As reported by Reuters, the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a patent appeal involving Apple, Google, and LG Electronics. This decision brings a definitive close to a contentious legal dispute surrounding the validity of expired patents and the authority of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
The conflict originated in 2021 when Gesture Technology Partners (GTP) filed lawsuits against Apple and its contemporaries. GTP alleged infringement on four patents related to camera-based sensing technology—systems used to detect movement and objects in mobile devices. Crucially, the patents in question had already expired in 2020, prior to the filing of the lawsuits.
GTP contended that once a patent’s term ends, the PTAB should no longer have the authority to assess its validity, arguing that such matters should be restricted to federal courts. This argument challenged the established mechanism for reviewing intellectual property claims.
Apple, Google, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office successfully opposed this view. They argued that the ability to invalidate unmeritorious patents—regardless of their expiration status—is essential for protecting public rights and maintaining the integrity of the patent system. The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals previously agreed with this stance, ruling that the PTAB does indeed have the authority to review expired patents.
By denying the petition for a writ of certiorari, the Supreme Court has effectively upheld the Federal Circuit’s decision. This outcome reinforces the ability of technology companies to utilize the PTAB as a venue to challenge questionable patent claims, even in cases involving legacy technology. It serves as a notable precedent that may deter future litigation based on expired intellectual property.
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