and pragmatic guide for applying the
obviousness doctrine.
The district court's decision denying ABS's motion for judgment as a matter of law on the ground that the '987 patent fails for
obviousness is AFFIRMED.
A patent or some of its claims may be adjudged invalid on numerous grounds, including a lack of patentable subject matter, (73) lack of utility, (74) express or inherent anticipation, (75)
obviousness, (76) lack of adequate written description, (77) lack of enablement, (78) claim indefiniteness, (79) or lack of inventorship.
Thinking about the tension between unexpected results and
obviousness to try also offers a window on why we have an
obviousness doctrine at all.
Hospira cross-appealed the court's decisions regarding the on-sale bar,
obviousness and indefiniteness.
(61) To take the example of the PHOSITA
obviousness lever, policy analysis of the
obviousness standard in patent law has long recognized that this lever plays a critical role in responding to the degree of uncertainty that attends innovative activity, and particularly in fostering the chancy development of newly discovered technologies.
(60) When considering a challenge to a patent based on
obviousness, the court starts with a presumption of validity, and the burden of proving the invention was obvious rests upon the party challenging the patents.
Obviousness, the great question of patent law, is a muddle.
That element of
obviousness helped avert attention from the fact that this is actually nothing beyond a tale of lovers caught in a spot.
Patent and Trademark Office to challenge issued patents on grounds of anticipation and/or
obviousness based on patents or printed publications.