Takeaway: The Federal Circuit confirmed that Brita’s water filter patent is invalid for insufficient disclosure, reinforcing that patent claims must fully describe and enable all claimed aspects of an invention.

Takeaway: Lynk Labs is asking the Supreme Court to overturn a Federal Circuit ruling that lets patent applications count as prior art from their filing date, warning the decision misreads the law and could inject major uncertainty into patent challenges.

Takeaway: The USPTO has appointed John A. Squires as its new Director, signaling a focus on leveraging his deep IP and technology experience to guide U.S. innovation and global competitiveness.

Takeaway: The USPTO is increasingly relying on discretionary denials, signaling that petitioners face steep hurdles when patents are older or tied to ongoing litigation, while challenges to newer patents remain the most viable path forward for inter-party reviews of patents at the USPTO.

Takeaway: The USPTO has launched DesignVision, an AI-powered image search tool that enhances the speed and accuracy of design patent examinations, marking a major step toward modernizing IP review and improving patent quality.

Takeaway: The Federal Circuit invalidated USAA’s mobile check deposit patent for claiming an abstract idea without inventive technology, reinforcing that using generic devices for routine tasks is not patent-eligible under § 101.

Takeaway: Midyear is the right time for companies to review and reinforce trade secret protections to ensure their evolving confidential information remains secure and well-managed.

Takeaway: The USPTO’s new “settled expectations” policy allows denial of patent challenges based on a patent’s age, signaling a shift toward earlier filings and greater uncertainty for late-stage IPR petitions.

Takeaway: The USPTO is seeking public input on international draft guidelines to combat the $467 billion global trade in counterfeit goods sold online, noting the urgent need for coordinated enforcement and collaboration between governments, platforms, and IP holders to protect consumers and brand integrity.

Takeaway: Google is leading the surge in AI patent filings globally and in the U.S., particularly in emerging areas like agentic AI, underscoring its investment in next-generation autonomous technologies as the AI patent landscape continues to grow rapidly.