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Federal Circuit Gives Stare Decisis Effect to a Judgment of Claim Validity

Patently O

Stare decisis, Latin for “to stand by things decided,” is a legal principle that directs courts to adhere to previous judgments, i.e., precedent, when resolving a case with comparable facts. the Federal Circuit applied stare decisis to a prior validity ruling involving a different patent and a different accused infringer.

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Atextual Conditions for Patentability and Stare Decisis

Patently O

The Supreme Court in Bilski addressed this issue to some degree in the context of the non-statutory categorical bars of abstract ideas; laws of nature and natural phenomenon. And, in any case, these exceptions have defined the reach of the statute as a matter of statutory stare decisis going back 150 years.

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A few initial thoughts on Loper and the end of Chevron Deference

Patently O

In the past, both the USPTO and patent attorneys have largely ignored the larger scope of administrative law, but in recent years USPTO operations have been under tighter control from the White House, and courts have increasingly asked whether the agency is following the rules. ” 5 U.S.C. §

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In family’s lawsuit against public nursing home, court revisits private rights of action and the spending clause

SCOTUSBlog

Talevski , to be argued Tuesday, returns the court to the question of when federal law is subject to private enforcement. 1983 — which allows private suits for state and local deprivations of rights secured by federal law—to enforce federal statutes enacted under Congress’ spending clause power.

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Court to decide whether an inventor may challenge the validity of the patent on the inventor’s own invention

SCOTUSBlog

The doctrine stems from the common-law principle that one who sells property to another generally should not be able to undermine the value of the property by later challenging the rights the seller conveyed in the first place. A possible middle ground. But a middle ground exists. The court could maintain the doctrine but limit its scope.

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Two death penalty cases and free speech at animal facilities

SCOTUSBlog

Andrus further argues that the Texas court’s decision conflicts with “vertical stare decisis,” the principle that lower courts must follow the Supreme Court’s decisions. The law defines an animal facility as any place that houses or breeds animals used for food production, agriculture, or research. The case is Young v.

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Justices to consider scope of “clear and unmistakable error” review of Veterans Affairs decisions

SCOTUSBlog

The relevant statute , regulating disability benefits, provides that “the United States will pay [compensation] to any veteran” who is “disabled” as a result of (1) “personal injury suffered or disease contracted in line of duty,” or (2) “aggravation of a preexisting injury suffered or disease contracted in line of duty.” military veterans.

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