Federal Circuit Further Clarifies The Meaning Of “Prevailing Party”

On September 9, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“CAFC”) issued a precedential opinion vacating-in-part, affirming-in-part, and remanding a district court decision that denied motions for sanctions, fees, costs, and discovery request. Future Link Sys., LLC v. Realtek Semiconductor Corp. , No. 2023-1056, __F.4th__ (Fed. Cir. Sept. 9, 2025). In its decision, the CAFC concluded, inter alia , that Appellant was a prevailing party under 35 U.S.C. § 285 and Rule 54, and that the district court did not abuse its discretion by refusing to impose Rule 11 sanctions, fees and costs under 28 U.S.C. § 1927. Id.

Plaintiff-Appellee and patent owner, Future Link Systems, LLC (“Future Link”), sued Defendant-Appellant, Realtek Semiconductor Corporation (“Realtek”), in