1] provides useful guidance for patent practitioners seeking to use a term of degree and/or a relative term in their claims to protect an invention. Grace, the owner of U.S. Patent No. 7,412,877 (the ‘877 patent), appeals a claim construction… Read more »

Incorporation by Reference – Friend or Foe?

May 19, 2023

Regardless of technology area or complexity of the subject matter, nearly all patent practitioners include the same phrase in every application they have ever written — “incorporated by reference herein.” Those magical words, according to the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP), allow the referenced material to form “as much a part of the application… Read more »

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