Account

Sign in to access your account and subscription

<i>TecSec v. IBM</i>: The (Not-So) Reaching Impact of Rule 36 Affirmances

In <i>TecSec, Inc. v. IBM Corp., et al.</i>, the Federal Circuit explained the effect of Federal Circuit Rule 36, under which the Federal Circuit may "enter a judgment of affirmance without opinion" if certain conditions are met. Fed. Cir. R. 36. The decision highlights the impact of a Rule 36 affirmance on related issues in subsequent litigation, particularly where the Federal Circuit summarily affirms a district court decision that is based on multiple, independent grounds.

17 minute read November 02, 2013 at 12:00 AM
By
Doug Stewart and Jared Schuettenhelm
<i>TecSec v. IBM</i>: The (Not-So) Reaching Impact of Rule 36 Affirmances

In TecSec, Inc. v. IBM Corp., et al., 2012-1415 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 2, 2013), the Federal Circuit explained the effect of Federal Circuit Rule 36, under which the Federal Circuit may “enter a judgment of affirmance without opinion” if certain conditions are met.

This premium content is locked for The Intellectual Property Strategist subscribers only

ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS IN The Intellectual Property Strategist

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

Already have an account? Sign In Now

For enterprise-wide or corporate access, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or call 1-877-256-2473.

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2026 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Continue Reading

Most firms are aiming their newest tools at the work they already do — pouring their most powerful technology into running the same tasks a little faster. But when everyone automates the same tasks at once, no one pulls ahead. That reaches the future a little faster while leaving a firm’s largest opportunity untouched — and that opportunity isn’t doing more of the existing work, but transforming how the high-value work gets done.

June 01, 2026

Artificial intelligence is rapidly embedding itself into legal workflows, but much of the conversation treats all use cases as if they carry the same level of risk, even if they do not. The more useful question is not whether AI works, but where it can be safely applied and where it cannot.

June 01, 2026