No. 25-1011

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation v. Unified Patents, LLC

Lower Court: Federal Circuit
Docketed: 2026-02-24
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Amici (1) Experienced Counsel
Tags: America-Invents-Act inter-partes-review judicial-review patent-estoppel patent-litigation real-parties-in-interest
Latest Conference: N/A
Question Presented (from Petition)

To discourage unnecessary litigation and protect patent owners' rights, the America Invents Act requires a petition for inter partes review to identify "all real parties in interest" both "to the patent owner" and "to the public." 35 U.S.C. § 312(a)-(b). When a real party in interest is named to a petition, estoppel attaches to that entity, precluding it from bringing certain further challenges to the patent. § 315(e). Notwithstanding the statutory text, the Federal Circuit concluded that patent owners have no right to know all real parties in interest to petitions brought against them and suffer no injury from deprivation of that information. It also held that § 314(d), which renders the Director's determination whether to institute an inter partes review "final and nonappealable," bars review of final written decisions concerning real parties in interest. In so doing, the Federal Circuit failed to cite or discuss this Court's contrary decision in SAS Inst., Inc. v. Iancu, which held that "nothing in § 314(d)" withdraws judicial authority "to ensure that an inter partes review proceeds in accordance with the law's demands." 584 U.S. 357, 371 (2018).

The questions presented are:

1. Whether a patent owner is injured by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's refusal to require a petition to identify all real parties in interest.

2. Whether § 314(d) bars judicial review of a final decision regarding real parties in interest.

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a patent owner has standing to challenge the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's refusal to require identification of all real parties in interest in inter partes review petitions, and whether § 314(d) bars judicial review of final decisions regarding real parties in interest

Docket Entries

2026-03-26
Amicus brief of Alliance of U.S. Startups & Inventors for Jobs ("USIJ") submitted.
2026-03-26
Brief amicus curiae of Alliance of U.S. Startups & Inventors for Jobs filed.
2026-03-23
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including April 27, 2026, for all respondents.
2026-03-20
Motion of John A. Squires, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office for an extension of time submitted.
2026-03-20
Motion to extend the time to file a response from March 26, 2026 to April 27, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
2026-02-20
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due March 26, 2026)
2025-12-19
Application (25A713) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until February 20, 2026.
2025-12-11
Application (25A713) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from December 22, 2025 to February 20, 2026, submitted to The Chief Justice.

Attorneys

Alliance of U.S. Startups & Inventors for Jobs ("USIJ")
Robert P. TaylorRPT Legal Strategies PC, Amicus
Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
Patrick StrawbridgeConsovoy McCarthy PLLC, Petitioner
John A. Squires, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
United Patents, LLC
Debra J. McComasHaynes & Boone, LLP, Respondent
Angela Marie OliverHaynes and Boone, LLP, Respondent