Enablement

Enablement requires that a patent's specification teach a person skilled in the art how to make and use the full scope of the claimed invention without undue experimentation. The question is one of law resting on factual findings, and courts weigh factors including the quantity of experimentation needed, the amount of guidance in the specification, the predictability of the field, and the breadth of the claims. The requirement is most demanding where claims are broad and the technology unpredictable, and the Supreme Court's decision in Amgen v. Sanofi reaffirmed that the full claimed scope must be enabled. The opinions collected here address enablement as a validity defence.

80 opinions and orders.

• July 9, 2026 Fed. Cir. Wyeth LLC v. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, No. 24-2325 (Fed. Cir. July 9, 2026) Affirmed
• July 7, 2026 E.D. Tex. Smart RF Inc. v. AT&T Mobility LLC, No. 2:24-cv-00195 (E.D. Tex. July 7, 2026) Adopted in Part
• April 16, 2026 Fed. Cir. Teva Pharmaceuticals International GmbH v. Eli Lilly and Company, No. 24-1094 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 16, 2026) Reversed in Part
• March 11, 2026 E.D. Tex. Robert Bosch, LLC v. Westport Fuel Systems Canada, Inc., No. 2:23-cv-00038 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 11, 2026) Adopted in Part
• December 2, 2025 Fed. Cir. Seagen Inc. v. Daiichi Sankyo Company, Ltd., No. 23-2424 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 2, 2025) Reversed
• October 15, 2025 Fed. Cir. Brita LP v. ITC, No. 24-1098 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 15, 2025) Affirmed
• September 17, 2025 Fed. Cir. Lambeth Magnetic Structures, LLC v. Seagate Technology (US) Holdings Inc., No. 23-1335 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 17, 2025) Reversed in Part
• April 15, 2025 Fed. Cir. Sage Products, LLC v. Stewart, No. 23-1603 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 15, 2025) Affirmed
• February 18, 2025 Fed. Cir. In re Mcleay, No. 23-2338 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 18, 2025) Affirmed
• February 13, 2025 Fed. Cir. US Synthetic Corp. v. ITC, No. 23-1217 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 13, 2025) Reversed in Part
• January 7, 2025 Fed. Cir. Sandstrom v. Microsoft Corporation, No. 24-1040 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 7, 2025) Affirmed
• January 7, 2025 Fed. Cir. Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc. v. Columbia Insurance Company, No. 23-1944 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 7, 2025) Affirmed
• June 12, 2024 Fed. Cir. In re PEN, No. 23-2282 (Fed. Cir. June 12, 2024) Affirmed
• December 1, 2023 E.D. Tex. Entropic Communications, LLC v. Charter Communications, Inc. et al, No. 2:22-cv-00125 (E.D. Tex. Dec. 1, 2023) Denied
• September 20, 2023 Fed. Cir. Baxalta Incorporated v. Genentech, Inc., No. 22-1461 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 20, 2023) Affirmed
• June 27, 2023 Fed. Cir. Medytox, Inc. v. Galderma S.A., No. 22-1165 (Fed. Cir. June 27, 2023) Affirmed
• April 20, 2023 Fed. Cir. Fs.Com Inc. v. ITC, No. 22-1228 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 20, 2023) Affirmed
• March 15, 2023 E.D. Tex. U.S. Silica Company v. amberger Kaolinwerke Eduard Kick GmbH & Co. KG, No. 2:20-cv-00298 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 15, 2023) Denied
• November 15, 2022 Fed. Cir. Pharmacyclics LLC v. Alvogen, Inc., No. 21-2270 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 15, 2022) Affirmed
• November 14, 2022 Fed. Cir. American National v. Sleep Number Corporation, No. 21-1321 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 14, 2022) Affirmed
• May 6, 2022 E.D. Tex. United Services automobile association v. PNC Bank N.A., No. 2:20-cv-00319 (E.D. Tex. May 6, 2022) Adopted
• April 29, 2022 E.D. Tex. United Services automobile association v. PNC Bank N.A., No. 2:20-cv-00319 (E.D. Tex. Apr. 29, 2022) Denied
• June 21, 2021 Fed. Cir. Amgen Inc. v. Sanofi, No. 20-1074 (Fed. Cir. June 21, 2021) Affirmed
• March 1, 2021 Fed. Cir. Bayer HealthCare LLC v. Baxalta Inc., No. 19-2418 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 1, 2021) Affirmed
• February 11, 2021 Fed. Cir. Amgen Inc. v. Sanofi, No. 20-1074 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 11, 2021) Affirmed
• November 4, 2020 Fed. Cir. Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. University of Wyoming Research, No. 19-1530 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 4, 2020) Affirmed
• May 20, 2020 Fed. Cir. McRo, Inc. v. Bandai Namco Games america, No. 19-1557 (Fed. Cir. May 20, 2020) Affirmed in Part
• April 3, 2020 Fed. Cir. Taylor v. Iancu, No. 18-1047 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 3, 2020) Affirmed
• January 10, 2020 Fed. Cir. In re Thermolife International LLC, No. 18-2189 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 10, 2020) Affirmed
• November 8, 2019 Fed. Cir. In re Motupalli, No. 19-1889 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 8, 2019) Affirmed
• October 30, 2019 Fed. Cir. Idenix Pharmaceuticals LLC v. Gilead Sciences Inc., No. 18-1691 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 30, 2019) Affirmed in Part
• June 20, 2019 Fed. Cir. Enzo Life Sciences, Inc. v. Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., No. 17-2498 (Fed. Cir. June 20, 2019) Affirmed
• August 20, 2018 Fed. Cir. In re Maatita, No. 17-2037 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 20, 2018) Reversed
• July 25, 2018 Fed. Cir. Trustees Of Boston University v. Everlight Electronics Co., No. 16-2576 (Fed. Cir. July 25, 2018) Reversed in Part
• July 2, 2018 Fed. Cir. In re Marquez, No. 17-2038 (Fed. Cir. July 2, 2018) Affirmed
• November 13, 2017 Fed. Cir. Promega Corp v. Life Tech, No. 13-1011 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 13, 2017) Affirmed
• October 5, 2017 Fed. Cir. Amgen Inc. v. Sanofi, No. 17-1480 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 5, 2017) Reversed in Part
• August 25, 2017 E.D. Tex. Erfindergemeinschaft UroPep GbR v. Eli Lilly & Co., No. 2:15-cv-1202-WCB (E.D. Tex. Aug. 25, 2017) Denied
• June 21, 2017 Fed. Cir. Storer v. Clark, No. 15-1802 (Fed. Cir. June 21, 2017) Affirmed
• September 29, 2016 E.D. Tex. Perdiem Co LLC v. GPS Logic, LLC, No. 2:15-cv-01216 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 29, 2016) Adopted
• September 12, 2016 E.D. Tex. Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l. v. LG Electronics, Inc. et al, No. 2:14-cv-00911 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 12, 2016) Adopted
• August 4, 2015 Fed. Cir. Allergan, Inc. v. Sandoz Inc., No. 14-1275 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 4, 2015) Affirmed
• April 3, 2015 Fed. Cir. Vasudevan Software, Inc. v. MicroStrategy, Inc., No. 14-1094 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 3, 2015) Affirmed in Part
• December 19, 2014 Fed. Cir. Creative Kingdoms, LLC v. ITC, No. 14-1072 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 19, 2014) Affirmed
• December 15, 2014 Fed. Cir. Promega Corp v. Life Tech, No. 13-1011 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 15, 2014) Reversed in Part
• March 18, 2014 Fed. Cir. Alcon Research, Ltd. v. Barr Laboratories, Inc., No. 12-1340 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 18, 2014) Affirmed in Part
• February 25, 2014 Fed. Cir. In re Hoffmann, No. 13-1657 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 25, 2014) Affirmed
• February 6, 2014 Fed. Cir. Pfizer Inc. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, No. 12-1576 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 6, 2014) Affirmed
• November 7, 2013 E.D. Tex. Personalized Media Communications, L.L.C. v. Zynga, Inc., No. 2:12-cv-00068 (E.D. Tex. Nov. 7, 2013) Granted
• November 5, 2013 Fed. Cir. Sanofi-Aventis v. Pfizer Inc., No. 12-1345 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 5, 2013) Affirmed
• July 26, 2013 Fed. Cir. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA v. Sandoz Inc., No. 12-1567 (Fed. Cir. July 26, 2013) Affirmed in Part
• June 26, 2013 Fed. Cir. Wyeth v. abbott Laboratories, No. 12-1223 (Fed. Cir. June 26, 2013) Affirmed
• April 5, 2013 Fed. Cir. In re Steve Morsa, No. 12-1609 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 5, 2013) Affirmed in Part
• February 14, 2013 Fed. Cir. Cephalon, Inc. v. Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., No. 11-1325 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 14, 2013) Reversed in Part
• August 14, 2012 Fed. Cir. Magsil Corp. v. Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, No. 11-1221 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 14, 2012) Affirmed
• May 21, 2012 Fed. Cir. In re Hillis, No. 11-1401 (Fed. Cir. May 21, 2012) Affirmed
• January 10, 2012 Fed. Cir. Streck v. Research & Diagnostic, No. 11-1044 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 10, 2012) Affirmed
• July 29, 2011 Fed. Cir. ELI Lilly and Company v. Actavis Elizabeth, No. 10-1500 (Fed. Cir. July 29, 2011) Affirmed in Part
• June 7, 2011 Fed. Cir. Boston Scientific Corp. v. Johnson & Johnson, No. 10-1230 (Fed. Cir. June 7, 2011) Affirmed
• April 26, 2010 Fed. Cir. Alza Corp. v. Andrax Pharmaceuticals, LLC., No. 09-1350 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 26, 2010) Affirmed
• September 25, 2009 Fed. Cir. In re ‘318 Patent Infringement Litigation, No. 08-1594 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 25, 2009) Affirmed
• August 21, 2009 Fed. Cir. Ariad Pharmaceuticals v. ELI Lilly, No. 08-1248 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 21, 2009) Vacated & Remanded
• October 3, 2008 Fed. Cir. Impax Laboratories Inc. v. Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc., No. 07-1513 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 3, 2008) Affirmed
• April 9, 2008 Fed. Cir. In re Speas, No. 08-1076 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 9, 2008) Affirmed
• February 1, 2008 Fed. Cir. Sitrick v. Dreamworks, No. 07-1174 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 1, 2008) Affirmed
• October 26, 2007 Fed. Cir. Pharmaceutical Resources v. Roxane Laboratories, No. 07-1093 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 26, 2007) Affirmed
• October 4, 2007 Fed. Cir. Monsanto Co. v. Syngenta Seeds, No. 06-1472 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 4, 2007) Affirmed
• September 20, 2007 Fed. Cir. Memc Electronic Materials v. Mitsubishi Materials Silicon Corporation, No. 06-1305 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 20, 2007) Affirmed in Part
• September 6, 2007 Fed. Cir. Automotive Technologies International v. BMW of North America, No. 06-1013 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 6, 2007) Affirmed
• August 24, 2007 Fed. Cir. Ormco Corporation v. Align Technology, No. 06-1240 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 24, 2007) Affirmed in Part
• March 22, 2007 Fed. Cir. Liebel-Flarsheim Company v. Medrad, No. 06-1156 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 22, 2007) Affirmed
• January 26, 2007 Fed. Cir. Andersen Corp. v. Fiber Composites, LLC, No. 05-1434 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 26, 2007) Affirmed in Part
• December 12, 2006 Fed. Cir. Classified Cosmetics, Inc. v. DEL Laboratories, Inc., No. 06-1010 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 12, 2006) Reversed
• October 6, 2006 Fed. Cir. In re Martin G. Reiffin, No. 06-1063 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 6, 2006) Affirmed
• November 18, 2005 Fed. Cir. Invitrogen Corp. (Formerly Known as Life Technologies, Inc.) v. Clontech Laboratories, Inc., No. 04-1039 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 18, 2005) Affirmed in Part
• October 4, 2005 Fed. Cir. Lizardtech, ET AL. v. Earth Resource Mapping, ET AL., No. 05-1062 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 4, 2005) Affirmed
• September 7, 2005 Fed. Cir. In re Dane K. Fisher, No. 04-1465 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 7, 2005) Affirmed
• August 11, 2005 Fed. Cir. Warner-Lambert Company v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, No. 04-1506 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 11, 2005) Affirmed in Part
• June 28, 2005 Fed. Cir. Northpoint Technology, Ltd v. MDS America, Inc., ET AL., No. 04-1249 (Fed. Cir. June 28, 2005) Affirmed
• December 10, 2004 Fed. Cir. In re John Dash and Patrick S. Keefe, No. 04-1145 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 10, 2004) Affirmed