Fed. Circ. Patent Decisions In 2020: An Empirical Review

This fourth annual article provides an empirical review of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit's decisions in patent cases during calendar year 2020.

2020 was an unusual year for everyone, including the Federal Circuit. Among the more notable differences from 2019, the court's docket shifted more toward appeals from district court cases; the court affirmed more often, especially in appeals from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board; it issued more nonprecedential opinions and fewer summary dispositions; and it issued fewer dissents.

Methodology and Scope

This year's study covers all patent cases decided by the Federal Circuit in 2020, whether by precedential opinion, nonprecedential opinion or summary affirmance. It includes merits decisions, rulings on writ petitions, dismissals for unappealable subject matter or lack of constitutional standing, and dispositions based on decisions in related cases.

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