Local Rule 1-2: Scope and Construction

1-2 Scope and Construction.

(a) Utility Patents. These rules apply to all civil actions filed in or transferred to this Court which allege infringement of a utility patent in a complaint, counterclaim, cross-claim or third-party claim, or which seek a declaratory judgment that a utility patent is not infringed, is invalid or is unenforceable. The Court may accelerate, extend, eliminate, or modify the obligations or deadlines set forth in these Local Patent Rules based on the circumstances of any particular case. The Local Rules of this Court shall also apply to these actions, except to the extent they are inconsistent with these Local Patent Rules.

(b) Design Patents. These rules do not specifically apply to civil actions filed in or transferred to this Court that allege infringement of a design patent. The parties in a design-parent case may, however, consider whether some or all of the below Local Patent Rules should be adopted to address infringement contentions, invalidity contentions, or claim construction matters in these cases. These considerations shall be addressed by the parties when they confer pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f) and raised with the Court at the Rule 16 Scheduling Conference.