Maria Santos

Correspondent

Maria Santos

White House correspondent, covers patent, trade and regulatory news

Business & Regulatory patent

Decisions covered by Maria Santos

639 decisions
Apr 23 2026
4th Cir. 26-1020 Per Curiam

In re LISA RICHARDSON HENDERSON

The Fourth Circuit denied Lisa Richardson Henderson's petition for a writ of mandamus, ruling that such relief is an extraordinary remedy reserved for clear rights where no adequate alternative means exist. The court reasoned that the requested orders to enforce attorney admission and correct procedural violations cannot substitute for a direct appeal, which remains the proper vehicle for challenging bankruptcy court decisions.

Bankruptcy Civil
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Apr 23 2026
Fed. Cir. 24-1956 Panel Decision

SLINGSHOT PRINTING LLC v. CANON U.S.A., INC

The Federal Circuit affirmed the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's decision that specific claims of a semiconductor substrate patent were obvious. The court found that prior art references collectively disclosed all claim limitations and provided sufficient motivation for a skilled artisan to combine them.

Civil Intellectual Property
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Apr 23 2026
Fed. Cir. 24-1406 Panel Decision

CENTRIPETAL NETWORKS, LLC v. KEYSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, INC

The Federal Circuit affirmed the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's obviousness rejections for most claims of a network-threat detection patent but reversed its finding for two specific claims. The court held that the Board failed to provide substantial evidence that a skilled artisan would have been motivated to combine prior art references to render claims 4 and 14 obvious.

Civil Intellectual Property
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Apr 23 2026
Fed. Cir. 24-2216 Panel Decision

NANTWORKS, LLC v. NIANTIC, INC

The Federal Circuit affirmed the district court's ruling that specific augmented reality patent claims are invalid under 35 U.S.C. § 101 as abstract ideas. The court held that the patents merely recite generic computer components performing conventional location-based filtering without an inventive concept.

Civil Intellectual Property Summary Judgment
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Apr 23 2026
Fed. Cir. 24-1893 Panel Decision

TECHNOLOGIES, INC v. GOOGLE LLC

The Federal Circuit affirmed the invalidity of two patents for indefiniteness but reversed summary judgment on infringement for a third patent due to disputed facts regarding Google's Content ID system. The case is remanded for trial on the infringement issue while the invalidity rulings for the other patents remain in effect.

Civil Intellectual Property Summary Judgment
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Apr 23 2026
9th Cir. 19399-23L Unpublished

VARELA V. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the Tax Court's summary judgment upholding a frivolous filing penalty and a separate sanction against Ruben Varela. The court rejected Varela's arguments that income tax liability depends on receiving a governmental privilege and found no abuse of discretion in the sanctions imposed for pursuing meritless positions.

Civil Summary Judgment Tax (Civil)
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Apr 22 2026
11th Cir. 1:23-cv-24257-BB Published

Byron Chemaly v. Eddie Lampert

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's order compelling arbitration for a seaman's maintenance and cure claims but reversed the order compelling arbitration for his Jones Act negligence claim against non-signatory defendants. The court held that while the employment agreement's arbitration clause was valid, the plaintiff's allegations did not demonstrate the interdependent and concerted misconduct required to bind non-signatories to the Jones Act claim.

Civil Securities
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Apr 22 2026
6th Cir. 25-1802 Published

Ross v. Robinson, Hoover & Fudge, PLLC

The Sixth Circuit reversed a district court's dismissal of a debt collector's personal jurisdiction, holding that garnishing wages earned in Michigan constitutes purposeful direction of activities toward the state. The court found that the debt collector intentionally targeted a Michigan resident's earnings, satisfying due process requirements under the Calder effects test.

Civil Intellectual Property
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Apr 22 2026
Fed. Cir. 25-1350 Panel Decision

COLLINS v. SHUTTERED VENUES OPERATIONS GRANT

The Federal Circuit determined it lacked jurisdiction over an appeal concerning a Small Business Administration grant dispute because the claim did not involve patent laws or specific tort damages. Consequently, the court transferred the case to the Third Circuit, which holds proper subject matter jurisdiction over this civil action.

Civil Intellectual Property
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