⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

The Federal Circuit reviews a Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision about software for tracking fire-hydrant inspections. Tegris, now named SDNW, owns U.S. Patent 11,126,966, which describes a shared online registry where owners, inspectors, and approving authorities can track inspections, deficiencies, notices, and compliance. Brycer and Brycer Management petitioned for inter partes review, a process in which the Board tests issued patent claims against earlier patents and publications. The Board found claims 8 through 16 obvious over four earlier references and therefore unpatentable. SDNW says the Board waited until after the hearing to invoke the printed-matter doctrine, allowed only seven pages of supplemental briefing, and denied expert evidence. It also says the Board misconstrued fire-hydrant management software and accepted an expert outside the relevant specialty. Brycer answers that SDNW had notice and a chance to respond, raised parts of its claim-construction theory too late, and cannot overcome the Board's alternative obviousness findings. The appeal asks whether the Board used a new ground without a meaningful chance to respond, and whether its claim construction and obviousness findings can stand.

SDNW Inc. v. Brycer, L.P. (No. 25-1417) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, argued September 14, 2026.