Legal Definitions - Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is a court in the United States that hears appeals on certain types of cases, such as patent and trademark cases, from all over the country. It was created in 1982 to provide a specialized court for these types of cases.

For example, if a company sues another company for infringing on their patent, and the case is heard in a district court, the losing party can appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The court will then review the case and make a decision on whether the district court made the correct decision.

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is important because it helps to ensure consistency in the interpretation of patent and trademark laws across the country. It also helps to prevent conflicting decisions from different district courts.