A “revolutionary” prenatal care patent is invalidated under the Mayo test
| July 30, 2015
Ariosa Diagnostics, Inc., Et Al. v. Sequenom, Inc., Et Al.
June 12, 2015
Before: Reyna (Opinion author), Linn (Concurring), and Wallach
Summary
The Federal Circuit held that the method claims of the asserted patent are invalid as patent-ineligible under 35 U.S.C.S. § 101 because the method claims are directed to naturally occurring phenomena, and do not contain an inventive concept sufficient to “transform” the claimed naturally occurring phenomenon into a patent-eligible application.
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Tags: maternal serum or blood > Mayo test > patent eligibility > prenatal diagnosis
CAFC’s majority says that a PTO’ decision to institute IPR is not appealable even after a final decision and a broadest reasonable interpretation rule applies in IPR
| July 22, 2015
In Re Cuozzo Speed Technologies, LLC
July 8, 2015
Before: Newman, Clevenger, and DYK. Opinion by DYK. Dissenting opinion by Newman.
Summary
Garmin filed in the PTO a petition to institute an inter partes review (IPR) on patented claims owned by Cuozzo. The PTO granted the petition to institute the IPR and concluded that the claims at issue were obvious over prior art. Cuozzo appealed to CAFC, arguing: (1) the petition was defective as failing to identify prior art references for each claim; and (2) a broadest reasonable interpretation (BRI) standard should not be applied in the obviousness determination. CAFC held: (1) the statute prohibits a review on the PTO’s decision to institute the IPR even the final decision was on appeal; and (2) the BRI standard applies in IPR.
Japanese Summary
本判決は、（１）第三者の請求に基づく特許付与後レビュー（inter partes review; IPR）においてその請求書の内容に問題があった場合にそれをCAFCが審査できるか否か、および（２）クレーム解釈の基準として、最大限に広い合理的な解釈（a broadest reasonable interpretation: BRI）をIPRの審査に使用してよいか否かという争点に関するものである。
IPRは2段階の手続きであり、まず特許庁は第三者が提示した請求内容がIPRでの審査を開始するための要件を満足しているかを決定し、レビューを開始すると決定した場合、特許クレームが無効であるか否かを決定する。本件では、文献の引用が一部欠落しているクレームに対して特許庁がレビューを開始し、無効の結論を出した。特許権者はレビュー開始の決定が違法であるとして控訴したが、CAFCは、特許庁がレビューを開始するという決定は控訴可能な対象ではなく、特許庁が正しい引用例で結論を出したので問題ではないと判断した。
またIPRではクレーム補正の機会は制限され、従前の再審査よりも司法手続きに近い制度である。特許権者は、補正制限等のあるIPRでは、クレーム解釈の基準として、最大限に広く合理的な解釈（BRI）を使用すべきではないと主張した。CAFCは、IPRを含めて特許庁における付与後見直しにBRIの基準を使用することは長年の運用で認められており、法律上も問題ないと判断した。
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Tags: BRI > broadest reasonable interpretation > institution > inter partes review > IPR
Indefiniteness kills patent, as expert testimony cannot compensate for the failure of intrinsic evidence to provide a “reasonably certain” meaning to claim term.
| July 15, 2015
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. v. Sandoz, Inc.
June 18, 2015
Before: Moore, Mayer, Wallach. Opinion by Moore. Dissent by Mayer.
Summary
The validity of Teva Pharmceuticals’ patent hinged on the definiteness of the term “molecular weight”. Under a the old “insolubly ambiguous” standard, the Federal Circuit had determined once before that the term was indefinite. The Supreme Court vacated this indefiniteness determination in Teva Pharm. USA, Inc. v. Sandoz, Inc., 135 S. Ct. 831 (2015) (Briefed by John Wang ). The Federal Circuit was found to have erred by not giving proper deference to the lower court’s factual findings in construing the term “molecular weight”. Teva Pharmaceuticals’ short-lived victory lasted until the Federal Circuit once again reached the same conclusion that the term “molecular weight” was indefinite, this time under the new “reasonably certain” standard of Nautilus, Inc. v. Biosig Instruments, Inc., 134 S. Ct. 2120 (2014).
Inventive concept standing alone is not patent eligible
| July 10, 2015
Internet Patents Corp. v. Active Network, Inc.,
June 23, 2015
Before: Newman (Opinion author), Moore and Reyna.
Summary
Claims to a method which allows the use of a conventional web browser Back and Forward button functions without loss of data were not patent eligible under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the inventive concept recited in the claim was not limited to any mechanism and thus remained abstract.
Tags: 35 U.S.C. § 101 > abstract ideas > inventive concept > patent eligible subject matter > significantly more
CAFC says reissued patent can’t sail into safe harbor
| July 8, 2015
G.D. Searle LLC et al. v. Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., et al.
June 23, 2015
Before: Prost, Bryson, and Hughes. Opinion by Bryson
Summary
The CAFC strictly construes the “safe harbor” provision of 35 USC § 121 and casts doubt on whether there are any circumstances in which reissue can be used to correct failure to file a divisional application.
