Return Mail v. Service
In brief
The Postal Service and other federal agencies cannot start the three patent-review proceedings at issue because the Court said the government is not a “person” under that law.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided 6-3 · June 10, 2019 · Opinion by Justice Sotomayor
- What it’s about
- Return Mail sued the U.S. Postal Service for patent infringement, prompting the USPS to petition for a patent review.
- Who it affects
- Federal agencies cannot use these three America Invents Act patent-review procedures to challenge a patent. The ruling resolved whether the government could start those proceedings, not whether Return Mail's patent was valid.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court decided that the federal government is not considered a "person" capable of instituting patent review proceedings under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act.
The case focused on how Congress used the word “person” in a 2011 law that created several ways to challenge patents outside federal court.
Question presented
Whether the government is a "person" who may petition to institute review proceedings under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act.
What the Court decided
Holding
The Government is not a “person” capable of instituting the three AIA review proceedings. 868 F. 3d 1350, reversed and remanded.
- Result
- Reversed
The vote
From the opinions
“The America Invents Act states that all three administrative procedures may be invoked only by a “person.””
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished its work on this docket. It sent the case back to the Federal Circuit for further action consistent with the ruling.
Documents
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Opinion added: opinion
Brief added: Petition
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Court Order added: Lower Court Orders/Opinions
Brief added: Questions Presented
More questions
- What did the Supreme Court decide in Return Mail?
- The Court said the federal government is not a “person” that may start the three America Invents Act patent-review proceedings.
- Who won Return Mail v. Postal Service?
- Return Mail won the Supreme Court's ruling on the legal question. The Court overturned the Federal Circuit's decision favoring the Postal Service's ability to seek review.
- What happens next in Return Mail v. Postal Service?
- The case returns to the Federal Circuit. That court must proceed in line with the Supreme Court's ruling.
- Did the Court decide whether Return Mail's patent was valid?
- No. The ruling addressed only whether the federal government could begin the specified administrative patent-review proceedings.
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.