Cases by Year shows how the number of cases matching your research criteria has changed over time. Use it to identify filing trends, periods of increased activity, and changes in litigation volume.
What it tells you
Section titled “What it tells you”Cases by Year groups matching cases by the year they were filed and displays the results as a chart with the corresponding values in a table.
Because the analysis is built from your selected criteria, you can use it to examine filing activity for a particular court, party, patent or other subject supported by the library.
Questions it can answer
Section titled “Questions it can answer”- Has filing activity increased or decreased over time?
- Were cases concentrated in a particular period?
- How has litigation involving a selected party or subject changed over time?
- Which years had the most cases matching my research criteria?
- Does a change in filters reveal a different filing trend?
How to interpret the analysis
Section titled “How to interpret the analysis”Cases by Year measures case filing activity within the cases that match your selected criteria.
Each year represents the number of matching cases filed during that period. A higher bar indicates more case filings, not greater litigation success or a higher likelihood of any particular outcome.
The current year is incomplete. Where shown, YTD reflects activity recorded so far, while the estimated value projects the current pace across the full year. Treat the estimate as an indication of direction rather than a final annual total.
Filters and defaults
Section titled “Filters and defaults”Start by selecting the criteria that define the set of cases you want to analyze.
Common filters can include:
- case filing date
- court
- party
- patent or other library-specific property
- case outcome
Use Add Another Filter to add other available criteria. After the results open, you can use Edit Filters or related filters to refine the analysis further.
Available filters vary by library.
Reading the results
Section titled “Reading the results”The chart shows filing volume by year, and the table below provides the corresponding case counts.
Use the overall shape of the chart to identify changes in filing activity, such as sustained growth, declining volume, or an isolated spike.
A change in filing volume does not by itself explain why activity changed. Use the underlying cases when the reason for a trend matters.
Explore the underlying cases
Section titled “Explore the underlying cases”Select a chart value to continue into the cases represented by that year and the active criteria.
Review the case records when you need to understand the parties, claims, procedural history, outcomes, or other circumstances behind a filing trend.
Important considerations
Section titled “Important considerations”Cases by Year measures filing volume, not case outcomes or performance.
Current-year figures may be incomplete or estimated, so compare them with completed years accordingly.