No Separate Takings Remedy Against The Government
Client Alert | 1 min read | 09.27.06
The Federal Circuit, in Zoltek Corp. v. United States , (No. 04-5100, September 21, 2006), denies Zoltek's petition for rehearing en banc . In a clarifying comment to the dissent, the Federal Circuit explains that private parties do in fact have a right of action against the government for unauthorized use of a patent pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1498. However, any such rights are no greater than the rights against private parties, and as the Supreme Court held in Schillinger v. United States , 155 U.S. 163 (1894), Congress has not created a separate parallel takings remedy in the Court of Federal Claims. Thus, since there would be no claim for infringement against a private party under Section 1498 in this case, there is no claim for infringement against the government.
Insights
Client Alert | 6 min read | 11.26.25
From ‘Second’ to ‘First:’ Federal Circuit Tackles Obvious Claim Errors
Patent claims must be clear and definite, as they set the boundaries of the patentee’s rights. Occasionally, however, claim language contains errors, such as typographical mistakes or incorrect numbering. Courts possess very limited authority to correct such errors. The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has emphasized that judicial correction is appropriate only in rare circumstances, where (1) the error is evident from the face of the patent, and (2) the proposed correction is the sole reasonable interpretation in view of the claim language, specification, and prosecution history. See Group One, Ltd. v. Hallmark Cards, Inc., 407 F.3d 1297, 1303 (Fed. Cir. 2005) and Novo Indus., L.P. v. Micro Molds Corp., 350 F.3d 1348, 1357 (Fed. Cir. 2003).
Client Alert | 5 min read | 11.26.25
Client Alert | 6 min read | 11.25.25
Brussels Court Clarifies the EU’s SPC Manufacturing Waiver Regulation Rules
Client Alert | 3 min read | 11.24.25
