March 2019

Commission Awaits PTAB Result – Sometimes

Under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, the International Trade Commission (ITC) is required to conclude its investigations and make determinations “at the earliest practicable time.” 19 U.S.C. § 1337(b)(1). This mandate for speed in ITC proceedings drives the Commission forward despite parallel Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) proceedings. The fact that the ITC, unlike district courts, cannot award monetary relief only contributes further to the Commission’s aversion to stays pending PTAB review.

Increasingly, however, PTAB proceedings concluding prior to enforcement, are catching the eye of the Commission. In such scenarios, an adverse PTAB ruling against a subject patent can result in a suspension of enforcement.Continue Reading PTAB Speed vs. ITC Speed

American University Washington College of Law, Federal Circuit Bar Assoc., & Unified Patents Host PALC 2019

For those in the Washington D.C. area, this coming Wednesday the American University (AU) Washington College of Law hosts the Ninth Annual Patent Administrative Law Conference. Topics this year include “A New Day at the PTAB”, and emerging issues…

Previous PTAB Opinions Designated Precedential

Yesterday, the Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) designated two older AIA trial decisions, and one recent decision, precedential. These three decisions follow last week’s Precedential Opinion Panel (POP) decision in Proppant Express Investments v. Oren Technologies, which held issue joinder was embraced by 35 U.S.C. § 315(c), but a matter of Board discretion.

Since the revision of its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for designating precedential and informative decisions (SOP2), it is expected that the Board will continue to expand upon the current number of precedential decisions.
Continue Reading PTAB Ramps Up Issuance of AIA Trial Precedent

PLI Program to Focus on New Patent Owner Opportunities

The USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) is in the midst of a historic makeover. New leadership has recently introduced significant changes. These changes are designed to rebalance AIA trial practices to allow patent owners a fighting chance. From new claim construction standards, amendment options,…

PTAB Amendment Pilot Effective Today

Today, the Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) published the final Pilot Program for Motions to Amend in the Federal Register (here). The Pilot will run for one year, and is applicable to all AIA trial proceedings instituted going forward. (i.e., proceedings instituted before 3/15 are ineligible). The published Pilot carries forward the main idea of the initial RFC — feedback to the Patent Owner on its Motion to Amend prior to final decision — but, offers notable revisions in procedural timing and options as compared to the RFC.

As revised, those Patent Owners inclined to amend before the PTAB, may find the Pilot to offer strategic advantages beyond mere feedback.
Continue Reading Gaming the PTAB Amendment Pilot?

Issue Joinder Debate Comes Full Circle

As previously discussed, the Patent Trial & Appeal Board’s (PTAB) new Precedential Opinion Panel (POP) has considered its first case in Proppant Express Investments v. Oren Technologies, Case IPR2018-00914 (PTAB Mar. 13, 2019) (Paper 38)

The POP reversed the earlier (divided) panel decision in Proppant Express (which conflicted with the earlier consensus of Target Corp. v. Destination Maternity), holding that 35 U.S.C. § 315(c) permits issue joinder. More specifically, the POP held that 315(c) provides discretion to allow a petitioner to be joined to a proceeding in which it is already a party and provides discretion to allow joinder of new issues into an existing proceeding (here).

That is, we are right back where we started in Target.
Continue Reading New PTAB Precedent: Issue Joinder is Discretionary

Judge Scott Boalick Formally Appointed Chief

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced today the appointment of Scott Boalick as Chief Judge for the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Boalick has served as the acting Chief Judge for the PTAB since September 2018. Boalick begins his permanent role today.

Boalick was appointed…

PTAB Updates Amendment Precedent

Today, the Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) designated Lectrosonics, Inc. v. Zaxcom, Inc, (IPR2018-01129, 01130, Paper 15 (Feb. 25, 2019) precedential as to the agency’s interpretation of 35 U.S.C § 316(d), amendment requirements and burden.

The Order provides guidance and information regarding statutory and regulatory requirements for a motion…

Unified Patents’ PTAB Database & Analytics

While Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) documents may be accessed by the USPTO’s PTABE2E portal, this portal offers minimal search options and no analytics whatsoever.  When looking for more than just a straightforward document retrieval (i.e., most of the time), I use Unified Patents free PTAB portal (…