The landscape for patent law has changed more quickly over the last five years than it had in preceding decades. Recent cases have profoundly changed the way courts and the USPTO treat patents and patent applications. The U.S. Supreme Court will have ample opportunity, if it chooses, to revisit the issues that have been raised by these cases over the next few terms.
Fashion, furniture, and other design-oriented companies will take note of the Supreme Court's recent decision in Star Athletica, L.L.C. v. Varsity Brands, Inc., which resolved a division among the federal circuits on the issue of the separability of designs of useful articles under the Copyright Act.
Will Gorsuch Pick Up Where Scalia Left Off?
For two decades leading up to Justice Antonin Scalia's death, the U.S. Supreme Court's class certification jurisprudence took shape as a dialogue between Justices Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg over the commonality and predominance requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(a)(2) and (b)(3), respectively. Will this continue if Gorsuch is confirmed to the Court?
The U.S. Supreme Court did not appear eager to upset the patent litigation landscape by drastically limiting where infringement lawsuits can be filed.
SCA Hygiene Products v. First Quality Baby Products
The U.S. Supreme Court on March 21 ruled laches is not a defense to patent infringement suits that are brought within the Patent Act's limitations period.
