By Dennis Crouch
The nexus requirement serves as a threshold that must be met before secondary indicia will be even considered as relevant to the obviousness inquiry. In its recent Volva Penta decision, the Federal Circuit found that the PTAB had (1) created too high of a burden to prove nexus and (2) been unduly dismissive of the patentee's evidence of commercial success and copying. The case reinforces the notion that patentees should attempt to include some claims that are largely coexistive with its product line, especially in today's world of likely copying. The case also serves as a reminder that product copying still caries significant weight in the obviousness analysis. Volvo Penta of the Americas, LLC v. Brunswick Corp., 22-1765, --- F.4th --- (Fed. Cir. August 24, 2022).
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