License / Exhaustion

A licence permits conduct that would otherwise infringe, and patent exhaustion ends the patentee's rights in a particular article once it has been sold authorised. Disputes in this area turn on contract interpretation as much as patent law: whether a defendant is covered by an existing licence, whether a licence extends to affiliates or successors, whether a covenant not to sue operates as one, and whether an authorised sale abroad or by a licensee exhausts the right to sue a downstream purchaser. The opinions collected here address the scope and effect of licences, exhaustion defences, and the related questions of implied licence and first sale.

120 opinions and orders.

May 19, 2026 Fed. Cir. A.L.M. Holding Company v. Zydex Industries Private Ltd., No. 25-1317 (Fed. Cir. May 19, 2026) Reversed
May 13, 2026 Fed. Cir. Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. v. Finelite, Inc., No. 25-1712 (Fed. Cir. May 13, 2026) Affirmed
April 17, 2026 E.D. Tex. EireOg Innovations Ltd. v. Cisco Systems Inc., No. 2:24-cv-00224 (E.D. Tex. Apr. 17, 2026) Adopted in Part
March 11, 2026 E.D. Tex. Robert Bosch, LLC v. Westport Fuel Systems Canada, Inc., No. 2:23-cv-00038 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 11, 2026) Adopted
January 21, 2026 Fed. Cir. Lionra Technologies Ltd. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., No. 24-2153 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 21, 2026) 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 3, 2025 E.D. Tex. Daingean Technologies Ltd. v. AT&T Inc. et al, No. 2:23-cv-00123 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 3, 2025) Adopted
September 3, 2025 E.D. Tex. Daingean Technologies Ltd. v. AT&T Inc. et al, No. 2:23-cv-00123 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 3, 2025) Adopted in Part
July 7, 2025 E.D. Tex. Daingean Technologies ltd. v. T-Mobile USA, Inc. et al, No. 2:23-cv-00347 (E.D. Tex. July 7, 2025) Adopted in Part
April 4, 2025 Fed. Cir. Ams-Osram USA Inc. v. Renesas Electronics America, Inc., No. 22-2185 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 4, 2025) Affirmed in Part
February 26, 2025 E.D. Tex. Daingean Technologies Ltd. v. AT&T Inc. et al, No. 2:23-cv-00123 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 26, 2025) Denied
August 28, 2024 E.D. Tex. Lionra Technologies Limited v. Fortinet, Inc., No. 2:22-cv-00322 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 28, 2024) Adopted in Part
July 25, 2024 E.D. Tex. Lionra Technologies Limited v. Fortinet, Inc., No. 2:22-cv-00322 (E.D. Tex. July 25, 2024) Denied
July 25, 2024 Fed. Cir. Sherwin-Williams Company v. PPG Industries, Inc., No. 22-2059 (Fed. Cir. July 25, 2024) Affirmed in Part
May 21, 2024 E.D. Tex. Lionra Technologies Limited v. Fortinet, Inc., No. 2:22-cv-00322 (E.D. Tex. May 21, 2024) Granted in Part
May 21, 2024 Fed. Cir. Core Optical Technologies, LLC v. Nokia Corporation, No. 23-1001 (Fed. Cir. May 21, 2024) Vacated & Remanded
May 13, 2024 E.D. Tex. Lionra Technologies Limited v. Fortinet, Inc., No. 2:22-cv-00322 (E.D. Tex. May 13, 2024) Adopted
April 23, 2024 E.D. Tex. Lionra Technologies Limited v. Fortinet, Inc., No. 2:22-cv-00322 (E.D. Tex. Apr. 23, 2024) See Opinion
March 8, 2024 E.D. Tex. Polaris Innovations Limited v. Nanya Technology Corporation, No. 2:23-cv-00044 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 8, 2024) Denied
December 8, 2023 E.D. Tex. Entropic Communications, LLC v. Charter Communications, Inc. et al, No. 2:22-cv-00125 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 8, 2023) Adopted in Part
December 4, 2023 Fed. Cir. Vlsi Technology LLC v. Intel Corporation, No. 22-1906 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 4, 2023) Affirmed in Part
November 28, 2023 E.D. Tex. Entropic Communications, LLC v. Charter Communications, Inc. et al, No. 2:22-cv-00125 (E.D. Tex. Nov. 28, 2023) Granted in Part
November 27, 2023 E.D. Tex. MyPort, Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al, No. 2:22-cv-00114 (E.D. Tex. Nov. 27, 2023) Denied
October 2, 2023 E.D. Tex. Alacritech Inc. v. CenturyLink, Inc., No. 2:16-cv-00693 (E.D. Tex. Oct. 2, 2023) Denied
September 22, 2023 Fed. Cir. Caddo Systems, Inc. v. Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (AG), No. 22-1623 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 22, 2023) Affirmed
February 17, 2023 Fed. Cir. Neuroptics, Inc. v. Brightlamp, Inc., No. 22-1059 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 17, 2023) Affirmed in Part
November 7, 2022 E.D. Tex. Estech Systems IP, LLC v. Mitel Networks, Inc., No. 2:21-cv-00473 (E.D. Tex. Nov. 7, 2022) Adopted
November 4, 2022 Fed. Cir. Uniloc USA, Inc. v. Motorola Mobility LLC, No. 21-1555 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 4, 2022) Affirmed in Part
September 23, 2022 E.D. Tex. Estech Systems IP, LLC v. Mitel Networks, Inc., No. 2:21-cv-00473 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 23, 2022) See Opinion
September 21, 2022 E.D. Tex. Plasmacam, Inc. v. Cncelectronics, LLC, et al al, No. 4:19-cv-00037 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 21, 2022) Denied
April 8, 2022 Fed. Cir. Roche Diagnostics Corporation v. Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC, No. 21-1609 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 8, 2022) Affirmed in Part
March 15, 2022 Fed. Cir. Basf Plant Science, LP v. Commonwealth Scientific, No. 20-1415 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 15, 2022) Affirmed in Part
February 3, 2022 Fed. Cir. Plasmacam, Inc. v. Cncelectronics, LLC, No. 21-1689 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 3, 2022) Reversed
January 12, 2022 Fed. Cir. Plastronics Socket Partners v. Hwang, No. 20-1739 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 12, 2022) Affirmed in Part
January 11, 2022 E.D. Tex. Wapp Tech Limited Partnership et al v. Wells Fargo & Co., No. 4:18-cv-00501 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 11, 2022) Granted
November 12, 2021 Fed. Cir. Rohm Semiconductor USA, LLC v. MaxPower Semiconductor, Inc., No. 21-1709 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 12, 2021) Affirmed
October 7, 2021 Fed. Cir. Kannuu Pty Ltd. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., No. 21-1638 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 7, 2021) Affirmed
August 5, 2021 Fed. Cir. GlaxoSmithKline LLC v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., No. 18-1976 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 5, 2021) Affirmed in Part
May 10, 2021 Fed. Cir. Fireblok IP Holdings, LLC v. Hilti, Inc., No. 20-2095 (Fed. Cir. May 10, 2021) Affirmed
March 23, 2021 E.D. Tex. Oyster Optics, LLC v. Infinera Corporation, Coriant (USA) Inc., Coriant North America, LLC and..., No. 2:19-cv-00257 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 23, 2021) Granted in Part
March 12, 2021 Fed. Cir. Cajun Services Unlimited, LLC v. Benton Energy Service Company, No. 20-1367 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 12, 2021) Affirmed
February 11, 2021 Fed. Cir. Oyster Optics, LLC v. Infinera Corp., No. 19-2179 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 11, 2021) Affirmed
January 26, 2021 Fed. Cir. Evolved Wireless, LLC v. HTC Corporation, No. 20-1335 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 26, 2021) Affirmed in Part
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
October 7, 2020 Fed. Cir. AntennaSys, Inc. v. Aqyr Technologies, Inc., No. 19-2244 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 7, 2020) Vacated & Remanded
August 25, 2020 Fed. Cir. Phytelligence, Inc. v. Washington State University, No. 19-2216 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 25, 2020) Affirmed
August 14, 2020 E.D. Tex. Vocalife LLC v. Amazon.com, Inc. et al, No. 2:19-cv-00123 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 14, 2020) Granted
July 31, 2020 Fed. Cir. Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A. v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., No. 20-1407 (Fed. Cir. July 31, 2020) Affirmed
July 6, 2020 Fed. Cir. Genentech, Inc. v. Immunex Rhode Island Corp., No. 19-2155 (Fed. Cir. July 6, 2020) Affirmed
June 17, 2020 Fed. Cir. In re: PersonalWeb Technologies LLC, No. 19-1918 (Fed. Cir. June 17, 2020) Affirmed
May 8, 2020 Fed. Cir. Oyster Optics, LLC v. Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc., No. 19-1255 (Fed. Cir. May 8, 2020) Affirmed
February 27, 2020 E.D. Tex. Fireblok IP Holdings, LLC v. Hilti, Inc., No. 2:19-cv-00023 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 27, 2020) Adopted
February 6, 2020 Fed. Cir. Cheetah Omni LLC v. AT&T Services, Inc., No. 19-1264 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 6, 2020) Affirmed
January 28, 2020 Fed. Cir. Sauder Manufacturing Company v. J Squared, Inc., No. 19-1430 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 28, 2020) Affirmed in Part
January 10, 2020 Fed. Cir. Molon Motor and Coil Corp. v. Nidec Motor Corporation, No. 19-1071 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 10, 2020) Affirmed
October 17, 2019 Fed. Cir. Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft v. Sirius XM Radio Inc., No. 18-2400 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 17, 2019) Vacated & Remanded
September 16, 2019 E.D. Tex. Uniloc 2017 LLC v. Cisco Systems, Inc., No. 2:18-cv-00505 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 16, 2019) Denied
July 11, 2019 Fed. Cir. Automotive Body Parts Ass'n v. Ford Global Technologies, LLC, No. 18-1613 (Fed. Cir. July 11, 2019) Affirmed
June 25, 2019 E.D. Tex. Oyster Optics, LLC v. Infinera Corporation, No. 2:18-cv-00206 (E.D. Tex. June 25, 2019) Granted
April 18, 2019 Fed. Cir. Dodocase Vr, Inc. v. Merchsource, LLC, No. 18-1724 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 18, 2019) Affirmed in Part
March 18, 2019 E.D. Tex. Optis Wireless Technology, LLC et al v. Huawei Device (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, No. 2:17-cv-00123 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 18, 2019) Denied
February 22, 2019 E.D. Tex. Arterbury et al v. Odessa Separator, Inc., No. 5:16-cv-00183 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 22, 2019) Adopted
January 11, 2019 Fed. Cir. WesternGeco L.L.C. v. ION Geophysical Corp., No. 13-1527 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 11, 2019) Affirmed in Part
March 27, 2018 Fed. Cir. Oracle America, Inc. v. Google LLC, No. 17-1118 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 27, 2018) Reversed in Part
January 29, 2018 Fed. Cir. Macom Technology Solutions v. Infineon Technologies Americas, No. 17-1448 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 29, 2018) Affirmed in Part
December 14, 2017 Fed. Cir. Amgen Inc. v. Sandoz Inc., No. 15-1499 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 14, 2017) Affirmed
September 6, 2017 E.D. Tex. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd v. T-Mobile US, Inc. et al, No. 2:16-cv-00052 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 6, 2017) Adopted
July 26, 2017 E.D. Tex. Chrimar Systems, Inc. et al v. Alcatel-Lucent S.A. et al, No. 6:15-cv-00163 (E.D. Tex. July 26, 2017) Denied
May 4, 2017 Fed. Cir. Wang v. Palo Alto Networks, Inc., No. 17-1420 (Fed. Cir. May 4, 2017) Affirmed
April 5, 2017 E.D. Tex. Neurovision Medical Products, Inc. v. Medtronic Public Limited Company et al, No. 2:16-cv-00127 (E.D. Tex. Apr. 5, 2017) Granted in Part
April 4, 2017 Fed. Cir. Medtronic, Inc. v. Boston Scientific Corporation, No. 15-1996 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 4, 2017) Affirmed
March 13, 2017 E.D. Tex. Uniloc USA, Inc. et al v. Cisco Systems, Inc., No. 6:15-cv-01175 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 13, 2017) Granted
January 17, 2017 Fed. Cir. Wi-Lan USA, Inc. v. Ericsson, Inc., No. 15-1766 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 17, 2017) Vacated & Remanded
October 11, 2016 E.D. Tex. Script Security Solutions, L.L.C. v. Amazon.com, Inc. et al, No. 2:15-cv-01030 (E.D. Tex. Oct. 11, 2016) Granted
September 3, 2016 E.D. Tex. Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l. v. LG Electronics, Inc. et al, No. 2:14-cv-00911 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 3, 2016) Denied
July 26, 2016 Fed. Cir. Verinata Health, Inc. v. Ariosa Diagnostics, Inc., No. 15-1970 (Fed. Cir. July 26, 2016) Affirmed
May 17, 2016 Fed. Cir. Diamond Coating Technologies v. Hyundai Motor America, No. 15-1844 (Fed. Cir. May 17, 2016) Affirmed
February 18, 2016 Fed. Cir. High Point Sarl v. T-Mobile USA, Inc., No. 15-1235 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 18, 2016) Affirmed
February 12, 2016 Fed. Cir. Lexmark International, Inc. v. Impression Products, Inc., No. 14-1617 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 12, 2016) Affirmed in Part
February 12, 2016 Fed. Cir. Lexmark International, Inc. v. Impression Products, Inc., No. 14-1617 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 12, 2016) Affirmed in Part
February 8, 2016 E.D. Tex. Mobile Telecommunications Technologies, LLC v. LG Electronics Mobilecomm U.S.A., Inc., No. 2:13-cv-00947 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 8, 2016) Denied
January 21, 2016 E.D. Tex. Imperium IP Holdings (Cayman), Ltd. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al, No. 4:14-cv-00371 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 21, 2016) Denied
January 19, 2016 E.D. Tex. Imperium IP Holdings (Cayman), Ltd. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al, No. 4:14-cv-00371 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 19, 2016) Denied
December 22, 2015 Fed. Cir. Personalized Media v. Rovi Guides, Inc., No. 14-1825 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 22, 2015) Vacated & Remanded
September 17, 2015 Fed. Cir. Astornet Technologies Inc. v. BAE Systems, Inc., No. 14-1854 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 17, 2015) Affirmed
August 18, 2015 Fed. Cir. Personalized User Model, LLP v. Google Inc., No. 14-1841 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 18, 2015) Affirmed in Part
August 13, 2015 Fed. Cir. Keranos, LLC v. Silicon Storage Technology, No. 14-1360 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 13, 2015) Vacated & Remanded
July 2, 2015 Fed. Cir. Buckhorn Inc. v. Orbis Corporation, No. 14-1711 (Fed. Cir. July 2, 2015) Reversed
May 13, 2015 Fed. Cir. Classen Immunotherapies, Inc. v. Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., No. 14-1671 (Fed. Cir. May 13, 2015) Vacated & Remanded
April 20, 2015 Fed. Cir. Sweepstakes Patent Company v. Burns, No. 14-1851 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 20, 2015) Affirmed
February 10, 2015 Fed. Cir. Helferich Patent Licensing v. The New York Times, No. 14-1196 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 10, 2015) Reversed
December 30, 2014 Fed. Cir. Walker Digital, LLC v. Expedia, Inc., No. 13-1520 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 30, 2014) Affirmed
October 21, 2014 Fed. Cir. Iris Corporation v. Japan Airlines Corporation, No. 10-1051 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 21, 2014) Affirmed
August 22, 2014 E.D. Tex. Beneficial Innovations, Inc. v. Advance Publications, Inc. et al, No. 2:11-cv-00229 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 22, 2014) Denied
August 1, 2014 Fed. Cir. Wi-Lan USA, Inc. v. Ericsson, Inc., No. 13-1485 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 1, 2014) Affirmed in Part
July 23, 2014 E.D. Tex. TQP Development LLC v. Chrysler Group LLC, No. 2:13-cv-00219 (E.D. Tex. July 23, 2014) Granted in Part
July 23, 2014 E.D. Tex. TQP Development, LLC v. Intuit Inc., No. 2:12-cv-00180 (E.D. Tex. July 23, 2014) Granted in Part
May 9, 2014 Fed. Cir. Monsanto Company v. E.I. du Pont de Nemours, No. 13-1349 (Fed. Cir. May 9, 2014) Affirmed
April 22, 2014 E.D. Tex. Edward D. Ioli Trust et al v. Avigilon Corporation et al, No. 2:10-cv-00605 (E.D. Tex. Apr. 22, 2014) Denied
March 31, 2014 Fed. Cir. Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Actavis, Inc., No. 13-1658 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 31, 2014) Vacated & Remanded
January 16, 2014 E.D. Tex. Beneficial Innovations, Inc. v. Advance Publications, Inc. et al, No. 2:11-cv-00229 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 16, 2014) Dismissed
November 4, 2013 Fed. Cir. LifeScan Scotland, Ltd. v. Shasta Technologies, LLC, No. 13-1271 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 4, 2013) Reversed
October 17, 2013 Fed. Cir. Keurig, Incorporated v. Sturm Foods, Inc., No. 13-1072 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 17, 2013) Affirmed
September 19, 2013 Fed. Cir. Buckhorn Inc. v. Orbis Corporation, No. 12-1643 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 19, 2013) Reversed
September 11, 2013 Fed. Cir. St. Jude Medical, Inc. v. Access Closure, Inc., No. 12-1452 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 11, 2013) Affirmed in Part
March 28, 2013 E.D. Tex. Realtime Data, LLC D/B/A/ IXO, v. T-Mobile, USA Inc, No. 6:10-cv-00493 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 28, 2013) Denied
March 15, 2013 Fed. Cir. Jack Frolow v. Wilson Sporting Goods Co., No. 12-1185 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 15, 2013) Affirmed in Part
February 1, 2013 Fed. Cir. Eurand, Inc. v. Impax Laboratories, Inc., No. 12-1280 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 1, 2013) Affirmed in Part
August 2, 2012 Fed. Cir. Stanley Kippen v. Steven Pack, No. 12-1259 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 2, 2012) Affirmed in Part
February 12, 2012 E.D. Tex. Mondis Technology Ltd v. LG Electronics, Inc. et al, No. 2:07-cv-00565 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 12, 2012) Denied
September 26, 2011 Fed. Cir. Marine Polymer Technologies v. HemCon, Inc., No. 10-1548 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 26, 2011) Reversed in Part
June 13, 2011 E.D. Tex. Intel Corporation v. Negotiated Data Solutions Inc, No. 2:11-cv-00247 (E.D. Tex. June 13, 2011) Granted in Part
March 18, 2010 E.D. Tex. Intel Corporation v. Negotiated Data Solutions, LLC, No. 2:08-cv-00319 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 18, 2010) Granted in Part
July 30, 2009 E.D. Tex. Creative Internet Advertising Corporation v. Yahoo! Inc et al, No. 6:07-cv-00354 (E.D. Tex. July 30, 2009) Denied
July 13, 2009 E.D. Tex. Stragent, LLC v. Nokia Inc. et al, No. 2:08-cv-00293 (E.D. Tex. July 13, 2009) Granted
May 29, 2009 E.D. Tex. Accolade Systems LLC v. Citrix Systems, Inc. et al, No. 6:07-cv-00048 (E.D. Tex. May 29, 2009) Granted in Part
January 16, 2009 E.D. Tex. Intergraph Hardware, et al v. Dell Computer Corp, et al, No. 2:02-cv-00312 (E.D. Tex. Jan. 16, 2009) Granted in Part
March 26, 2007 E.D. Tex. STMicroelectronics Inc v. Sandisk Corporation, No. 4:05-cv-00045 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 26, 2007) See Opinion
February 15, 2006 E.D. Tex. Fenner Investments, Ltd., v. Juniper Networks, Inc. et al, No. 2:05-cv-00005 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 15, 2006) Adopted