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A Launchpad for Startups in the Space Domain: Apollo Accelerator
In 2023, the U.S. Space Force launched the Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Tools, Application, & Processing (TAP) Lab. The SDA TAP Lab aims to accelerate the delivery of space battle...
No Tariffs on Aerospace Products Traded Between U.S. and European Union
On July 27, 2025, the U.S. and EU reached a trade agreement. As part of the agreement, the U.S. will impose a 15 percent tariff “on the vast majority of...
China Responds to European Union’s Medical Device Restrictions With Restrictions of Its Own
China has imposed restrictions on procurement of European medical devices, following the European Union’s vote to limit Chinese companies from participating in public procurement tenders for medical device contracts last...
FDA Announces Review of New Clinical Trials That Export Americans’ Biological Samples to Hostile Countries
On June 18, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it will review new clinical trials that involve sending biological samples to “hostile countries,” to prevent exploitation...
Applicant Admitted Prior Art Can (Sometimes) Show Obviousness
SHOCKWAVE MED., INC., V. CARDIOVASCULAR SYS., INC. Before Lourie, Dyk, and Cunningham. Appeal from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Patent Trial and Appeal Board in No. IPR2019-00405. Summary:...
Not So Cozy: Prosecution History Disclaimer for Design Patents
TOP BRAND LLC v. COZY COMFORT CO. LLC Before Dyk, Reyna, and Stark. Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. Summary: Arguments presented during prosecution...
Cancellation of a Closely Related Claim During Prosecution Can Trigger Prosecution History Estoppel
COLIBRI HEART VALVE LLC v. MEDTRONIC COREVALVE, LLC Before Taranto, Hughes, and Stoll. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Summary: The Federal Circuit...
Combination Dosing Regimen Not Obvious Despite Overlapping Prior-Art Ranges
JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. v. TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA, INC. Before Prost, Reyna, and Taranto. Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Summary: The Federal Circuit found...
Horizon Aircraft and ZeroAvia Partner to Explore Hydrogen-Electric Powertrain for eVTOLs
Horizon Aircraft and ZeroAvia announced this week plans to explore using ZeroAvia’s ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain in Horizon Aircraft’s Cavorite X7 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. According to ZeroAvia’s press...
Program to Accelerate the Future of Aerospace and Defense Innovation for Startups
On July 16, 2025, PTC, Inc. (“PTC”) announced an “Aerospace & Defense (A&D) Startup Program” (“the Program”) for accelerating the future of aerospace and defense innovation. PTC offers software products...
Proposed Budget Cuts for U.S. Government Satellite Monitoring Could Lead to Market and IP Opportunities
In July 2025, the U.S. federal government proposed an 84% reduction in funding to the Office of Space Commerce. Some say the move would effectively terminate the agency’s further development...
An Eye Toward Prosecution History
EYE THERAPIES, LLC v. SLAYBACK PHARMA LLC Before Taranto, Stoll and Scarsi (sitting by designation) Summary: The patent’s prosecution history required a restrictive interpretation of the term “consisting essentially of.”...
Space Technology Investments Clear the Launch Tower in 2025
Investments in space technology are off to a strong start in the first half of 2025. The rising trend over the last four years, as mentioned in a previous Knobbe...
CRISPR Dispute Heats Up With Recent Federal Court Decision
On May 12, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) revived the Regents of the University of California’s (Regents) challenge to the Broad Institute’s CRISPR-Cas9 patents,...
The Federal Circuit Grounds US SPACE FORCE Trademark Application
IN RE THOMAS D. FOSTER, APC, Before Moore, Prost, and Stoll. Appeal from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Summary: Section 2(a) of the Lanham Act bars registration of a...
Did They Want to Infringe? – Federal Circuit Denies Declaratory Judgment When Party at No Risk of Lawsuit
[MITEK SYSTEMS, INC., v. UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION [OPINION]] Before Taranto, Schall, and Chen. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas Summary: The plaintiff...
Raft Acquires N3bula Systems
On June 17, 2025, Raft announced its acquisition of N3bula Systems. Raft is a defense technology company that specializes in delivering autonomous data fusion, AI/ML, and data solutions tailored for...
A Request for Sanctions Before the ITC Is Not Appealable to the Federal Circuit
REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION v. ITC Before Reyna, Bryson, and Stoll. Appeal from the United States International Trade Commission. Summary: The Federal Circuit lacks jurisdiction to hear appeals of non-final determinations from...
No Injury, No Appeal: Patent Owners Must Show Actual Injury for Article III Standing
DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION v. UNIFIED PATENTS, LLC Before Moore, Clevenger and Chen. Appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Summary: A patent owner lacks Article III standing to...
Finding Common Ground? — Federal Circuit Clarifies IPR Estoppel
INGENICO INC. v. IOENGINE, LLC Before Dyk, Prost, and Hughes. Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Summary: IPR estoppel does not preclude reliance on...
A Question for Everyone: Juries Must Determine Infringement on a Patent-By-Patent Basis
OPTIS CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY, LLC v. APPLE INC. Before Prost, Reyna, and Stark. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Summary: Patent plaintiffs have a right...