Meta Platforms, Inc. v. AlmondNet, Inc. — Fed. Cir. (Oct 7, 2026)

The Federal Circuit hears Meta Platforms versus AlmondNet, an appeal involving a patent for linking devices through a shared internet address and using activity on one device to target advertising on another. Meta asked the Patent Trial and Appeal Board to invalidate the challenged claims, arguing that earlier technology made the claimed combination obvious. The Board found that Meta had not proved its case, and Meta appealed. The dispute centers on whether Meta’s proposed combination determines that two devices used the same address during a predetermined time period. You will hear references to D H C P, the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It can assign an address for a limited lease period. Renewal can keep the same address in use beyond that original period, and the parties disagree about what this means for the patent’s timing requirement. Substantial-evidence review asks whether the record contains evidence a reasonable person could accept as supporting the Board’s factual findings.
Meta Platforms, Inc. v. AlmondNet, Inc. (No. 25-1638) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, argued October 7, 2026.
Sources:
Argument audio — Federal Circuit:
https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/oral-arguments/25-1638_10072026.mp3
Case and argument date — official Federal Circuit announcement:
https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/10-07-2026-2025-1638-meta-platforms-inc-v-almondnet-inc-audio-uploaded/
Patent background and Board decision — IPR2023-01281, February 19, 2025:
https://ptacts.uspto.gov/ptacts/public-informations/petitions/1554458/download-documents?artifactId=3DrnRtdbqT_EISvyorN9IwmR2HqSZvm3Sh51zIAVoVWYNH7NtXZCBxg
Appeal grounds and counsel — Meta’s notice of appeal, April 7, 2025:
https://ptacts.uspto.gov/ptacts/public-informations/petitions/1554458/download-documents?artifactId=HuDcMqkTeT0jWiSBBmfUqVxjuxwGWVB455JcJZEUnE6UexjaoV-j2bA
Parties and joined proceedings — corrected Federal Circuit order, September 3, 2025:
https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/25-1638.ORDER.9-3-2025_2567215.pdf
DHCP leases and renewal — IETF RFC 2131, §§ 3.3 and 4.4.5:
https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc2131
Review of Patent Office findings — Dickinson v. Zurko:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/98-377
Review of Board factual findings — Celgene v. Peter, page 9:
https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/18-1167.opinion.7-30-2019.pdf
James Milkey’s firm — Russ August & Kabat:
https://www.raklaw.com/attorney/james-a-milkey/