Case Summary
**Case Summary: Lingamfelter v. Kappos**
**Docket Number:** 2599354
**Court:** United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
**Year:** Relevant proceedings occurred in the early 2010s.
**Overview:**
Lingamfelter v. Kappos is a case involving issues related to patent law and the decisions made by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The case primarily revolves around the appeal of a patent application that had been rejected by the USPTO, which was led by the Director, Kappos.
**Facts:**
The appellant, Lingamfelter, sought to patent an invention that was determined to not meet the necessary criteria for patentability under U.S. patent law. The USPTO rejected Lingamfelter's application on the grounds that the invention did not fulfill the statutory requirements pertaining to novelty and non-obviousness.
**Legal Issues:**
The case presents key legal questions regarding the patentability criteria established under 35 U.S.C. § 101, § 102, and § 103—specifically, whether the USPTO's rejection was justified given the facts of the case and the application in question. It also examines the standard of review applicable to patent rejections made by the USPTO.
**Holding:**
The Federal Circuit upheld the decision of the USPTO, affirming that the rejection of Lingamfelter’s patent application was proper under the criteria for patentability outlined in the governing U.S. patent laws.
**Conclusion:**
Lingamfelter v. Kappos serves as a significant case in understanding the appellate review process concerning patent applications and the standards applied by the USPTO when assessing patentability. The ruling reinforced the importance of novelty and non-obviousness in patent law, providing clarity on the limitations and expectations for future patent applications.
This case illustrates the challenges inventors face in the patent process and underscores the role of patent examiners in evaluating whether an invention merits patent protection.