On January 4, 2018, the Federal Circuit ruled in favor of Finnegan client DuPont, affirming a Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) decision that invalidated a Monsanto patent on soybean seed and oil compositions. Monsanto appealed the PTAB's decision in April 2017 after DuPont sought inter partes review of the patent. The Federal Circuit found the patent to be obvious in light of prior art. Monsanto argued that the PTAB misconstrued the claims and relied on legally erroneous theories. They also argued that the PTAB's anticipation finding in the asserted claims was based on "an unlawful composite" of prior art and "non-prior art references." The panel sided with the PTAB, rejecting Monsanto's arguments.
