Tag: sanctions
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AGI SureTrack v. Farmers Edge: Federal Circuit Rejects Data-Collection Claims Under Section 101
The Federal Circuit’s decision in AGI SureTrack LLC v. Farmers Edge Inc. , Case Nos. 2024-1730, 2024-1830 (Fed. Cir. June 2, 2026), reinforces the limits of patent eligibility for claims directed to collecting, analyzing, and transmitting farming data using conventional computer components. The court affirmed summary judgment that the asserted claims were ineligible under 35…
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mCom v. City National: Federal Circuit Reins in Patent Fee Awards After Post-IPR Dismissal
The Federal Circuit’s recent decision in mCom IP, LLC v. City National Bank of Florida , Case No. 24-2089 (Fed. Cir. May 15, 2026),offers an important reminder that losing a patent case, even badly, does not automatically make a case “exceptional” under 35 U.S.C. § 285. The opinion also reinforces that sanctions against counsel under…
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Columbia University v. Gen Digital: $185M Cybersecurity Patent Verdict Reopened and Trial Counsel Sanctions Vacated
A pair of related decisions issued by the Federal Circuit in Trustees of Columbia University v. Gen Digital Inc. , Nos. 24-1243, -1244 (Fed. Cir. Mar 11, 2026), address two issues that often arise together in complex patent litigation: the evolving scope of patent eligibility under Alice, and the limits of sanctions imposed on litigation…
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EscapeX IP v. Google: Frivolous Litigation, Fee Shifting, and the Perils of Doubling Down
On November 25, 2025, the Federal Circuit issued a sharp reminder that patent litigation is not a game of attrition and that courts will use fee shifting and sanctions to deter claims that lack a meaningful factual or legal foundation. In EscapeX IP, LLC v. Google LLC, the court affirmed a district court’s award of…
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Future Link Systems, LLC v. Realtek Semiconductor Corp.: When Sanctions Convert a Dismissal Into Prevailing Party Status
The Federal Circuit’s decision in Future Link Systems, LLC v. Realtek Semiconductor Corp., Nos. 2023-1056, 2023-1057 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 9, 2025), addresses a recurring but unsettled issue in patent litigation: when, exactly, a defendant becomes a “prevailing party” entitled to seek attorney fees and costs after a plaintiff voluntarily dismisses its case. The court’s answer…
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Realtek v. ITC: Federal Circuit Lacks Jurisdiction Over Section 337(h) Sanctions Appeal
In Realtek Semiconductor Corporation v. International Trade Commission, No. 23-1187 (Fed. Cir. June 18, 2025), the Federal Circuit dismissed Realtek’s appeal for lack of jurisdiction, holding that a denied sanctions request under Section 337(h) of the Tariff Act of 1930 is not reviewable by the Federal Circuit when it is not tied to a final…
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Realtek v. ITC: Federal Circuit Finds ITC Sanctions Inaction Unreviewable
In a decision that highlights the limits of judicial review over agency discretion, the Federal Circuit dismissed Realtek Semiconductor Corporation’s appeal against the International Trade Commission (ITC). The case, Realtek Semiconductor Corporation v. International Trade Commission, centered on the ITC’s refusal to issue a show-cause order against DivX, LLC in an investigation concerning patent infringement…
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PS Products v. Panther Trading: Federal Circuit Upholds Sanctions for Frivolous Patent Lawsuit
The Federal Circuit has affirmed a district court’s sanctions against PS Products (PSP) and its attorney for filing a meritless design patent infringement case, reinforcing courts’ authority to penalize frivolous litigation. The case underscores the importance of proper venue selection, valid infringement claims, and adherence to litigation ethics. litigation. The case underscores the importance of…
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Realtime Adaptive Streaming LLC v. Sling TV: “Red Flags” in § 285 Fee Awards
In a significant opinion issued on August 23, 2024, the Federal Circuit vacated a district court’s award of attorneys’ fees under 35 U.S.C. § 285 in Realtime Adaptive Streaming LLC v. Sling TV, LLC, No. 23-1035. The decision serves as a clarifying reminder that the label “exceptional” requires more than a retrospective string of unfavorable…