DECISIONS FOR 2005-2009

P =Patent owner prevailed on the issue I =Accused infringer prevailed on the issue

For listings of the cases supporting these results, see the postings for the individual years.

Note: These are not case "wins" or "losses." The numbers represent rulings on particular issues. An accused infringer might have to prevail on only one of these points to win a single-patent case, e.g., on-sale bar. The patentee would typically have to prevail on more than one point to win, e.g., absence of anticipation, absence of obviousness, and presence of infringement.

Issue Code

Description

Results

Validity decisions

01

§ 102(a) -- earlier public knowledge or publication

P= 53	9 appellate affirmances 7 appellate reversals 9 trial-based judgments 28 summary judgments
I= 27	8 appellate affirmances 4 appellate reversals 3 trial-based judgments 12 summary judgments

02

§ 102(b) -- time-bar publication or patent

P= 48	9 appellate affrmances 5 appellate reversals 16 trial-based judgments 18 summary judgments
I= 66	19 appellate affirmances 7 appellate reversals 8 trial-based judgments 32 summary judgments

03

§ 102(b) -- public use

P= 30	11 appellate affirmances 4 appellate reversals 7 trial-based judgments 7 summary judgments
I= 17	10 appellate affirmances 7 summary judgments

04

§ 102(b) -- on sale

P= 31	7 appellate affirmances 1 appellate reversal 8 trial-based judgments 15 summary judgments
I= 30	13 appellate affirmances 1 appellate reversal 2 trial-based judgments 14 summary judgments

05

§ 102(c) -- abandonment

P= 1	1 summary judgment
I= 3	3 summary judgments

06

§ 102(d) -- prior foreign patenting

P= 1	1 summary judgment
I=

07

§ 102(e) -- earlier-filed US patent of another

P= 11	3 appellate affirmances 2 appellate reversals 2 trial-based judgments 4 summary judgments
I= 20	5 appellate affirmances 2 appellate reversals 13 summary judgments

08

§ 102(f) -- derived subject matter; wrong inventorship

P= 25	8 appellate affirmances 9 trial-based judgments 8 summary judgments
I= 12	7 trial-based judgments 5 summary judgments

09

§ 102(g) -- prior invention by another (novelty)

P= 9	3 appellate affirmances 2 trial-based judgments 4 summary judgments
I= 6	1 appellate affirmance 5 summary judgments

10

§ 103 -- obviousness

P= 152	35 appellate affirmances 5 appellate reversals 80 trial-based judgments 32 summary judgments
I= 132	45 appellate affirmances 13 appellate reversals 24 trial-based judgments 50 summary judgments

11

§ 112 -- inadequate disclosure --description

P= 62	10 appellate affirmances 4 appellate reversals 27 trial-based judgments 21 summary judgments
I= 30	8 appellate affirmances 1 appellate reversal 5 trial-based judgments 16 summary judgments

12

§ 112 -- inadequate disclosure --enablement

P= 50	10 appellate affirmances 1 appellate reversal 22 trial-based judgments 17 summary judgments
I= 23	9 appellate affirmances 6 trial-based judgments 8 summary judgments

13

§ 112 -- inadequate disclosure --best mode

P= 32	4 appellate affirmances 1 appellate reversal 14 trial-based judgments 13 summary judgments
I= 8	1 appellate affirmance 2 trial-based judgments 5 summary judgments

14

§ 112 -- claim indefinite

P= 63	10 appellate affirmances 5 appellate reversals 18 trial-based judgments 30 summary judgments
I= 47	15 appellate affirmances 2 appellate reversals 3 trial-based judgments 27 summary judgments

15

Double patenting

P= 16	7 appellate affirmances 8 trial-based judgments 1 summary judgment
I= 4	1 appellate affirmance 1 appellate reversal 1 trial-based judgment 1 summary judgment

16

Improper broadening

P= 3	1 appellate reversal 1 trial-based judgment 1 summary judgment
I= 6	3 appellate affirmances 1 appellate reversal 2 summary judgments

Enforceability decisions

17

Inequitable conduct

P= 170	39 appellate affirmances 17 appellate reversals 71 trial-based judgments 43 summary judgments
I= 76	34 appellate affirmances 3 appellate reversals 30 trial-based judgments 9 summary judgments

18

Misuse

P= 22	2 appellate affirmances 2 trial-based judgments 18 summary judgments
I=

Procedural defenses

19

Laches

P= 36	9 appellate affirmances 8 trial-based judgments 19 summary judgments
I= 7	1 appellate affirmance 1 trial-based judgment 5 summary judgments

20

Equitable estoppel

P= 19	7 trial-based judgments 12 summary judgments
I= 4	1 appellate affirmance 3 summary judgments

21

Limitations

P= 2	2 summary judgments
I=

22

Failure to mark

P= 9	1 appellate affirmance 4 trial-based judgments 4 summary judgments
I= 11	1 appellate affirmance 2 trial-based judgments 8 summary judgments

Infringement issues

23

Literal direct infringement

P= 310	83 appellate affirmances 18 appellate reversals 97 trial-based decisions 112 summary judgments
I= 616	203 appellate affirmances 30 appellate reversals 66 trial-based decisions 317 summary judgments

24

Doctrine of equivalents direct infringement

P= 45	15 appellate affirmances 1 appellate reversal 15 trial-based judgments 14 summary judgments
I= 307	87 appellate affirmances 11 appellate reversals 27 trial-based judgments 182 summary judgments

25

Inducing infringement

P= 43	11 appellate affirmances 1 appellate reversal 20 trial-based judgments 11 summary judgments
I= 64	12 appellate affirmances 5 appellate reversals 6 trial-based judgments 41 summary judgments

26

Contributory infringement

P= 29	9 appellate reversals 14 trial-based judgments 6 summary judgments
I= 41	9 appellate afrirmances 1 appellate reversal 4 trial-based judgments 27 summary judgments

27

Selling or importing product of patented process §271(g)

P= 2	1 appellate affirmance 1 summary judgment
I= 5	5 summary judgments

28

Shipping abroad § 271(f)

P= 2	1 trial-based judgment 1 summary judgment
I= 12	2 appellate affirmances 1 appellate reversal 9 summary judgments

29

License defense

P= 19	6 trial-based judgments 13 summary judgments
I= 13	3 appellate affirmances 1 trial-based judment 9 summary judgments

30

Exhaustion defense

P= 27	6 appellate affirmances 4 appellate reversals 17 summary judgments
I= 22	4 appellate affirmances 1 appellate reversal 11 trial-based judgments 6 summary judgments

31

Exemption under § 271(e)

P= 6	2 appellate affirmances 4 trial-based judgments
I= 1	1 appellate affirmance

32

Exemption for other experiments

P=

I=

Damages calculations

33

Lost profits

P= 26	10 appellate affirmances 14 trial-based judgments 2 summary judgments
I= 20	6 appellate affirmances 3 appellate reversals 4 trial-based judgments 7 summary judgments

34

Reasonable royalty

P= 45	15 appellate affirmances 28 trial-based judgments 2 summary judgments
I= 15	5 appellate affirmances 1 appellate reversal 8 trial-based judgments 1 summary judgment

35

Split bases

P= 1	1 trial-based judgment
I= 1	1 trial-based judgment

Special factors

36

Willfulness

P= 56	15 appellate affirmances 40 trial-based judgments 1 summary judgment
I= 64	16 appellate affirmances 5 appellate reversals 19 trial-based judgments 24 summary judgments

37

Enhanced damages due to willfulness

P= 45	9 appellate affirmances 34 trial-based judgments 2 summary judgments
I= 23	2 appellate affirmances 2 appellate reversals 17 trial-based judgments 2 summary judgments

38

Attorney fees to patentee

P= 65	15 appellate affirmances 46 trial-based judgments 4 summary judgments
I= 64	8 appellate affirmances 3 appellate reversals 43 trial-based judgments 10 summary judgments

39

Attorney fees to accused infringer

P= 87	16 appellate affirmances 9 appellate reversals 47 trial-based judgments 15 summary judgments
I= 72	17 appellate affirmances 2 appellate reversals 36 trial-based judgments 17 summary judgments

40

Preliminary injunction ruling

P= 92	17 appellate affrimances 75 hearing-based judgments
I= 90	15 appellate affirmances 69 hearing-based judgments 6 appellate reversals