MINERVA SURGICAL, INC., v. HOLOGIC, INC., et al., Docket Nos. 20-440, amicus brief filed 3/1/2021
On March 1, 2021, AIPLA filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case Minerva v. Hologic (Case No. 20-440) where the issue presented was “[w]hether a defendant in a patent infringement action who assigned the patent, or is in privity with an assignor of the patent, may have a defense of invalidity heard on the merits.” AIPLA’s brief generally supported keeping the doctrine of assignor estoppel without supporting either party’s position, but allowing for certain exceptions consistent with the findings in Westinghouse Elec. & Mfg. Co. v. Formica Insulation Co., 266 U.S. 342, 348 (1924). The brief distinguished assignor estoppel from the doctrine of licensee estoppel that was abolished in Lear, Inc. v. Adkins, 395 U.S. 653 (1969), and also outlined the profound risks and cloud of uncertainty around assigned patents that might occur should the Court abolish assignor estoppel.
Upcoming Events
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2025 Women in IP Law Global Networking Event
April 3, 2025
The annual Global Networking Event connects intellectual property practitioners from around the world for a day of networking, education, and creating meaningful connections. This year’s theme, Innovation and Collaboration, is an opportunity for the AIPLA Women in IP Law Committee to come together and discuss how women drive innovation and foster collaboration in their workplace. -
World IP Day 2025
April 30, 2025 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Join AIPLA and partner organizations on April 30 in Washington, DC, for a special three-hour program to celebrate World Intellectual Property Day 2025. This annual international event is an opportunity to learn about the role that intellectual property (IP) rights play in encouraging innovation and creativity. The theme of this year’s celebration is “IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP.”