Patent Law

Hal Wegner has released his top ten upcoming cases for 2008:

1. Quanta v. LG – Patent “Exhaustion”
2. McFarling – Patent “Exhaustion”
3. Kubin – Biotech Obviousness; Enzo Disclosure
4. Classen v. Biogen – “Metabolite déjà vu”
5. Convolve v. Seagate – Petition from In re Seagate
6. Bilski – Patent-Eligibility under § 101
7. Sanofi-Synthelabo – The Plavix Case
8. Sang Su Lee II – Post-KSR Motivation
9. Ferguson – Method of Marketing a Product
10. Barnett – Internet-driven Method

 Hal Wegner’s list focuses on utility patent litigation. I would add three other cases from a slightly different vein:

• Tafas v. Dudas – Challenging the PTO’s power to implement rules limiting continuations and claims. (summary judgment briefs filed).
• Egyptian Goddess v. Swisa – Redefining the meaning of infringement and claim construction for design patents. (rehearing en banc pending).
• Bender v. Dudas – Challenging the PTO’s ability to regulate patent attorney business relationships that go beyond ‘practice before the office.’ (on petition for certiorari).