Statute treatment: 35 U.S.C. § 103

Ranked leading cases interpreting this statute, drawn from 9,945 citation events across 4,839 distinct cases.

9,945citations total

4,839distinct interpreting cases

114distinct courts

579citations in last 5y

1953–2025year range

Top 20 leading cases

#1 Hughes Aircraft Company v. The United States (1983) cafc 279 own cites 16× in case

#2 Newell Companies, Inc. v. Kenney Manufacturing Company, Defendant/cross-Appellant (1989) cafc 271 own cites 16× in case

#3 Kimberly-Clark Corporation v. Johnson & Johnson and Personal Products Company (1984) cafc 170 own cites 16× in case

#4 In Re Diane M. Dillon (1990) cafc 74 own cites 20× in case

#5 Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. v. Alphapharm Pty., Ltd. (2007) cafc 114 own cites 16× in case

#6 Interconnect Planning Corporation v. Thomas E. Feil, Robert O. Carpenter, v Band Systems, Inc., and Turret Equipment Corp. (1985) cafc 183 own cites 13× in case

#7 Application of Milton E. Herr (1967) ccpa 25 own cites 30× in case

#8 Robert L. Jones and Labrado, Inc. v. Alex Hardy (1984) cafc 129 own cites 12× in case

#9 W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Appellant/cross-Appellee v. Garlock, Inc., Appellee/cross-Appellant (1983) cafc 364 own cites 8× in case

#10 Loctite Corporation, Appellant/cross-Appellee v. Ultraseal Ltd., Appellees/cross-Appellants (1985) cafc 364 own cites 8× in case

#11 In Re Merck & Co., Inc (1986) cafc 81 own cites 13× in case

#12 American Hoist & Derrick Company, Cross-Appellee v. Sowa & Sons, Inc., Cross-Appellant (1984) cafc 557 own cites 6× in case

#13 American Standard Inc. v. Pfizer Inc. And Howmedica, Inc., and Biomet, Inc. (1987) cafc 130 own cites 10× in case

#14 Stratoflex, Inc. v. Aeroquip Corporation (1983) cafc 538 own cites 6× in case

#15 In Re Charles D. Huston and Darryl J. Cornish (2002) cafc 27 own cites 20× in case

#16 In Re David H. Fine (1988) cafc 88 own cites 11× in case

#17 Smiths Industries Medical Systems, Inc., as Successor of Intertech Resources Inc. v. Vital Signs, Inc. (1999) cafc 50 own cites 14× in case

#18 Application of Albert Bowers and James C. Orr (1966) ccpa 38 own cites 16× in case

#19 Application of Charles D. Prater and James Wei (1969) ccpa 100 own cites 10× in case

#20 Orthopedic Equipment Company, Inc., and Marriott Corporation, and Cross-Appellees v. The United States, and Cross-Appellant (1983) cafc 100 own cites 9× in case

Ranking method: leading_score = ln(1 + own_citation_count) × √(mentions_in_case) × flag_factor, where flag_factor = 1.0 green · 0.6 unknown · 0.5 neutral · 0.4 yellow · 0.3 procedural · 0 red. Red-flagged cases excluded — their interpretation has been undermined and shouldn't lead the list. Top 20 returned per statute. Open any case for full G Cite, trajectory, and per-circuit treatment.