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In re WSOU Investments LLC — Fed. Cir. (argued September 11, 2026)

No. 25-1153 Argued September 11, 2026 Published September 13, 2026

The Federal Circuit reviews the Patent Office's rejection of claims in WSOU Investments' service-based networking patent. The patent tackles IP-address changes: its network layer lets endpoints find one another by service name and keep a connection through the change. Cisco earlier sought inter partes review based on Traversat, a peer-to-peer networking patent. The Board declined to institute review because Cisco used Traversat's peer name in the request but a separate identifier to establish the connection; WSOU's claim requires the same service name in both places. A third party later requested ex parte reexamination. The examiner rejected the claims; the Board reversed those rejections, then entered its own obviousness rejection. Claim construction means deciding what patent language covers. Obviousness asks whether a skilled engineer had reason to make the claimed change and could expect it to work. The appeal asks whether the Board broadened its earlier construction, adequately explained the modification, and properly refused to reopen prosecution.

In re WSOU Investments LLC (No. 25-1153) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, argued September 11, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/oral-arguments/25-1153_09112026.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/listen-to-oral-arguments/
September 2026 argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit:https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/OralArguments/PublicCalendar-September2026.pdf
U.S. Patent No. 9,357,014 — PTAB exhibit:https://ptabdata.blob.core.windows.net/files/2021/IPR2021-00961/v1_Ex.%201001%20-%20US9357014%20%28Shamilian%29.pdf
IPR2021-00961 institution decision — Patent Trial and Appeal Board:https://ptabdata.blob.core.windows.net/files/2021/IPR2021-00961/IPR2021-00961%20DI%20FINAL.pdf
IPR2021-00961 patent-owner response — Patent Trial and Appeal Board record:https://ptabdata.blob.core.windows.net/files/2021/IPR2021-00961/2021-09-17.%20IPR2021-00961%20POPR.pdf
Traversat, U.S. Patent No. 8,359,397 — PTAB exhibit:https://ptabdata.blob.core.windows.net/files/2021/IPR2021-00961/v5_Ex.%201005%20-%20US%208359397%20%28Traversat%29.pdf
Ex parte reexamination request — USPTO Official Gazette:https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/og/2022/week22/TOC.htm
37 C.F.R. § 41.50 — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations:https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-37/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-41/subpart-C/section-41.50
Procedure after a new Board rejection — USPTO MPEP § 1214.01:https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1214.html
Obviousness guidance — USPTO MPEP § 2143:https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s2143.html
35 U.S.C. § 103 — U.S. House of Representatives:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title35-section103&num=0&edition=prelim
U.S. Patent No. 9,357,014 record — Google Patents:https://patents.google.com/patent/US9357014B2/en
Office of the Solicitor — USPTO:https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/organizational-offices/office-general-counsel/office-solicitor
Appellate docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/cafc/25-1153

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