Tag Archives: patent enforcement

Zebra’s Stripes: Just So Stories about Patent Standing

August 11, 2024PatentArticle III Standing, Cert Petition, exclusionary rights, Federal Circuit, Intellectual Property Finance, litigation finance, paid, patent assignment, patent enforcement, patent law, patent licensing, patent litigation, Patent Ownership, patent rights, Patent Standing, standing, Supreme CourtDennis Crouch

by Dennis Crouch

The newest patent-focused petition for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court was recently filed by Zebra Technologies, challenging the Federal Circuit's determination that the a patentee had standing to sue for infringement even though a third party separately held rights to assign, license, and enforce patent rights.

The case offers an increasingly common situation in patent litigation finance where the litigation funder is seeking legal assurances and collateral rights, but where those rights potentially risk stripping the patent owner from the exclusionary rights necessary to establish standing.

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Commenting on the USPTO’s Proposed Rule on Terminal Disclaimers

May 31, 2024Patentdouble patenting, Federal Circuit, obviousness, paid, patent claims, patent enforcement, patent law, patent validity, terminal disclaimers, USPTODennis Crouch

[I have substantially updated this post - correcting a couple of issues from the original and also added info from the letter from former USPTO leaders. - DC 6/1/24]

by Dennis Crouch

As I have previously discussed on Patently-O, the USPTO recently issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that could significantly impact patent practice, particularly in the realm of terminal disclaimers filed to overcome non-statutory double patenting rejections. Dennis Crouch, Major Proposed Changes to Terminal Disclaimer Practice (and You are Not Going to Like it), Patently-O (May 9, 2024). Under the proposed rule, a terminal disclaimer will only be accepted by the USPTO if it includes an agreement that the patent will be unenforceable if tied (directly or indirectly) to another patent that has any claim invalidated or canceled based on prior art (anticipation or obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 102 or 103). This proposal has generated significant debate among patent practitioners, with many expressing concerns about its potential impact on innovation and patent rights. It is a dramatic change in practice because the typical rule required by statute is that the validity of each patent claim must be separately adjudged. See 35 U.S.C. § 282(a).

The comment period is open until early July, but a number of comments have already been submitted. And I looked through them in order to get some early feedback. You can read the comments here

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Amazon Patent Enforcement Process Can Create Personal Jurisdiction

May 3, 2024PatentAmazon, APEX, paid, patent enforcement, Personal Jurisdiction, specific jurisdictionDennis Crouch

by Dennis Crouch

In a significant decision on personal jurisdiction in patent cases, the Federal Circuit held that using Amazon's patent enforcement process (APEX) to target an alleged infringer's listings can subject the patent owner to specific personal jurisdiction in the alleged infringer's home state. SnapRays, LLC v. Lighting Def. Grp. LLC, No. 2023-1184 (Fed. Cir. May 2, 2024).

Plaintiff SnapRays (d/b/a SnapPower) is a Utah company that designs and sells electrical outlet covers with USB ports and night lights. Defendant Lighting Defense Group (LDG), a Delaware company based in Arizona, owns a patent on outlet cover technology. In 2022, LDG initiated an action against SnapPower through Amazon's Patent Evaluation Express (APEX) program

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