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UNITED STATES v. ARTHREX, INC. 

Opinion of the Court 

including  the  APJs  at  issue  in  this  dispute.    §§3(b)(1), 
(b)(2)(A),  6(a).  Like  the  1790  Patent  Board,  the  modern 
Board decides whether an invention satisfies the standards 
for patentability on review of decisions by primary examin-
ers.  §§6(b)(1), 134(a). 

Through a variety of procedures, the PTAB can also take
a  second  look  at  patents  previously  issued  by  the  PTO. 
§§6(b)(2)–(4).    One  such  procedure  is  inter  partes  review. 
Established in 2011, inter partes review is an adversarial 
process by which members of the PTAB reconsider whether 
existing patents satisfy the novelty and nonobviousness re-
quirements for inventions.  See §6(a) of the America Invents 
Act,  125  Stat.  299.  Any  person—other  than  the  patent 
owner himself—can file a petition to institute inter partes
review of a patent.  35 U. S. C. §311(a).  The Director can 
institute review only if, among other requirements, he de-
termines that the petitioner is reasonably likely to prevail
on at least one challenged patent claim.  §314(a).  Congress
has committed the decision to institute inter partes review 
to the Director’s unreviewable discretion.  See Thryv, Inc. 
v. Click-To-Call Technologies, LP, 590 U. S. ___, ___ (2020) 
(slip op., at 6).  By regulation, the Director has delegated 
this authority to the PTAB itself.  37 CFR §42.4(a) (2020).
The  Director  designates  at  least  three  members  of  the
PTAB (typically three APJs) to conduct an inter partes pro-
ceeding.  35 U. S. C. §6(c).  The PTAB then assumes control 
of the process, which resembles civil litigation in many re-
spects.  §316(c).  The PTAB must issue a final written deci-
sion on all of the challenged patent claims within 12 to 18
months of institution.  §316(a)(11); see SAS Institute Inc. v. 
Iancu, 584 U. S. ___, ___ (2018) (slip op., at 5).  A party who
disagrees  with  a  decision  may  request  rehearing  by  the 
PTAB.  35 U. S. C. §6(c); 37 CFR §42.71(d). 

The PTAB is the last stop for review within the Executive
Branch.    A  party  dissatisfied  with  the  final  decision  may 
seek judicial review in the Court of Appeals for the Federal