News Article
Barry Herman, Jim Lennon Write Article Examining 2012 Federal Circuit Decisions on the Obviousness of Chemical Innovations
January 22, 2013
Womble Carlyle attorneys Barry Herman and Jim Lennon discuss the federal circuit’s recent patent obviousness decisions relating to the chemical arts in a new article at IPWatchdog.com.
Herman and Lennon found a few trends in federal court decisions. Pharmaceutical patent holders in litigation fared well. Patent holders appealing decisions from the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences fared poorly. And chemical patents in district court litigation may be less susceptible to invalidation for obviousness than they once were.
A chemical engineer by training, Barry Herman litigates matters across a wide array of technologies in the chemical, mechanical, and electrical arts. He represents both domestic and foreign clients in a full range of patent, trademark and other intellectual property disputes before the United States Federal District Courts and the International Trade Commission (ITC). He practices in the firm’s Baltimore office.
Jim Lennon is a registered patent attorney who helps clients resolve infringement and validity disputes and counsels them on patent licensing matters. His experience also includes resolving disputes over false marking, breach of contract, antitrust, unfair competition and replevin, among others. Lennon practices in Womble Carlyle’s Wilmington, Del., office.
This document is intended as an informational reminder and does not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions or would like to discuss a particular situation, please contact Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP. The purpose of this article is to provide general information about significant legal developments and should not be construed as legal advice on any specific facts and circumstances.
