Gibbons Law Alert

Gibbons Law Alert

Author: Thomas J. Bean

PTAB Finds DNA Sequencing Patent Claims to be Invalid

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Posted in Biotech / Patent

On March 12, 2014

As we have previously reported, Inter Partes Review (IPR) was introduced on September 11, 2012, under provisions of the America Invents Act (AIA) as one of new several tools for challenging the validity of granted patents in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). With an anticipated pendency of 18 to 24 months to final written decision upon filing of an IPR request, the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) is presently proceeding to issue its first IPR decisions. Although a majority of IPR requests filed to date have been directed to patents in the electrical and computer arts, decisions are also being rendered for patents in other technology domains including the biological arts.

Momentum Builds on Patent Litigation Reform…Goodlatte Bill Passes House

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Posted in Patent

On December 13, 2013

As we previously reported, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) recently introduced H.R. 3309, entitled “Innovation Act,” (hereafter, “the Goodlatte Bill”). After varying support and challenges to the bill, as well as a competing Senate version, on December 5, 2013, the House passed an amended version of the Goodlatte Bill with a bi-partisan vote of 325-91.

PTAB Issues its First Decision in an Inter Partes Review Trial

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Posted in Patent

On November 20, 2013

Just ten months after issuing its Decision to Initiate Trial in the very first Inter Partes Review (“IPR”) proceeding (IPR2012-00001, Garmin International, Inc. et al. v. Cuozzo Speed Technologies LLC ), the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) has issued a Final Written Decision in favor of the Petitioner, Garmin. In its Decision, the PTAB found the claims at issue to be unpatentable as obvious in view of the cited prior art, and further denied Patent Owner Cuozzo’s Motion to Amend the claims.

Senate Proposes Its Bill on Patent Litigation Changes

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Posted in Patent

On November 6, 2013

Last week, Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch (D. UT) introduced the Patent Litigation Integrity Act, S. 1612. The Senate bill follows the introduction of a bill proposed by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R. VA), H.R. 3309, entitled “Innovation Act,” which also proposes a number of significant changes to patent litigation procedures.

Patent Law Bill to Rein in Litigation Abuses . . . (No really)!

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Posted in Patent

On October 31, 2013

Last week, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) introduced H.R. 3309, entitled “Innovation Act,” a 51-page bill proposing a number of significant amendments to the Patent Act (Title 35 U.S.C.). We reported last month on an earlier proposed draft of this bill. As we noted last month, among the more noteworthy provisions of the bill is a proposed new 35 U.S.C. § 281A, which heightens the pleading requirements for patent cases. Specifically, the proposed new section mandates providing detailed information about the patents alleged to be infringed, identifying each accused product/process, and providing information with “detailed specificity” regarding how the product infringes. This provision also sets forth that, for any required information not disclosed, the plaintiff must establish why such undisclosed information was not readily accessible, and the efforts made by such party to access it.

Updated California Online Privacy Laws Require Disclosure of “Do Not Track” Policies

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Posted in E-Commerce / Privacy and Data Security

On October 23, 2013

Recently, California Assembly Bill No. 370 (AB370) was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. AB 370 amends California’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 2003 (OPPA) to require that the privacy policy provided by the operator of a website and online service describe how the operator will respond to consumer-initiated mechanisms for controlling the collection of consumer personally identifiable information (PII).

Proposed Amendments to Patent Laws to Rein in Litigation Abuses

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Posted in Patent

On October 9, 2013

Recently, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) announced a 47-page draft of a bill that proposes various amendments to the Patent Act, Title 35 of the United States Code and the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. Importantly for IP practitioners, the draft bill would heighten pleading requirements for patent cases under a new 35 U.S.C. § 281A, by requiring detailed information in a complaint, including all the patents alleged to be infringed, an identification of each accused product and information with “detailed specificity” regarding how the product infringes. The proposed revisions would eliminate the current “Form 18,” which is the baseline model for alleging patent infringement.

GAO Report Fails to Make it “Open Season” on Trolls

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Posted in Patent

On September 4, 2013

We have reported frequently in the past on IP law developments relating to so-called Nonpracticing Entities, or NPEs, including the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act’s mandate that the Government Accounting Office (“GAO”) conduct a study on the consequences of patent litigation by NPEs. On August 22, the GAO issued its 54-page Report, “Intellectual Property: Assessing Factors That Affect Patent Infringement Litigation Could Help Improve Patent Quality” (hereafter, “Report”). In view of the GAO’s mandate, some of the Report’s findings are surprising.

The Texas Two Step, A Tale of Two Texas District Courts’ Differing Views Concerning Stay Requests Pending Inter Partes Review

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Posted in Patent

On August 16, 2013

The District Courts for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas appear to have taken different positions with regard to estoppel in an inter partes review (“IPR”) context, in e-Watch v. FLIR Systems, Case No. 4-13-00638 (S.D. Texas) and e-Watch v. ACTi Corp., Case No. 5-12-cv-00695, (W.D. Texas), respectively. The apparent split arose when the courts were confronted with motions to stay their respective patent infringement lawsuits pending disposition of a petition for IPR brought by another defendant in a related patent lawsuit, e-Watch v. Mobotix Corp., Case No. 5-12-cv-00492, (W.D. Texas). Interestingly, the petition for IPR has not yet been decided by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

Third Circuit District Courts Take Aim at Non-Patent Eligible Patents Under § 101

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Posted in Patent

On August 8, 2013

In a pair of recent decisions issued just days apart, the District of Delaware and the District of New Jersey have found patents relating to online transaction guaranties and financial services to be non-patent eligible pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 101. Practitioners may wish to take heed …. In buySafe, Inc. v. Google, Inc., C.A. No. 11-1282-LPS, Dkt. 69 (D. Del. July 29, 2013) (Stark, J.), buySafe asserted its online transaction guaranty patent, and Google moved for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Rule 12(c). Ultimately, Judge Stark of the Delaware District Court granted defendant’s motion on the grounds that the patent-in-suit was invalid under 35 U.S.C. § 101 because it is directed to non-patent-eligible subject matter. In so ruling, the Court noted that on the face of the patent, it described that the entire inventive process could be performed by a human.

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