The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has signaled that it will use the False Claims Act (FCA) as a tool against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies that discriminate against certain groups. 

In an unusual order recently issued by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), the ITC vacated an ALJ’s Final Initial Determination (ID) on sub-prongs (A) and (B) of the economic prong of the domestic industry requirement, finding error in his decision to exclude investments made prior to issuance of the asserted patents. In Certain Oil Vaporizing Devices, Components Thereof, and Products Containing the Same, the ALJ had found infringement, validity, and satisfaction of the technical prong, but he recommended no exclusion order solely because certain of the complainant’s investments under sub-prongs (A) and (B) were incurred prior to the issue date of the asserted patents. See Inv. No. 337-TA-1392, Comm’n Order at 2 (May 16, 2025). That decision broke from over a decade of precedent, the ITC’s order explained.