Divisional patent applications play a crucial role in patent portfolios, particularly when an application describes multiple closely related inventions.
2024 FCA 23: In Pharmascience v Janssen, the Federal Court of Appeal offers additional commentary on the patentability of methods of medical treatment in Canada.
2023 CACP 23: Hot on the heels of the recent Benjamin Moore decision, Canada's Patent Appeal Board has considered the patentability of a computer-implemented invention.
Fed. Cir. 2022-1387, 2022-1492: In a recent decision, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit cautioned patent holders against broadening amendments.
Fed. Cir. 2021-2063, 2021-2065: Sales of a product can be used to prove the inventiveness of a patent, but a US court warns that free samples are not relevant to patentability.
No. 21-757 (Supreme Court May 18, 2023) The Supreme Court of the United States applied bargain theory in its long-awaited decision regarding the enablement requirement of the Patent Act.
Fed. Cir. No. 2021-2320, 2021-2376: Typically patent drafters omit phrases like “at least one” from patent claims to improve readability, but a recent court decision may reverse the trend.
Most major countries in the world, including the USA and China, require innovators to secure a “foreign filing license” before they can seek patent protection in a foreign country. Canada has no such regime, but perhaps it's time.
CAFC No. 22-1595: In this precedential decision on induced infringement, the Federal Circuit clarified that “past conduct is relevant to what will happen in the future”.
Starting on February 1st, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will offer accelerated examination for patent applications aimed at preventing cancer and cancer mortality.