Order Of Precedence Clause Gets Boost
Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 06.06.06
In Medlin Constr. Group, Ltd. v. Harvey (June 1, 2006), the Federal Circuit sided with the contractor, finding that only the contractor's interpretation did not read relevant provisions out of the contract. Of primary interest, though, was the alternative holding, in which the court held that, even if there had been an ambiguity, it would have been resolved against the government under the order of precedence clause, giving that clause seemingly greater weight than the court has previously in many "patent ambiguity" cases decided against the contractor.
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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
