IQRIS v. Point Blank, decided March 7, 2025

IQRIS Technologies LLC and Point Blank Enterprises, Inc., concerns quick-release systems for tactical vests. IQRIS appealed a district court's summary judgment of noninfringement, which was based on a narrow interpretation of the patent claim term "pull cord." The Federal Circuit reviewed the district court's claim construction, specifically addressing whether a "pull cord" must be directly pulled and whether it can include a handle. Ultimately, the appellate court found the district court's construction to be erroneous, holding that the term does not necessarily require direct pulling and can encompass cords with handles. As a result, the Federal Circuit vacated the summary judgment and remanded the case back to the district court for reconsideration under the corrected claim interpretation regarding both literal and equivalent infringement.