USPTO, ITC Veteran Michael Forman Joins Knobbe Martens
Mr. Forman brings over 15 years of combined experience at key government agencies WASHINGTON, D.C., January 26, 2026 – Knobbe Martens is pleased to announce that former U.S. Patent &...
Knobbe Martens Announces Six New Partners in Offices Across the Country
New partner class strengthens Knobbe Martens’ position as a leader in IP Law IRVINE, Calif., January 5, 2026 – Knobbe Martens, a leading intellectual property and technology law firm, is...
Knobbe Martens Lawyers Recognized by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 29, 2025 – Knobbe Martens is proud to share that lawyers William Zimmerman, Justin Culbertson, and Christopher Lewis have again been recognized by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers. Mr. Zimmerman was named to...
Washington D.C. Super Lawyers Recognizes Several Knobbe Martens Attorneys
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 23, 2024 – Knobbe Martens congratulates partner William Zimmerman and associates Justin Culbertson and Christopher Lewis on being recognized by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers. Mr. Zimmerman was...
Venture Capitalist Funding in Medtech Increasing
Recent reports, including one by PitchBook, indicate that both venture capitalist funding for medtech companies and the variety of medtech companies receiving venture capitalist funding has increased since the first quarter of 2023.
Judicial Review: The PTAB Must Offer Reasonably Discernible Logic
PROVISUR TECHNOLOGIES, INC. v. WEBER, INC.
Before Prost, Reyna, and Stark. Appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
Summary: The PTAB has an obligation to ensure that its logic is reasonably discernible from the record.
Weber petitioned for inter partes review of Provisur’s patent, arguing that the claims were invalid as obvious over multiple references. With its reply brief, Weber also submitted evidence that the digital camera disclosed in Weber’s references was the same type of camera claimed by Provisur’ patent.
Medtronic Completes Acquisition of Cardiac Mapping Company Affera
Medtronic recently announced that its acquisition of Affera, Inc. has been completed. The acquisition was previously announced to be for $925 million with a $250 million contingency, as reported by MedCity News. Medtronic had previously been a strategic investor in Affera and, prior to the acquisition, owned a 3% interest in Affera as stated in a prior press release dated January 10, 2022.
Somebody’s Wrong: PTAB Must Resolve Conflicting Factual Testimony During IPR
GOOGLE LLC v. IPA TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Before Dyk, Schall, and Taranto. Appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
Summary: For purposes of determining whether a reference was prior art, the Board has an obligation to resolve fundamental testimonial conflicts.
Pfizer Australia Announces Deal to Acquire ResApp Health
ResApp Health recently announced its planned sale to Pfizer Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer Inc. Pfizer agrees it would acquire 100% of the shares for AUD $0.115 / share, for a total equity value of approximately AUD $100 million. ResApp directors announced a unanimous recommendation to sell, and their intent to vote their own shares accordingly. A shareholder vote is scheduled for June.
No Standing for Second Bite at the Apple
APPLE, INC. v. QUALCOMM, INC.
Before Newman, Prost, and Stoll. Appeal from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
Summary: Apple lacked standing to appeal an IPR decision upholding patents that Apple licenses from Qualcomm, in light of a prior decision with identical operative facts
From The Triple Option to the Hurry-Up No-Huddle: How Name, Image, and Likeness Policies Are Changing the Game for Universities
Associate Christopher Lewis authored “From The Triple Option to the Hurry-Up No-Huddle: How Name, Image, and Likeness Policies Are Changing the Game for Universities,” which was published in The Trademark Lawyer...
Bioventus’ Shareholders Approve Acquisition of Misonix
Bioventus recently announced that its shareholders approved its agreement to acquire Misonix. Bioventus agrees to pay Misonix shareholders either 1.6839 shares of Bioventus class A common stock or $28.00 for each share of Misonix common stock held. The amount paid to Misonix shareholders results in an approximate valuation of $518 million for Misonix, based on share prices from around the time the acquisition agreement was reached. With the completion of this acquisition, Misonix will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bioventus.
Supreme Court Upholds, but Limits, Patent Infringement Defense of “Assignor Estoppel”
The U.S. Supreme Court recently decided a case resolving a patent dispute between two medical device companies, Hologic, Inc. and Minerva Surgical. The opinion was closely watched because it raised the question of whether an inventor who has assigned a patent is legally prevented from later attacking the validity of that same patent — a doctrine historically referred to as “assignor estoppel.”
Corresponding Structure Snafu: Lack of Algorithm Renders Claims Indefinite
RAIN COMPUTING, INC. v. SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
Before Lourie, Dyk, and Moore. Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Summary: The structure for performing a function of a means-plus-function term may not be a general purpose computer without an algorithm for performing the function.
