Patents

Case summaries and articles about  patents.

April 16, 2020
Photograph of white pharmaceutical pills on a blue background.

Prima Facie Obviousness Established From Similar Compounds, Overlapping pH

Fed. Cir. 2018-2097 — The CAFC ruled that Valeant's patent for Relistor(R) is prima facie obvious based on similar compounds with overlapping pH ranges.
April 3, 2020
An empty boardroom.

COVID-19: Time Extensions for Patents & Trademarks in North America

In this article, we explain how the intellectual property offices in Canada and the United States are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 18, 2020
Team of inventors wearing white lab coats in a laboratory.

Federal Court Removes Inventors from Four Patents

2020 FC 338 – The Court concluded that the six individuals were listed as inventors “by inadvertence in the process of the division.”
March 9, 2020
Photograph of an IV drip delivering a pharmaceutical to a patient in a hospital.

Contested Remicade Patent Will Head Back to Court in June

2020 FCA 30; 2020 FCA 31 – Janssen and Celltrion will return to court in June after the FCA overturned a lower court decision regarding a Remicade patent.
January 30, 2020
Photo of patent experts, Andrew Currier and Stephen Perry.

PCK’s Stephen Perry, Andrew Currier Ranked Among Top Patent Experts

PCK's Stephen Perry and Andrew Currier were recently ranked among the top patent experts in Canada by Who's Who Legal (WWL).
January 23, 2020
Photo of a judge's golden gavel in court.

How the Supreme Court’s New Standard of Review Will Impact IP

2019 SCC 65, 2019 SCC 66 - The new standard of review will be applied to decisions by the Patent Office, Trademark Office, PAB, and TTAB.
December 19, 2019

Fuel Tank Patents Limited by Patentee’s “Special Definition”

Fed. Cir. 2018-2087 - Plastic Omnium was unsuccessful in proving patent infringement because the patents used a "special definition" of the word "parison".
December 9, 2019
The word blockchain surrounded by symbols of bitcoin, finances, mobile devices, money, computer networks.

Patenting Blockchain Technologies

Is patenting blockchain possible? Do patents detract from the decentralization of blockchain? This article explains the ins and outs of blockchain patents.
November 25, 2019
Pharmacist in a white lab coat, holding bottles of pharmaceuticals.

Patent Strategy & Potential Changes to Patented Medicine Regulations & Drug Pricing Legislation

The rising cost of patented medicines is an important topic in the United States and Canada. In the United States, the White House is promising to...
November 14, 2019
Photo of the interior of an airplane cabin, showing a row of seats.

Airbus Gets Another Shot at Patent for “Breathable Fire-Preventative” Air

Fed. Cir. 2019-1803 – CAFC sides with Airbus, finding that prior art references may be analogous even if they are outside the "field of endeavour."
October 28, 2019
Flax seeds (or linseeds)

Foreign Prosecution History is Now Admissible in “Extraordinary Circumstances”

2019 FC 1233 – In a dispute over flax seeds, Canada's Federal Court says foreign prosecution history may be admissible under the new s. 53.1 of the Patent Act.
October 11, 2019
Close up photo of an automotive hub cap and tire of a car.

Automotive Patent Overturned As “Monstrous” §101 Grows Another Head

CAFC 2018-1763 – In fiercely dissented decision, a top US court has invalidated an automotive patent, further extending the reach of the controversial §101.
September 30, 2019
PCK associate, Damian Rolfe, accepts the J. Edward Maybee Memorial Award for achieving the highest overall score in the Canadian Patent Agents Qualifying Examination.

PCK’s Damian Rolfe Awarded Prize for Highest Overall Score in Patent Agents Exam

Damian Rolfe has been honoured with the J. Edward Maybee Memorial Award for achieving the highest overall standing in the Canadian patent agents exam.
September 20, 2019
Macro (close-up) photo of a hazel coloured human eye, eyelashes, and eyelid.

Allergan’s Glaucoma Patents Saved by “Wherein” Clauses

CAFC 2018-2207 – The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that “wherein” clauses in patent claims can be limiting if they are material to patentability.
September 13, 2019
Fibre optic cable photographed in the dark

Patent Specification Interpreted as Admission of Common General Knowledge

2019 FC 1065 – Canada's Federal Court ruled that two fiber optics patents were obvious in light of an admission made in the background sections.
September 6, 2019
A Coke being poured from a plastic bottle into a glass with ice.

Pepsi Wins Squabble Over Scent-Releasing Trade Secrets

CAFC 2018-2091 – The Federal Circuit refused to grant lost profits and joint ownership to ScentSational Technologies for their scent-releasing bottle cap.
August 30, 2019
Woman rubs medicinal cream on her skin

Canadian Drug Pricing Regulator Ordered to Reconsider Differin

2019 FCA 196 – In an ongoing dispute between the PMPRB and Galderma, the FCA says the drug pricing regulator erred in its interpretation of the law.
August 23, 2019
A busnisess's empty board room with desk chairs and a table.

What Can Businesses Expect From the US Patent Reforms?

A draft bill released May 22nd proposes significant reforms to section 101 of the US Patent Act. Businesses should be aware of the commercial impact.
July 22, 2019
Photo of a contract or license being signed.

Despite Contract, License Holder Cannot Sue for Patent Infringement: CAFC

CAFC warns that the distinction between assignment and license cannot be determined by “formalities or magic words.”
July 18, 2019
Mail, Postal service

US Postal Service Prohibited from Challenging Mail Sorting Patent

SCOTUS blocked US Postal Service from using proceedings under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (“AIA”) to avoid litigation and invalidate a US Patent.