Correspondent

Maria Santos

White House correspondent, covers patent, trade and regulatory news

Business & Regulatory patent

Decisions covered by Maria Santos

1,025 decisions

Jun 5 2026

7th Cir. 25-1265 Panel Decision

UNITE HERE LOCAL 1 v. MAGNIFICENT MILE HOTEL MANAGEMENT, LLC, doing business as Chicago Hotel Collection

The Seventh Circuit affirmed a district court order confirming an arbitrator's award reinstating a hotel employee. The court held that the employer could not defeat the award by invoking a public policy against workplace violence when the arbitrator's decision did not violate any statute or contract.

Civil Labor

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Jun 5 2026

Fed. Cir. 24-1600 Panel Decision

Hafeman v. Google LLC

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit dismissed in part and affirmed in part a Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision finding three computer recovery patents unpatentable. The court held that challenges to the Board's decision to institute inter partes review are barred from judicial review under the America Invents Act.

Civil Intellectual Property

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Jun 5 2026

9th Cir. 2:23-cv-05531-WLH-AGR Unpublished

Roggenkamp v. Morgan Stanley Medical Plan

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's finding that the plan administrator did not operate under a conflict of interest. However, the court reversed and remanded the denial of benefits because the administrator failed to provide specific reasons for the denial and relied on a non-plan document rather than the governing Summary Plan Description.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil ERISA / Employee Benefits

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Jun 5 2026

Fed. Cir. 24-2316 Panel Decision

International Rights Advocates v. Mullin

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a dismissal of a complaint alleging that Customs and Border Protection unreasonably delayed action on petitions regarding forced child labor in cocoa imports. The court held that the plaintiff organization failed to establish organizational standing because it did not demonstrate a concrete injury to its specific activities.

Civil Intellectual Property Standing

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Jun 5 2026

9th Cir. 2:25-cv-02517-SPL Unpublished

MFIB, LLC v. IBCA, LLC

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of a preliminary injunction in a trademark dispute involving the ICON Marks. The court held that the defendants established senior rights through continuous use and privity with prior business entities.

Civil Intellectual Property Preliminary Injunction

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Jun 5 2026

Fed. Cir. 25-1281 Panel Decision

Melinta Therapeutics, LLC v. Nexus Pharmaceuticals, Inc

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that a generic antibiotic manufacturer infringed two patents held by Melinta Therapeutics. The court rejected the appellant's challenges regarding claim construction and the written description requirement for one of the patents.

Civil Intellectual Property

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Jun 4 2026

9th Cir. 3:23-cv-00322-TLT Unpublished

Stebbins v. Google LLC

The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that a YouTube channel icon used to criticize a streamer constituted fair use. The appellate panel also upheld orders declaring the streamer a vexatious litigant and restricting his future litigation conduct.

Civil Intellectual Property

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Jun 4 2026

Fed. Cir. 24-2323 Panel Decision

Shandler v. Office of Personnel Management

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit dismissed a petition for review of a Merit Systems Protection Board decision. The court ruled the petition was untimely because it was filed sixty-two days after the Board's final decision rather than within the required sixty-day window.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil

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Jun 4 2026

Fed. Cir. 25-1291 Panel Decision

Chandan Steel Ltd. v. United States

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed an antidumping order against Chandan Steel Limited. The court held that the Department of Commerce acted within its authority in applying adverse facts available due to the company's failure to provide complete data.

Antitrust (Civil) Civil

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Jun 4 2026

Fed. Cir. 22-1762 Panel Decision

ARENDI S.A.R.L. v. OATH HOLDINGS INC.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed judgments holding that four asserted patents are directed to patent-ineligible subject matter under Section one hundred and one of Title thirty-five of the United States Code.

Civil Intellectual Property Summary Judgment

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