Law.com reported that patent trials are ramping back up as federal courts take the first steps toward fully reopening their doors.

U.S. District Judge Henry Coke Morgan is currently presiding over a virtual bench trial by Zoom in an Eastern District of Virginia patent case. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the Northern District of California just conducted a virtual Markman claim construction hearing by Zoom on May 15.

“Overall, it was a real positive experience,” said Pillsbury partner David Jakopin, who represented SiTime Corp. in the Markman hearing. “It’ll be interesting to see how other Markmans later evolve, I think we’re in this for awhile.”

The parties geared their presentation to Gonzalez Rogers’ preference for an interactive exchange with the lawyers, which means less emphasis on slides.

“One plus of the virtual format is that clients didn’t have to travel to court and go through courthouse security in order to participate,” Jakopin said. “On the downside, it’s harder to read the room, including opposing counsel and the judge, during the hearing.”

“There are advantages, but there are personal aspects that get lost,” Jakopin concluded.