Inventorship

Inventorship disputes concern who is named on a patent. A person who contributed to the conception of at least one claim must be named as an inventor, and a person who did not must not be; either error can be corrected under the Patent Act, and a deliberate error may support other defences. Because conception is the touchstone, these disputes turn on who devised the definite and permanent idea of the complete invention rather than who reduced it to practice or supervised the work. Corroboration of an alleged inventor's testimony is required. The opinions collected here address claims to correct inventorship, the evidence needed to prove a contribution, and related ownership disputes.

86 opinions and orders.

• April 6, 2026 E.D. Tex. Orckit Corporation v. Cisco Systems, Inc., No. 2:25-cv-00181 (E.D. Tex. Apr. 6, 2026) Adopted
• April 2, 2026 Fed. Cir. Fortress Iron, LP v. Digger Specialties, Inc., No. 24-2313 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 2, 2026) Affirmed
• March 16, 2026 Fed. Cir. Applications In Internet Time, LLC v. Salesforce, Inc., No. 25-2026 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 16, 2026) Affirmed
• December 8, 2025 Fed. Cir. Coda Development s.r.o. v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., No. 23-1880 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 8, 2025) Affirmed
• October 6, 2025 Fed. Cir. Rasmussen Instruments, LLC v. DePuy Synthes Products, Inc., No. 23-1855 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 6, 2025) Vacated & Remanded
• September 12, 2025 Fed. Cir. Dynamite Marketing, Inc. v. The WowLine, Inc., No. 24-1523 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 12, 2025) Affirmed in Part
• January 13, 2025 Fed. Cir. BearBox LLC v. Lancium LLC, No. 23-1922 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 13, 2025) Affirmed
• August 2, 2024 E.D. Tex. Headwater Research LLC v. Samsung Electronics America, Inc. et al, No. 2:22-cv-00422 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 2, 2024) See Opinion
• May 21, 2024 Fed. Cir. Core Optical Technologies, LLC v. Nokia Corporation, No. 23-1001 (Fed. Cir. May 21, 2024) Vacated & Remanded
• March 15, 2024 Fed. Cir. Tube-Mac Industries, Inc. v. Campbell, No. 22-2170 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 15, 2024) Affirmed
• June 9, 2023 Fed. Cir. Blue Gentian, LLC v. Tristar Products, Inc., No. 21-2316 (Fed. Cir. June 9, 2023) Affirmed
• May 2, 2023 Fed. Cir. HIP, Inc. v. Hormel Foods Corporation, No. 22-1696 (Fed. Cir. May 2, 2023) Reversed
• December 19, 2022 Fed. Cir. Plastipak Packaging, Inc. v. Premium Waters, Inc., No. 21-2244 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 19, 2022) Reversed
• August 5, 2022 Fed. Cir. Thaler v. Vidal, No. 21-2347 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 5, 2022) Affirmed
• April 22, 2022 Fed. Cir. Schaefers v. Blizzard Energy Inc., No. 21-2130 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 22, 2022) Affirmed
• March 15, 2022 Fed. Cir. Basf Plant Science, LP v. Commonwealth Scientific, No. 20-1415 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 15, 2022) Affirmed in Part
• November 17, 2021 Fed. Cir. Wagner v. Ashline, No. 21-1715 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 17, 2021) Affirmed
• October 6, 2021 Fed. Cir. Sgromo v. Target Brands Inc., No. 21-1702 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 6, 2021) Affirmed
• June 1, 2021 E.D. Tex. Ultravision Technologies, LLC v. GoVision, LLC, No. 2:18-cv-00100 (E.D. Tex. June 1, 2021) Adopted
• May 28, 2021 E.D. Tex. Ultravision Technologies, LLC v. GoVision, LLC, No. 2:18-cv-00100 (E.D. Tex. May 28, 2021) Adopted
• May 25, 2021 E.D. Tex. Ultravision Technologies, LLC v. GoVision, LLC, No. 2:18-cv-00100 (E.D. Tex. May 25, 2021) Granted in Part
• April 12, 2021 Fed. Cir. WiNet Labs LLC v. Motorola Mobility LLC, No. 20-2235 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 12, 2021) Vacated & Remanded
• December 9, 2020 E.D. Tex. Ultravision Technologies, LLC v. GoVision, LLC, No. 2:18-cv-00100 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 9, 2020) Denied
• December 7, 2020 Fed. Cir. SiOnyx LLC v. Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., No. 19-2359 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 7, 2020) Affirmed in Part
• November 19, 2020 Fed. Cir. Whitewater West Industries v. Alleshouse, No. 19-1852 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 19, 2020) Reversed
• November 10, 2020 Fed. Cir. Ferring B.V. v. Allergan, Inc., No. 20-1098 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 10, 2020) Vacated & Remanded
• August 28, 2020 Fed. Cir. Egenera, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., No. 19-2015 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 28, 2020) Affirmed in Part
• July 28, 2020 Fed. Cir. James v. j2 Cloud Services, LLC, No. 19-2016 (Fed. Cir. July 28, 2020) Affirmed
• July 14, 2020 Fed. Cir. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute v. Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., No. 19-2050 (Fed. Cir. July 14, 2020) Affirmed
• September 25, 2019 E.D. Tex. Sgromo et al v. Bestway Enterprise Co. Ltd. et al, No. 2:19-cv-00060 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 25, 2019) Adopted
• August 14, 2019 Fed. Cir. Maatuk v. Emerson Electric, Inc., No. 19-1615 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 14, 2019) Affirmed
• May 30, 2019 Fed. Cir. Lone Star Silicon Innovations v. Nanya Technology Corporation, No. 18-1581 (Fed. Cir. May 30, 2019) Vacated & Remanded
• February 22, 2019 Fed. Cir. Coda Development v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber, No. 18-1028 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 22, 2019) Vacated & Remanded
• October 31, 2018 E.D. Tex. Tinnus Enterprises, LLC et al v. Telebrands Corporation et al, No. 6:15-cv-00551 (E.D. Tex. Oct. 31, 2018) Adopted
• August 10, 2018 Fed. Cir. Pappalardo v. Stevins, No. 18-1237 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 10, 2018) Affirmed in Part
• April 20, 2018 Fed. Cir. James v. j2 Cloud Services, LLC, No. 17-1506 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 20, 2018) Reversed
• April 18, 2018 Fed. Cir. Raniere v. Microsoft Corporation, No. 17-1400 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 18, 2018) Affirmed
• April 18, 2018 Fed. Cir. Perrie v. Perrie, No. 17-1087 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 18, 2018) Affirmed
• February 16, 2018 E.D. Tex. Sycamore IP Holdings LLC v. Teleport Communications America, LLC et al, No. 2:16-cv-00588 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 16, 2018) Denied
• January 11, 2018 Fed. Cir. Advanced Video Technologies v. HTC Corporation, No. 16-2309 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 11, 2018) Affirmed
• November 17, 2017 Fed. Cir. Cobra International, Inc. v. Bcny International, Inc., No. 16-2103 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 17, 2017) Affirmed
• September 1, 2017 Fed. Cir. CardiAQ Valve Technologies v. Neovasc Inc., No. 17-1302 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 1, 2017) Affirmed
• May 4, 2017 Fed. Cir. Wang v. Palo Alto Networks, Inc., No. 17-1420 (Fed. Cir. May 4, 2017) Affirmed
• April 27, 2017 E.D. Tex. Allergan, Inc. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. et al, No. 2:15-cv-01455 (E.D. Tex. Apr. 27, 2017) Granted
• April 12, 2017 Fed. Cir. Ali v. Carnegie Institution, No. 16-2320 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 12, 2017) Affirmed
• March 29, 2017 Fed. Cir. Huster v. j2 Cloud Services, Inc., No. 16-1639 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 29, 2017) Affirmed in Part
• September 29, 2016 Fed. Cir. Drone Technologies, Inc. v. Parrot S.A., No. 15-1892 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 29, 2016) Vacated & Remanded
• August 10, 2016 Fed. Cir. Vapor Point LLC v. Moorhead, No. 15-1801 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 10, 2016) Affirmed
• August 5, 2016 Fed. Cir. Kamdem-Ouaffo v. Pepsico Inc., No. 16-1668 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 5, 2016) Affirmed
• July 25, 2016 Fed. Cir. LendingTree v. Zillow, Inc., No. 14-1435 (Fed. Cir. July 25, 2016) Affirmed in Part
• May 17, 2016 Fed. Cir. Diamond Coating Technologies v. Hyundai Motor America, No. 15-1844 (Fed. Cir. May 17, 2016) Affirmed
• April 5, 2016 Fed. Cir. Meng v. Chu, No. 14-1746 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 5, 2016) Affirmed
• February 16, 2016 Fed. Cir. Lismont v. Alexander Binzel Corporation, No. 14-1846 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 16, 2016) Affirmed
• February 5, 2016 Fed. Cir. TriReme Medical, LLC v. AngioScore, Inc., No. 15-1504 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 5, 2016) Reversed
• December 15, 2015 E.D. Tex. Motio, Inc. v. BSP Software LLC, No. 4:12-cv-00647 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 15, 2015) Denied
• October 2, 2015 Fed. Cir. Shukh v. Seagate Technology, LLC, No. 14-1406 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 2, 2015) Affirmed in Part
• June 5, 2015 Fed. Cir. Alps South, LLC v. Ohio Willow Wood Co., No. 13-1452 (Fed. Cir. June 5, 2015) Reversed
• May 7, 2015 Fed. Cir. Biogen MA, Inc v. Japanese Foundation for, No. 14-1525 (Fed. Cir. May 7, 2015) Affirmed
• April 20, 2015 E.D. Tex. Cassidian Communications, Inc. v. Microdata GIS, Inc., No. 2:12-cv-00162 (E.D. Tex. Apr. 20, 2015) Granted in Part
• February 4, 2015 Fed. Cir. Beriont v. GTE Laboratories, No. 14-1424 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 4, 2015) Affirmed
• January 8, 2015 E.D. Tex. Oasis Research, LLC v. Adrive, LLC et al, No. 4:10-cv-00435 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 8, 2015) Granted
• December 5, 2014 Fed. Cir. Memorylink Corp. v. Motorola Solutions, Inc., No. 14-1186 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 5, 2014) Affirmed
• November 5, 2014 E.D. Tex. Cassidian Communications, Inc. v. Microdata GIS, Inc., No. 2:12-cv-00162 (E.D. Tex. Nov. 5, 2014) Denied
• June 4, 2014 Fed. Cir. Krauser v. Biohorizons, Inc., No. 13-1461 (Fed. Cir. June 4, 2014) Dismissed
• March 26, 2014 Fed. Cir. Stoneeagle Services, Inc. v. Gillman, No. 13-1248 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 26, 2014) Vacated & Remanded
• February 12, 2014 Fed. Cir. Solvay, S.A. v. Honeywell International, No. 12-1660 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 12, 2014) Affirmed
• August 19, 2013 Fed. Cir. University of Utah v. Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, No. 12-1540 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 19, 2013) Affirmed
• August 6, 2013 Fed. Cir. Beriont v. GTE Laboratories, No. 13-1109 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 6, 2013) Affirmed in Part
• March 28, 2013 Fed. Cir. Berish Rubin v. General Hospital Corporation, No. 11-1439 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 28, 2013) Affirmed
• December 10, 2012 E.D. Tex. MD Matrix Health, LLC et al v. Kasle et al, No. 4:12-cv-00476 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 10, 2012) Adopted in Part
• July 23, 2012 E.D. Tex. Imperium (IP) Holdings, Inc. v. Apple Inc. et al, No. 4:11-cv-00163 (E.D. Tex. July 23, 2012) Denied
• August 29, 2011 E.D. Tex. Collins et al v. Western Digital Technologies, Inc. et al, No. 2:09-cv-00219 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 29, 2011) Denied
• August 29, 2011 E.D. Tex. Collins et al v. Western Digital Technologies, Inc. et al, No. 2:09-cv-00219 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 29, 2011) Denied
• December 14, 2010 E.D. Tex. Gellman v. ADT Security Services Inc et al, No. 2:07-cv-00282 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 14, 2010) Dismissed
• January 13, 2010 E.D. Tex. US Foam, Inc. et al v. ON Site Gas Systems, Inc., No. 2:07-cv-00466 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 13, 2010) Granted in Part
• December 7, 2009 E.D. Tex. Southwest Efuel Network, L.L.C. v. Transaction Tracking Technologies, Inc., No. 2:07-cv-00311 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 7, 2009) Denied
• November 13, 2009 E.D. Tex. Cummins-Allison Corp v. Shinwoo Information & Telecommunications Co., Ltd. et al, No. 9:07-cv-00196 (E.D. Tex. Nov. 13, 2009) Granted in Part
• November 4, 2009 E.D. Tex. MHL TEK, LLC v. Nissan Motor Co et al, No. 2:07-cv-00289 (E.D. Tex. Nov. 4, 2009) Denied
• October 13, 2009 E.D. Tex. Balsam Coffee Solutions Inc. v. Folgers Coffee Company et al, No. 6:09-cv-00089 (E.D. Tex. Oct. 13, 2009) Denied
• September 21, 2009 E.D. Tex. IP Innovation LLC et al v. Google, Inc., No. 2:07-cv-00503 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 21, 2009) Denied
• August 21, 2009 E.D. Tex. US Foam, Inc. et al v. ON Site Gas Systems, Inc., No. 2:07-cv-00466 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 21, 2009) Denied
• March 31, 2009 E.D. Tex. MHL TEK, LLC v. Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC., et al, No. 2:08-cv-00125 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 31, 2009) Granted in Part
• March 31, 2009 E.D. Tex. Software Rights Archive, LLC v. Google Inc. et al, No. 2:07-cv-00511 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 31, 2009) Denied
• July 15, 2008 E.D. Tex. Sky Technologies LLC v. SAP AG et al, No. 2:06-cv-00440 (E.D. Tex. July 15, 2008) Granted in Part
• April 7, 2008 E.D. Tex. MacLean-Fogg Company v. Eaton Corporation, No. 2:07-cv-00472 (E.D. Tex. Apr. 7, 2008) Denied
• May 11, 2007 E.D. Tex. Bhandari v. Cadence Design Systems Inc et al, No. 6:06-cv-00480 (E.D. Tex. May 11, 2007) Granted in Part