Opinion ID: 781499
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: 51 We review the grant of a motion for summary judgment de novo, drawing all reasonable factual inferences in favor of the non-moving party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Summary judgment shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). 52 The determination of infringement is a two-step process. First, the court construes the claims to determine the scope of the claims. Second, it compares the properly construed claims to the accused device. Cybor Corp. v. FAS Techs., Inc., 138 F.3d 1448, 1454, 46 USPQ2d 1169, 1172 (Fed.Cir.1998) ( en banc ). Claim construction is a matter of law that we review de novo, without deference to the district court. Id. at 1456, 138 F.3d 1448, 46 USPQ2d at 1172-73. Hence, claim construction of a means-plus-function limitation, as provided by 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6 (2000), is also a question of law to be reviewed de novo. Chiuminatta Concrete Concepts, Inc. v. Cardinal Indus., Inc., 145 F.3d 1303, 1308, 46 USPQ2d 1752, 1755-56 (Fed.Cir.1998). 53 However, a determination of infringement, both literal and under the doctrine of equivalents, is a question of fact. Insituform Techs., Inc. v. Cat Contracting, Inc., 161 F.3d 688, 692, 48 USPQ2d 1610, 1614 (Fed.Cir.1998). Thus, viewing the facts and inferences in the light most favorable to Lockheed, summary judgment is proper only if no reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505. Finally, the determination of infringement under the doctrine of equivalents is limited by two primary legal doctrines: (1) prosecution history estoppel and (2) the all elements rule. Bell Atl. Network Servs., Inc. v. Covad Communications Group, Inc., 262 F.3d 1258, 1267, 59 USPQ2d 1865, 1869-70 (Fed.Cir.2001) (citing Festo, 234 F.3d at 586, 56 USPQ2d at 1886). The application of these legal limitations is reviewed by this court de novo. Id.