patent venue Archives

May 25, 2017

Supreme Court Clarifies the Meaning of the Patent Venue Statute

On May 22, 2017 the U.S. Supreme Court issued its unanimous decision in TC Heartland, LLC v. Kraft Foods Group Brands, LLC. The Court reaffirmed its 1957 decision in Fourco Glass Co. v. Transmirra Products Corp., 353 U.S. 222, 226 (1957) and held that under the patent venue statute, 28 U.S.C. §1400(b), a domestic corporation “resides” only in its State of incorporation. In so ruling, the Court rejected the broader interpretation of the patent venue statute that the Federal Circuit has been applying for more than 25 years. 28 U.S.C. §1400(b) provides: “Any civil action for patent infringement may be… Read more

Jan 13, 2016

Will the Patent Venue Statute be Reinterpreted?

Heartland is an Indiana limited liability company that is not registered to do business in Delaware and does not have any regular or established place of business in Delaware. It was sued for patent infringement in the District of Delaware and its motion to dismiss or transfer the action under 28 U.S.C. §1406 was denied. In the pending Federal Circuit mandamus action it filed, In re TC Heartland, Heartland has asked the court to reconsider its interpretation of the patent venue statute 28 U.S.C. §1400(b). For a court to adjudicate a case, it has to have jurisdiction, both personal jurisdiction… Read more