Scott McKeown

Subscribe to Scott McKeown's Posts
Contact:Read more about Scott McKeown

Patent Owner Sur-Replies on the Uptick

Back in June of 2016, the Federal Circuit issued its opinion in Genzyme Therapeutic Products LP v. BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.(here).  At the time I explained that Genzyme was a game-changer.  This was because it made clear that the trial portion of an AIA proceeding was an opportunity for both sides to build a record — not a mere analysis of the four corners of the trial petition.  As stated simply by the Court in Genzyme, “[t]he purpose of the trial in an inter partes review proceeding is to give the parties an opportunity to build a record by introducing evidence—not simply to weigh evidence of which the Board is already aware.” (emphasis added)  

As a reminder, an instituted AIA trial (absent a motion to amend) includes a single brief from each party, the petitioner filing the last brief as the party bearing the burden of demonstrating unpatentability.  

Since Genzyme, the Board has become far more comfortable with petitioners citing to new exhibits in petitioner replies (assuming such exhibits/arguments are in support of existing positions as opposed to altogether new theories).  At roughly the same time Genzyme issued, and since, the Board has been faulted for violating the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). For example, for failing to give parties a fair opportunity to respond to issues. (e.g., SAS Institute Inc., v. ComplementSoft LLC)  These developments are helping drive a more liberal perspective at the Board as to additional briefing possibilities for Patent Owners.  

A review of trial practices immediately before Genzyme, as compared to today, illustrates an increased willingness on the part of the PTAB to permit Patent Owner sur-replies at the close of the trial, effectively giving Patent Owners the last word in trial briefing.
Continue Reading Patent Owners Starting to Get the Last Word at the PTAB

Bill Would Effectively End PTAB

The STRONGER (Support Technology & Research for Our Nation’s Growth and Economic Resilience) Patents Act was unveiled in the U.S. Senate this week.  This is the newest incarnation of a previously stalled bill known as the “STRONG Patent Act of 2015.”  The new bill, like its predecessor, proposes significant modifications to the patentability trial mechanisms of America Invents Act (AIA).  These modifications, if adopted, would for all practical purposes end AIA trial proceedings at the Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) — the apparent goal of the organizations backing this legislative effort.  

Notably, this same agenda prevented the 2015 bill from gaining any real traction. While the new bill does include some improved proposals for amending claim at the PTAB, oddly, it also doubles-down on its anti-PTAB agenda.

…
Continue Reading Senate Bill Seeks to Thwart AIA Trials

“Closely Tied” Language of Cuozzo & Institution-Centric Statutes

The en banc opinion on the scope of the AIA’s appeal bar (35 U.S.C. §§ 324(e)/314(d)) remains outstanding in WiFi One.  Still, we have seen a few opinions from the Federal Circuit as of late that nibble around the edges of this issue.  From these decisions, we see the Court focusing on the statute underlying the appealed issue, and whether or not that statute is tied, in timing or substance, to the institution stage.  The most recent, Credit Acceptance Corp. v. Westlake Services, found another exception to the appeal bar for CBM estoppel. 35 U.S.C. 325(e)(1).
Continue Reading Another WiFi One Hint from the CAFC

Are You Properly Corroborating Your In Re Katz Declarations?

Every so often a decision comes out of the USPTO’s Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) or the Federal Circuit that has immediate value for patent prosecutors. Last week, in EmeraChem Holdings, LLC v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.,the Federal Circuit considered the degree of corroboration necessary to disqualify a prior art reference as an inventor’s own work.  In EmeraChem the Cout made clear that such corroboration may be within the inventor declaration itself, but, it must be more than a mere naked assertion of inventorship.
Continue Reading A Post-Grant Lesson for Patent Prosecutors

USPTO Headquarters to Host Half-Day PTAB Conference

As the Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) has previously announced, it will host a half-day Judicial Conference on June 29, 2017 from 1-5PM.  The conference will be held in the Madison Auditorium.  The program will be directed toward both AIA trial proceedings and ex parte appeal practices. The detailed agenda and webcast link are found below:…
Continue Reading PTAB Conference 6/29 @ USPTO

High Court to Review Constitutionality of AIA Trials

The Supreme Court has had at least three occasions over the past 7 months to review the constitutionality of AIA trial proceedings — it declined all three invitations. Thus, the writing appeared to be on the wall when the same question was posed recently in Oil States Energy Services v. Greene’s Energy Group.  But, then the Federal Circuit wavered somewhat as to its conviction in its own precedent on point.  When asked to reconsider the debate as to whether a patent is purely a private right or public right (as previously decided in MCM Portfolio LLC v. Hewlett-Packard Co. et al.) the CAFC’s en banc denial of that request a few weeks ago (here) was a split decision.  (As a reminder, as a public right, a patent may be adjudicated by an Article I court).

Never one to shy away from a new opportunity to set the CAFC straight, the High Court suddenly became interested in the very same debate it only very recently passed over three times, granting certiorari yesterday. (Order here, briefs here)…
Continue Reading AIA Trials Unconstitutional? Don’t Bet on It

Preliminary Responses Accompanied by Declaration Evidence: Updated Results 

Back on May 1st of 2016, the Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) began to accept new testimonial evidence with patentee preliminary responses.  The PTAB implemented this change to address complaints of patentees who claimed they were disadvantaged by previous rules precluding such new evidence from accompanying a preliminary response. It was argued that the previous rules were especially imbalanced as almost all petitions were accompanied by petitioner declaration evidence, and that absent evidence in kind from patentees, institution was unavoidable.  I had my doubts as to whether this new mechanism would be the boon that patentees had hoped.

Now a year removed, some updated results.
Continue Reading Preliminary Response Evidence Should Focus on Technology

Focus of CBM Standing Analysis: Claim Language

Yesterday, the Federal Circuit denied en banc review in Secure Axcess LLC v. PNC Bank National Assoc., et al.  The rehearing request sought a full court review of America Invents Act (AIA) Sec. 18’s definition of a “business method patent.” This same issue was denied en banc review in April of this year in Google v. Unwired Planet. As in that decision, the dissents from denial raised the appeal bar debate now awaiting decision in WiFi One.
Continue Reading En Banc Denial of CBM Issue Raises Appeal Bar Debate

Unified Patents’ Offers First Quantitative Study of TC Heartland Impact 

Since TC Heartland v. LLC D/B/A Heartland Food Products Group V. Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC. made clear that patent venue is not coextensive with personal jurisdiction, debate has swirled as to the impact of this case on the Eastern District of Texas (EDTX).  Of course, the focus is properly on the EDTX as it is the district that effectively broke the system, as I and others made clear to the Supreme Court (Unified Patents amicus). But, little if any of the recent speculation has looked at hard numbers, until now.
Continue Reading TC HeartLand Fallout: 1000 Fewer EDTX Filings in 2017

USPTO HeadQuarters to Host Half-Day PTAB Trial Conference

As the Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) has previously announced, it will host a half-day Judicial Conference on June 29, 2017 from 1-5PM.  The conference will be held in the Madison Auditorium.  While an agenda is yet to be released, the agency describes the planned conference…