Patent Litigation

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Public Policy Role of PTAB Clashes with Assignor Estoppel Equities

The doctrine of assignor estoppel prevents prior owners/inventors of a patent from later challenging the patent’s validity.  Assignor estoppel’s premise is that the assignor “should not be permitted to sell something and later assert that what was sold is worthless, all to the detriment of the assignee.” Diamond Scientific Co. v. Ambico, Inc., 848 F.2d 1220, 1224 (Fed. Cir. 1988).

While exceptions to assignor estoppel have existed since its inception, the Federal Circuit has found that the AIA can be leveraged to circumvent the doctrine—that is, while a prior owner of a patent may not challenge the patent’s validity at district court, it may challenge the validity at the PTAB.
Continue Reading Assignor Estoppel & the PTAB

Invalidity Counterclaims-In-Reply Will Not Trigger 35 U.S.C. § 315(a)

Congress created IPR to provide a “quick and cost effective alternative[ ] to litigation.”  To fulfill that role, Congress limited a party’s ability to seek an IPR after commencement of civil litigation in two ways: (1) under § 315(a), no IPR may be instituted if the challenger filed a civil action challenging the validity of a patent claim before filing the IPR petition, and (2) under § 315(b), an IPR may not be instituted on any petition filed more than one year after the petitioner (or a real party in interest or privy) was served with a patent infringement complaint.  These provisions are designed to control PTAB filings concurrent with civil complaints.

In a recent decision, the Northern District of California lamented that the statutory provisions permit a counterclaim of invalidity in a Reply. 315(a)(3). The Court interpreted such a counterclaim to be a “loophole.”
Continue Reading Declaratory Judgement Loophole at PTAB?

Expert Agency Shown Deference in Matters of Claim Scope

While IPR petitioners may only challenge patent claims based upon patents and printed publications (§§ 102 and 103), the PTAB trial record can be leveraged in parallel district court proceedings on related issues.  For example, PTAB fact findings on claim construction have been adopted by district courts on motions for summary judgment. And recently, a plaintiff in the District of Utah leveraged a PTAB finding to obtain a favorable outcome regarding indefiniteness on summary judgment.
Continue Reading Leveraging PTAB Records in District Court

Legal World Adjusts to Pandemic

As different parts of the country adjust to Coronavirus outbreaks of varying degrees of intensity, government agencies and courts are issuing revised operating procedures.

The Federal Circuit announced today that some of the cases of the April argument calendar are being removed and will be submitted on the briefs.  In cases remaining on the argument calendar, if counsel for either party is located outside the National Capital area, the argument will be conducted by telephonic conference at the date and time previously scheduled.  In cases scheduled for argument where counsel for both parties are local, as of now, the court plans to proceed with in-person argument as previously scheduled.  Parties in all cases will be notified individually as to how we plan to proceed in their case.

The International Trade Commission (ITC), is postponing hearings scheduled in the next 60 days. The Commission will
Continue Reading Coronavirus Status Of Courts & Executive Agencies

Public Policy Disfavors the Issuance of Unexamined Patent Claims

Last November, the PTAB ordered Precedential Opinion Panel (POP) review of the final written decision in  Hunting Titan, Inc. v. DynaEnergetics GmbH & Co. KG, Inc., IPR2018-00600. The rehearing request in Hunting sought review of the Board’s denial of a Motion to Amend based upon an alleged sua sponte modification of a petitioner’s anticipation ground by the panel (here).  That is, the POP is reviewing the Board’s role in the amendment process where a petitioner either decides not to challenge an amended claim, or does so in a deficient manner that is apparent to the expert agency.

Does the PTO owe a duty to the public from issuing amended claims that have not been adequately examined/reviewed for patentability?
Continue Reading The PTAB’s Important Role in the Policing of Amended Patent Claims

Attorney Fees Available for Successful Defendant

As discussed back in September, district courts look to PTAB developments in assessing fee awards under 35 U.S.C. § 285. Recently the Eastern District of Michigan suggested that it could even find “exceptional” conduct at the PTAB as the sole basis for attorney fees.

Last week, the Southern District of California found that conduct substantially before the PTAB entitled a successful petitioner to attorney fees.
Continue Reading Court Leverages PTAB Result in Awarding Attorney Fees

New Tactics & Risks for Litigators

On Monday, I laid out my Top 5 PTAB cases of 2019 for PTAB Practitioners, focusing on those cases that changed day-to-day practices before the agency. Like Monday’s list, my Top 5 PTAB developments of 2019 for District Court Litigators will focus on those practical developments that will impact related litigation practices outside of the agency.

In 2019, there were a number developments of interest to litigators, from tricks to avoid the PTAB altogether, to new risks on fee awards and estoppel.  
Continue Reading Top 5 PTAB Developments of 2019 for District Court Litigators

PTAB 2019: A Year of New Precedent

There were a number of high profile developments at the Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) in 2019. New procedures for amending claims, Practice Guide updates to thwart parallel petition filings, a successful constitutional challenge based on the Appointments Clause, and another SCOTUS review of the PTAB appeal bar.  But, not all of these developments impact the day-to-day life of PTAB practitioners.  Of greater interest to PTAB practitioners are the developments that change the game for the average AIA trial, with this in mind, below are my Top 5 PTAB Practitioner Developments of 2019.
Continue Reading Top 5 PTAB Decisions of 2019 for PTAB Practitioners

November Webinar to Focus on Appellate Hot Topics

The November edition of the PatentsPostGrant.com webinar series will be held Monday, November 4th@ 2-3PM (EST). The November program will focus on emerging appellate issues expected to drive PTAB practice in the months ahead.

The webinar is entitled: PTAB Reset 2020: Appointments Clause Turmoil & Appellate Docket…

September Webinar to Focus on RPI/Privy Issues

The September edition of the PatentsPostGrant.com webinar series will be held this Wednesday September 18th@ 2-3PM (EST). The September program is entitled Avoiding PTAB Pitfalls: Indemnification & Joint/Common Interest Agreements.

The webinar will explore the increasing complexities of real party in interest (RPI) and privity determinations before…