Patent Law Historical Observations: Oil And Gas

We recently posted an article reviewing the year past in oil and gas patent litigation.  We analyzed new Federal Court cases and issued decisions and provided commentary on future implications.  You can read that article here.

This article continues that analysis by looking backwards in time; specifically to oil and gas patent litigation for the years 2009-2012.  What conclusions can be drawn if we look at a 5-year window of time?

The short answer is that 2013 was as busy a year for oil and gas patent litigation as the previous four years combined.

For the 2009-2012 timeframe there were twelve patent cases filed in the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal relating to oil and gas patent litigation.  Six oil and gas patent infrinement decisions were rendered by the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal in that same timeframe.