Tweaks to Strict Motion Guidelines Are in Order

Since the passage of the America Invents Act (AIA) the Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) has successfully fulfilled it’s charge as a speedy, cost effective alternative to patent litigation. The PTAB has been so effective in cancelling patent claims, based on the limited, preliminary results, that the Board is being criticized as anti-patent. As discussed earlier this week, this criticism is unfounded as the USPTO will always be a significantly more patent challenger friendly forum relative to the district court. Still, there is another aspect of the early statistics that patentees find of equal concern, the perceived impossibility of successfully amending the claims of a patent during a PTAB challenge.

To date, the PTAB has not granted a single motion to amend.

The PTAB properly points out that that there is a very small sample of cases in which amendment has even been attempted, and a successful motion is expected to be issued shortly. Yet, the current statistical situation (as transient as it may be), coupled with the fact that the strict motion to amend guidelines have always been viewed unfavorably, is resulting in a bit of a black eye. This at a time when maintaining the BRI standard in PTAB proceedings is being justified based upon the ability to amend.

To the Board’s credit, the current round table initiative is designed to receive feedback for the purpose of revising some rules of practice. To this end, below are some changes that I believe would improve patentee prospects for amendment while maintaining the PTAB’s mission to expeditiously decide these important, but complex issues of patentability.
Continue Reading Improving PTAB Motion to Amend Practice

Critics Ignore Long Standing Realities

Critics of the Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) are out in force decrying the work of the PTAB as anti-patent. This criticism flows from the unfavorable outcomes of the 30 or so concluded Inter Partes Review (IPR) and Covered Business Method (CBM) proceedings to date. That is, some consider the heavy number of claim cancellation decisions as evidence of a bias against patentees. Nothing could be further from the truth.

First, patents now being asserted were drafted to survive district court scrutiny. As is well known, when in court, patentees benefit from a clear and convincing evidentiary standard, a presumption of patent validity, and a non-technical audience. Due to the significant obstacles of demonstrating invalidity before a court, infringement concerns have been the primary driver of patent procurement practices to date. For this reason patents are routinely procured to obtain the broadest possible claim scope for the purpose of ensnaring infringers; often times overly broad.

On the other hand, the PTAB counteracts each …
Continue Reading Speed of PTAB Fuels Criticism of Initial Trial Results

Longest Running PTAB Only CLE Stops in San Francisco Next Monday

A day before the the PTAB round table event comes to Santa Clara on 4/29, the popular Practicing Law Institute program USPTO Post-Grant Patent Trials 2014 makes its yearly stop in San Francisco. This day long program, dedicated entirely to post grant patent practice…

Roundtable Discussions to Spur Dialogue on Possible Rule Changes

Roughly eighteen months have passed since the USPTO’s implementation of the new post grant patent challenges of the America Invents Act (AIA). Since the rules for implementing these post grant patent proceedings were developed under an aggressive time schedule, as promised, the USPTO is now revisiting those rules. In the months ahead, the USPTO will be considering whether revisions/refinements to the Patent Trial & Appeal Board’s (PTAB) rules are in order. To kickoff the effort, the PTAB will be conducting informational/roundtable discussions around the country. Once the roadshows are concluded, the USPTO is planning a Federal Register Notice this summer to collect additional stakeholder comments.

The roadshow agenda includes a discussion of AIA trial statistics, lessons learned, and techniques for successful motions practice.  The roundtables are free and open to all with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. Stops include, Alexandria (webcast available), New York, Chicago, Detroit, Santa Clara, Seattle, Dallas, and Denver.

Schedule and agenda are posted below.
Continue Reading PTAB Roadshow Effort Kicks Off in Alexandria on 4/15

Roundtables Kick Off in Alexandria on 4/15

In the weeks ahead, the USPTO’s Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) will present roundtable programs across the country to share information and collect feedback on the new patentability trials of the America Invents Act (AIA). The first stop will be at the USPTO headquarters in Alexandria Virginia…

IPR…Not Just For Trolls

With Congress on the verge of passing still more legislation directed at alleviating the dreaded “patent troll” problem, perhaps Congress should pause to consider what has already been accomplished over the last 18+ months. As pointed at by Gene Quinn at IPwatchdog last week, Congress is in a rush to pass further patent reform legislation in the name of “helping Main Street America.” Yet, since September 16, 2012 the America Invents Act (AIA) has been wildly successful in providing a cheaper, faster, low cost alternative to patent litigation. Inter Partes Review (IPR) in particular has become the favorite anti-troll measure.

Typically, an IPR is pursued against the subject patent so that a stay of the costlier litigation can be obtained. Depending upon the jurisdiction/judge involved, the ability to stay a litigation pending USPTO review has increased significantly since the passage of the AIA. While this change in landscape is welcome news for those battling trolls, IPR is equally concerning for those patentees considered to be true technology innovators.
Continue Reading Medical Technology Patents at the PTAB