| name | markman-hearing-brief |
| title | Markman Hearing Brief |
| description | Drafts Markman Hearing Briefs for patent claim construction under the Phillips framework. Structures disputed-term analysis from intrinsic evidence (claims, specification, prosecution history) with local-rule-compliant formatting. Use when preparing claim construction briefs, Markman hearing submissions, or patent claim interpretation arguments in US federal court. |
| author | CaseMark |
| author_url | https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/markman-hearing-brief |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| version | 0.1.0 |
| execution_mode | open |
| jurisdiction | us |
| practice | ip |
| language | en |
| tags | ["brief","drafting","litigation"] |
Markman Hearing Brief
Drafts a claim construction brief persuading the court to adopt the client's proposed constructions of disputed patent claim terms under the Phillips framework.
Prerequisites
Gather before drafting:
- Patent-in-suit — claims, specification (column:line or ¶ cites), drawings
- Prosecution history — office actions, responses, amendments, examiner interviews
- Disputed terms — each term with client's and opposing party's proposed constructions
- Party position — plaintiff/defendant; opening/responsive brief
- Local rules — font, margins, page/word limits, caption format, CM/ECF requirements
- Case management order — briefing schedule, page limits, claim construction procedures
Brief Structure
1. Caption & Title Page
Court name, parties, case number, and title per local rules. Title format: "[Party]'s Opening/Responsive Brief in Support of Claim Construction."
2. TOC / TOA
- TOC: all sections with page refs — generate after final draft
- TOA: cases (alphabetical, Bluebook), statutes/rules, treatises/dictionaries
3. Introduction
- Identify patent-in-suit, disputed terms, and proposed constructions
- Include claim construction summary table:
| Disputed Term | [Party]'s Construction | Opposing Construction |
|---|
| "[term]" | … | … |
- Roadmap arguments; write for a generalist judge
4. Factual & Procedural Background
- The invention — problem solved and how; plain language
- Prosecution history — amendments, arguments overcoming rejections, estoppel implications
- Litigation posture — accused products/processes, procedural history to Markman hearing
- Cite spec by column:line or ¶; prosecution history by date and document
5. Legal Standards
Present the Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc) framework:
| Principle | Rule |
|---|
| Ordinary meaning | POSITA meaning at time of invention |
