Yanbin Yu, et al. v. Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., et al. Docket No. 2020-1760 (http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/20-1760.OPINION.6-11-2021_1789244.pdf) NEWMAN, PROST, TARANTO June 11, 2021 Brief Summary:  DC finding that claims to “improved digital camera” are patent ineligibile (101) affirmed (“whether a device is ‘a tangible system (in § 101 terms, a ‘machine’)’ is not dispositive”). Summary:  Yu appealed DC grant of Apple and Samsung’s motion to dismiss after finding the asserted claims related to digital cameras to be patent ineligible (section 101).  Representative claim 1 is directed to “[a]n improved digital camera comprising…a first and second image sensor[s]” that…

Becton, Dickinson and Company v. Baxter Corporation Englewood Docket No. 2020-1937 (IPR2019-00119) (http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/20-1937.OPINION.5-28-2021_1784040.pdf) PROST, CLEVENGER, DYK May 28, 2021 Brief Summary:  IPR decision of no obviousness reversed based in part on erroneous claim construction. Summary:  Becton appealed PTAB (“Board”) IPR final written decision (FWD) finding Baxter’s US 8,554,579 regarding telepharmacy systems are not invalid for obviousness.  The claims include a “verification limitation” (“wherein each of the steps must be verified as being properly completed before the operator can continue with the other steps of drug preparation process”) and a “highlighting limitation” relevant to the determination of no obviousness. …

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. v. International Trade Commission (10X Genomics Inc.) 10X Genomics Inc. v. International Trade Commission (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.) Docket No. 2020-1475, -1605 (http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/20-1475.OPINION.5-28-2021_1784059.pdf) NEWMAN, LOURIE, DYK May 28, 2021 Brief Summary:  ITC claim construction and infringement (no and yes) findings affirmed. Summary:  Bio-Rad and 10X each appealed portions of International Trade Commission (ITC) decision finding infringement of Bio-Rad’s US 9,500,664; 9,636,682; and 9,649,635 regarding systems for generating microscopic droplets including an aqueous “sample-containing fluid” and a non-aqueous “background fluid” for use in microfluidics (on “chips”).  10X’s accused infringing products (GEM Chips and Chip GB) relate to…

Uniloc 2017 LLC v. Apple Inc. (USPTO as intervenor) Docket No. 2020-1403, -1404 (http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/20-1403.OPINION.5-12-2021_1776581.pdf) PROST, BRYSON, REYNA May 12, 2021 Brief Summary:  PTAB IPR claim construction and obviousness of certain claims, and nonobviousness of other claims, affirmed. Summary:  Uniloc appealed PTAB IPR final written decision (FWD) finding certain claims of Uniloc’s US 8,539,552 invalid for obviousness, arguing the decision is based on erroneous claim construction.  Uniloc argued the PTAB erroneously “construed the term ‘intercepting’ to mean that ‘the signaling message is received by a network entity located between the endpoints of the call’” and that “under the plain…

First Stream Media Corp. (“Samba”) v. Alphonso Inc. et al. Docket No. 2019-1506, -2133 (http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/19-1506.OPINION.5-11-2021_1776030.pdf) DYK, REYNA, HUGHES May 11, 2021 Brief Summary:  DC eligibility (101) decision reversed (“claims do not at all describe how that result is achieved”); claim construction affirmed (proposed construction “contradicts the specification”). Summary:  Free Stream appealed DC grant of summary judgment (SJ) of noninfringement of US Pat. No. 9,026,668 from the ND of CA and a separate claim construction order from the ED TX.  Alphonso cross-appealed denial of its motion to dismiss for patent ineligibility (section 101) of US Pat. No. 9,386,356 by…

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. v. International Trade Commission, 10X Genomics Inc. Docket No. 2020-1785 (http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/20-1785.OPINION.4-29-2021_1770917.pdf) TARANTO, CHEN, STOLL April 29, 2021 Brief Summary:  ITC infringement and no co-ownership findings affirmed. Summary:  Bio-Rad appealed International Trade Commission (ITC) decision finding infringement and no co-ownership of 10X’s US 9,689,024, 9,695,468, and 9,856,530 regarding nucleic acid analysis using droplet samples (e.g., a microcapsule, gel bead attached to analytes or reagents, “oligonucleotide barcodes”).  The ITC’s administrative law judge (ALJ) determined infringement and “that 10X practiced the claims, the latter fact satisfying the requirement of a domestic industry ‘relating to the articles protected by…

USPTO Appeal Decision regarding U.S. Ser. No. 14/443,426 Appeal 2020-003463 April 15, 2021 Brief Summary:  Anticipation rejections reversed due to “picking and choosing from various lists” in the prior art. Summary:  3M appealed anticipation rejection of its claims to, e.g., “[a] multilayer PSA assembly comprising…a propylheptyl acrylate adhesive copolymer layer comprising” specific amounts of 2-propylheptyl acrylate, “a second non-polar monomer”, “a third polar acrylate monomer”, a particular type of “tackifying resin”, and “a second acylate pressure sensitive adhesive foam layer.”  The claims were rejected under section 102(a) as being “anticipated by Bartholomew and Zajackowski (incorporated by reference in Bartholomew)” (both…

Raytheon Techs. Corp. v. General Electric Co. (USPTO as Intervenor) Docket No. 2020-1755 (http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/20-1755.OPINION.4-16-2021_1764430.pdf) LOURIE, CHEN, HUGHES April 16, 2021 Brief Summary:  IPR obviousness decision reversed as prior art was not enabled. Summary:  Raytheon appealed IPR final written decision (FWD) finding claims 3 and 16 (others were disclaimed) of US 9,695,751 directed to gas turbine engines unpatenable for obviousness in view of the Knip reference.  During the IPR proceeding, “Raytheon submitted unrebutted evidence establishing that Knip’s disclosure of highly aggressive performance parameters for a futuristic turbine engine was based on the use of nonexistent composite materials” and GE…

Wi-Lan Inc. v. Sharp Electronics Corporation, Vizio, Inc. Docket No. 2020-1041, -1043 (http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/20-1041.OPINION.4-6-2021_1759180.pdf) MOORE, REYNA, HUGHES April 6, 2021 Brief Summary:  DC grant of SJ of non-infringement and claim construction findings affirmed. Summary:  Wi-Lan appealed DC finding that neither Sharp nor Vizio infringe US 6,359,654 and 6,490,250 directed to “interlacing video” (the “flicker” effect) and stream multiplexers, respectively.  The allegedly infringing products are “smart” televisions.  The DC granted summary judgment (SJ) to Sharp and Vizio “because Wi-LAN had failed to provide admissible evidence of the source code that Wi-LAN needed to prove its infringement theories”, source code provided…

Apple Inc. v. Qualcomm Incorporated Docket No. 2020-1561, -1642 (IPR2018-01279, -01252) (http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/20-1561.OPINION.4-7-2021_1759839.pdf) MOORE, REYNA, HUGHES April 7, 2021 Brief Summary:  Apple’s appeal of two IPR decisions dismissed for lack of standing in view of license agreement and speculative arguments related thereto. Summary:  Apple appealed IPR final written decisions (FWDs) holding Apple did show the challenged claims of US 7,844,037 and 8,683,362 obvious.  The litigation related to these patents between Apple and Qualcomm was settled, including a license, but Apple nevertheless appealed the FWDs.  Qualcomm argued waived standing to appeal “by failing to address, or submit evidence supporting, standing…

In re:  Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University Docket No. 2020-1288 (http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/20-1288.OPINION.3-25-2021_1753695.pdf) PROST, LOURIE, REYNA March 25, 2021 Brief Summary:  PTAB decision of ineligibility under section 101 of second Stanford patent application affirmed (“patent ineligible abstract ideas in the form of mathematical concepts”, “executing a mathematical algorithm on a regular computer”). Summary:  Stanford appealed PTAB decision affirming the final rejection of the claims as being “drawing to abstract mathematical calculations and statistical modeling, and similar subject that is not patent eligible” (“patent ineligible abstract mathematical algorithms and mental processes”).  The claims are to “computerized method…

Ethicon LLC v. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Docket No. 2020-1600 (IPR2018-00936) (http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/opinions-orders/20-1600.OPINION.3-15-2021_1747758.pdf) (Non-Precedential) O’MALLEY, CLEVENGER, STOLL March 15, 2021 Brief Summary:  IPR finding of anticipation based on claim construction affirmed (e.g., negative limitation not supported); reversed and remanded as to proposed amended claims because Board “did not correctly identify the portions of Shelton I that Intuitive relied on”. Summary:  Ethicon appealed IPR FWD finding claims 1-14 of US 9,585,658 relating to surgical staplers invalid as anticipated and the denial of its motion to amend to substitute proposed claims 20-21.  The Board construed the terms “rotary drive member”, “rotary member”,…