Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2012/02/10/2012-2529/changes-to-implement-post-grant-review-proceedings
Timestamp: 2018-02-23 15:19:09
Document Index: 332825220

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Federal Register :: Changes To Implement Post-Grant Review Proceedings
7060-7080 (21 pages)
0651-AC72
2012-2529
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2012-2529 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2012-2529
Comments should be sent by electronic mail message over the Internet addressed to: post_grant_review@uspto.gov. Comments may also be submitted by postal mail addressed to: Mail Stop Patent Board, Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, marked to the attention of “Lead Judge Michael Tierney, Post-Grant Review Proposed Rules.”
Michael Tierney, Lead Administrative Patent Judge, Sally Lane, Administrative Patent Judge, Scott Boalick, Lead Administrative Patent Judge, and Robert Clarke, Administrative Patent Judge, Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences, by telephone at (571) 272-9797.
On September 16, 2011, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act was enacted into law (Pub. L. 112-29, 125 Stat. 284 (2011)). The purpose of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act and these proposed regulations is to establish a more efficient and streamlined patent system that will improve patent quality and limit unnecessary and counterproductive litigation costs. The preamble of this notice sets forth in detail the procedures by which the Board will conduct post-grant review proceedings. The USPTO is engaged in a transparent process to create a timely, cost-effective alternative to litigation. Moreover, the rulemaking process is designed to ensure the integrity of the trial procedures. See 35 U.S.C. 326(b). The proposed rules would provide a set of rules relating to Board trial practice for post-grant review.
More grounds for seeking post-grant review will be available as compared with inter partes review. The grounds for seeking post-grant review includes any ground that could be raised under 35 U.S.C. 282(b)(2) or (3). Such grounds for post-grant review include grounds that could be raised under 35 U.S.C. 102 or 103 including those based on prior art consisting of patents or printed publications. Other grounds available for post-grant review include 35 U.S.C. 101 and 112, with the exception of compliance with the best mode requirement. In contrast, the grounds for seeking inter partes review are limited to issues raised under 35 U.S.C. 102 or 103 and only on the basis of prior art consisting of patents or printed publications.
Section 6 of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act is entitled “POST-GRANT REVIEW PROCEEDINGS.” Section 6(d) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, entitled “POST-GRANT REVIEW,” adds chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, also entitled “POST-GRANT REVIEW.” In particular, § 6(d) adds 35 U.S.C. 321-329. Public Law 112-29, 125 Stat. 284, 305-311 (2011).
Section 6(d) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act adds 35 U.S.C. 321, entitled “Post-grant review.” 35 U.S.C. 321(a) will provide that, subject to the provisions of chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, a person who is not the owner of a patent may file a petition with the Office to institute a post-grant review of the patent. 35 U.S.C. 321(a) will also provide that the Director will establish, by regulation, fees to be paid by the person requesting the review, in such amounts as the Director determines to be reasonable, considering the aggregate costs of the post-grant review. 35 U.S.C. 321(b) will provide that a petitioner in a post-grant review may request to cancel as unpatentable one or more claims of a patent on any ground that could be raised under 35 U.S.C. 282(b)(2) or (3) (relating to invalidity of the patent or any claim). 35 U.S.C. 321(c) will provide that a petition for post-grant review may only be filed not later than the date that is nine months after the date of the grant of the patent or of the issuance of a reissue patent.
Section 6(d) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act adds 35 U.S.C. 322, entitled “Petitions.” 35 U.S.C. 322(a) will provide that a petition filed under 35 U.S.C. 321 may be considered only if: (1) The petition is accompanied by payment of the fee established by the Director under 35 U.S.C. 321; (2) the petition identifies all real parties in interest; (3) the petition identifies, in writing and with particularity, each claim challenged, the grounds on which the challenge to each claim is based, and the evidence that supports the grounds for the challenge to each claim, including (A) copies of patents and printed publications that the petitioner relies upon in support of the petition and (B) affidavits or declarations of supporting evidence and opinions, if the petitioner relies on other factual evidence or on expert opinions; (4) the petition provides such other information as the Director may require by regulation; and (5) the petitioner provides copies of any of the documents required under paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of 35 U.S.C. 322(a) to the patent owner or, if applicable, the designated representative of the patent owner. 35 U.S.C. 322(b) will provide that, as soon as practicable after the receipt of a petition under 35 U.S.C. 321, the Director will make the petition available to the public.
Section 6(d) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act adds 35 U.S.C. 323, entitled “Preliminary response to petition.” 35 U.S.C. 323 will provide that, if a post-grant review petition is filed under 35 U.S.C. 321, the patent owner has the right to file a preliminary response to the petition, within a time period set by the Director, that sets forth reasons why no post-grant review should be instituted based upon the failure of the petition to meet any requirement of chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code.
Section 6(d) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act adds 35 U.S.C. 324, entitled “Institution of post-grant review.” 35 U.S.C. 324(a) will provide that the Director may not authorize a post-grant review to be instituted, unless the Director determines that the information presented in the petition filed under 35 U.S.C. 321, if such information is not rebutted, would demonstrate that it is more likely than not that at least one of the claims challenged in the petition is unpatentable. 35 U.S.C. 324(b) will provide that the determination required under 35 U.S.C. 324(a) may also be satisfied by a showing that the petition raises a novel or unsettled legal question that is important to other patents or patent applications. 35 U.S.C. 324(c) will provide that the Director will determine whether to institute a post-grant review under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, pursuant to a petition filed under 35 U.S.C. 321 within three months after: (1) Receiving a preliminary response to the petition under 35 U.S.C. 323; or (2) if no such preliminary response is filed, the last date on which such response may be filed. 35 U.S.C. 324(d) will provide that the Director will notify the petitioner and patent owner, in writing, of the Director's determination under 35 U.S.C. 324(a) or (b), and will make such notice available to the public as soon as is practicable. 35 U.S.C. 324(d) will also provide that such notice will include the date on which the review will commence. 35 U.S.C. 324(e) will provide that the determination by the Director whether to institute a post-grant review under 35 U.S.C. 324 will be final and nonappealable.
Section 6(d) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act adds 35 U.S.C. 325, entitled “Relation to other proceedings or actions.” 35 U.S.C. 325(a)(1) will provide that a post-grant review may not be instituted under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, if, before the date on which the petition for such a review is filed, the petitioner or real party in interest filed a civil action challenging the validity of a claim of the patent. 35 U.S.C. 325(a)(2) will provide for an automatic stay of a civil action brought by the petitioner or real party in interest challenging the validity of a claim of the patent and filed on or after the date on which the petition for post-grant review was filed, until certain specified conditions are met. 35 U.S.C. 325(a)(3) will provide that a counterclaim challenging the validity of a claim of a patent does not constitute a civil action challenging the validity of a claim of a patent for purposes of 35 U.S.C. 325(a).
35 U.S.C. 325(b) will provide that if a civil action alleging infringement of a patent is filed within three months after the date on which the patent is granted, the court may not stay its consideration of the patent owner's motion for a preliminary injunction against infringement of the patent on the basis that a petition for post-grant review has been filed or instituted under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code.
35 U.S.C. 325(c) will provide that if more than one petition for a post-grant review under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, is properly filed against the same patent and the Director determines that more than one of these petitions warrants the institution of a post-grant review under 35 U.S.C. 324, the Director may consolidate such reviews into a single post-grant review.
35 U.S.C. 325(d) will provide that, notwithstanding 35 U.S.C. 135(a), 251, and 252, and chapter 30 of title 35, United States Code, during the pendency of any post-grant review under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, if another proceeding or matter involving the patent is before the Office, the Director may determine the manner in which the post-grant review or other proceeding or matter may proceed, including providing for the stay, transfer, consolidation, or termination of any such matter or proceeding. 35 U.S.C. 325(d) will also provide that, in determining whether to institute or order a proceeding under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, chapter 30 of title 35, United States Code, or chapter 31 of title 35, United States Code, the Director may take into account whether, and reject the petition because, the same or substantially the same prior art or arguments previously were presented to the Office.
35 U.S.C. 325(e)(1) will provide that the petitioner in a post-grant review of a claim in a patent under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, that results in a final written decision under 35 U.S.C. 328(a), or the real party in interest or privy of the petitioner, may not request or maintain a proceeding before the Office with respect to that claim on any ground that the petitioner raised or reasonably could have raised during that post-grant review. 35 U.S.C. 325(e)(2) will provide for estoppel against a post-grant review petitioner, or the real party in interest or privy of the petitioner, in certain civil actions and certain other proceedings before the International Trade Commission if that post-grant review results in a final written decision under 35 U.S.C. 328(a).
35 U.S.C. 325(f) will provide that a post-grant review may not be instituted under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, if the petition requests cancellation of a claim in a reissue patent that is identical to or narrower than a claim in the original patent from which the reissue patent was issued, and the time limitations in 35 U.S.C. 321(c) would bar filing a petition for a post-grant review for such original patent.
Section 6(d) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act adds 35 U.S.C. 326, entitled “Conduct of post-grant review.” 35 U.S.C. 326(a) will provide that the Director will prescribe regulations: (1) Providing that the file of any proceeding under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, will be made available to the public, except that any petition or document filed with the intent that it be sealed will, if accompanied by a motion to seal, be treated as sealed pending the outcome of the ruling on the motion; (2) setting forth the standards for the showing of sufficient grounds to institute a review under 35 U.S.C. 324(a) and (b); (3) establishing procedures for the submission of supplemental information after the petition is filed; (4) establishing and governing a post-grant review under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, and the relationship of such review to other proceedings under title 35, United States Code; (5) setting forth standards and procedures for discovery of relevant evidence, including that such discovery will be limited to evidence directly related to factual assertions advanced by either party in the proceeding; (6) prescribing sanctions for abuse of discovery, abuse of process, or any other improper use of the proceeding, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay or an unnecessary increase in the cost of the proceeding; (7) providing for protective orders governing the exchange and submission of confidential information; (8) providing for the filing by the patent owner of a response to the petition under 35 U.S.C. 323 after a post-grant review has been instituted, and requiring that the patent owner file with such response, through affidavits or declarations, any additional factual evidence and expert opinions on which the patent owner relies to support the response; (9) setting forth standards and procedures for allowing the patent owner to move to amend the patent under 35 U.S.C. 326(d) to cancel a challenged claim or propose a reasonable number of substitute claims, and ensuring that any information submitted by the patent owner in support of any amendment entered under 35 U.S.C. 326(d) is made available to the public as part of the prosecution history of the patent; (10) providing either party with the right to an oral hearing as part of the proceeding; (11) requiring that the final determination in any post-grant review be issued not later than one year after the date on which the Director notices the institution of a proceeding under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, except that the Director may, for good cause shown, extend the one-year period by not more than six months, and may adjust the time periods in this paragraph in the case of joinder under 35 U.S.C. 325(c); and (12) providing the petitioner with at least one opportunity to file written comments within a time period established by the Director.
35 U.S.C. 326(b) will provide that in prescribing regulations under 35 U.S.C. 326, the Director will consider the effect of any such regulation on the economy, the integrity of the patent system, the efficient administration of the Office, and the ability of the Office to complete timely proceedings instituted under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code.
35 U.S.C. 326(c) will provide that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board will, in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 6, conduct each post-grant review instituted under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code.
35 U.S.C. 326(d)(1) will provide that during a post-grant review instituted under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, the patent owner may file a single motion to amend the patent in one or more of the following ways: (A) Cancel any challenged patent claim; and/or (B) for each challenged claim, propose a reasonable number of substitute claims. 35 U.S.C. 326(d)(2) provides that additional motions to amend may be permitted upon the joint request of the petitioner and the patent owner to materially advance the settlement of a proceeding under 35 U.S.C. 327, or upon the request of the patent owner for good cause shown. 35 U.S.C. 326(d)(3) will provide that an amendment under 35 U.S.C. 326(d) may not enlarge the scope of the claims of the patent or introduce new matter. 35 U.S.C. 326(e) will provide that in a post-grant review instituted under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, the petitioner will have the burden of proving a proposition of unpatentability by a preponderance of the evidence.
Section 6(d) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act adds 35 U.S.C. 327, entitled “Settlement.” 35 U.S.C. 327(a) will provide that a post-grant review instituted under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, will be terminated with respect to any petitioner upon the joint request of the petitioner and the patent owner, unless the Office has decided the merits of the proceeding before the request for termination is filed. 35 U.S.C. 327(a) will also provide that if the post-grant review is terminated with respect to a petitioner under 35 U.S.C. 327, no estoppel under 35 U.S.C. 325(e) will attach to the petitioner, or to the real party in interest or privy of the petitioner, on the basis of that petitioner's institution of that post-grant review. 35 U.S.C. 327(a) will further provide that if no petitioner remains in the post-grant review, the Office may terminate the post-grant review or proceed to a final written decision under 35 U.S.C. 328(a).
35 U.S.C. 327(b) will provide that any agreement or understanding between the patent owner and a petitioner, including any collateral agreements referred to in such agreement or understanding, made in connection with, or in contemplation of, the termination of a post-grant review under 35 U.S.C. 327 will be in writing, and a true copy of such agreement or understanding will be filed in the Office before the termination of the post-grant review as between the parties. 35 U.S.C. 327(b) will also provide that at the request of a party to the proceeding, the agreement or understanding will be treated as business confidential information, will be kept separate from the file of the involved patents, and will be made available only to Federal Government agencies on written request, or to any person on a showing of good cause.
Section 6(d) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act adds 35 U.S.C. 328, entitled “Decision of the Board.” 35 U.S.C. 328(a) will provide that if a post-grant review is instituted and not dismissed under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board will issue a final written decision with respect to the patentability of any patent claim challenged by the petitioner and any new claim added under 35 U.S.C. 326(d).
35 U.S.C. 328(b) will provide that if the Patent Trial and Appeal Board issues a final written decision under 35 U.S.C. 328(a) and the time for appeal has expired or any appeal has terminated, the Director will issue and publish a certificate canceling any claim of the patent finally determined to be unpatentable, confirming any claim of the patent determined to be patentable, and incorporating in the patent by operation of the certificate any new or amended claim determined to be patentable.
35 U.S.C. 328(c) will provide that any proposed amended or new claim determined to be patentable and incorporated into a patent following a post-grant review under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, will have the same effect as that specified in 35 U.S.C. 252 for reissued patents on the right of any person who made, purchased, or used within the United States, or imported into the United States, anything patented by such proposed amended or new claim, or who made substantial preparation therefor, before the issuance of a certificate under 35 U.S.C. 328(b).
35 U.S.C. 328(d) will provide that the Office will make available to the public data describing the length of time between the institution of, and the issuance of, a final written decision under 35 U.S.C. 328(a) for each post-grant review.
Section 6(d) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act adds 35 U.S.C. 329, entitled “Appeal.” 35 U.S.C. 329 will provide that a party dissatisfied with the final written decision of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board under 35 U.S.C. 328(a) may appeal the decision pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 141-144. 35 U.S.C. 329 will also provide that any party to the post-grant review will have the right to be a party to the appeal.
Section 6(f) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act is entitled “REGULATIONS AND EFFECTIVE DATE.” Section 6(f)(1) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act provides that the Director will, not later than the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, issue regulations to carry out chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, as added by § 6(d) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act.
Section 6(f)(2)(A) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act provides that the amendments made by § 6(d) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act will take effect upon the expiration of the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act and, except as provided in § 18 of the America Invents Act and in § 6(f)(3) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, will apply only to patents described in § 3(n)(1) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. Section 3(n) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act is entitled “EFFECTIVE DATE.” Section 3(n)(1) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act provides:
For example, the post-grant review provisions will apply to patents issued from applications that have an effective filing date on or after March 16, 2013, eighteen months after the date of enactment.
Section 6(f)(2)(B) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act provides that the Director may impose a limit on the number of post-grant reviews that may be instituted under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, during each of the first four one-year periods in which the amendments made by § 6(d) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act are in effect.
Section 6(f)(3) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act is entitled “PENDING INTERFERENCES.” Section 6(f)(3)(A) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act provides that the Director will determine, and include in the regulations issued under § 6(f)(1) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, the procedures under which an interference commenced before the effective date set forth in § 6(f)(2)(A) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act is to proceed, including whether such interference: (i) is to be dismissed without prejudice to the filing of a petition for a post-grant review under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code; or (ii) is to proceed as if the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act had not been enacted.
Section 6(f)(3)(B) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act provides that, for purposes of an interference that is commenced before the effective date set forth in § 6(f)(2)(A) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, the Director may deem the Patent Trial and Appeal Board to be the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences, and may allow the Patent Trial and Appeal Board to conduct any further proceedings in that interference.
Section 6(f)(3)(C) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act provides that the authorization to appeal or have remedy from derivation proceedings in §§ 141(d) and 146 of title 35, United States Code, as amended, and the jurisdiction to entertain appeals from derivation proceedings in 28 U.S.C. 1295(a)(4)(A), as amended, will be deemed to extend to any final decision in an interference that is commenced before the effective date set forth in § 6(f)(2)(A) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act and that is not dismissed pursuant to this paragraph.
The proposed new rules would implement the provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act for instituting and conducting post-grant review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (Board). 35 U.S.C. 326(a)(4), as added by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, provides that the Director will prescribe regulations establishing and governing post-grant review and the relationship of the review to other proceedings under title 35 of the United States Code. Public Law 112-29, § 6(d), 125 Stat. 284, 308 (2011). In particular, this notice proposes to add a new subpart C to 37 CFR part 42 to provide rules specific to post-grant reviews.
Additionally, the Office in a separate rulemaking is proposing to add part 42, including subpart A, (RIN 0651-AC70) that will include a consolidated set of rules relating to Board trial practice. Specifically, the proposed subpart A of part 42 would set forth the policies, practices, and definitions common to all trial proceedings before the Board. The proposed rules in the instant notice and discussion below may reference the proposed rules in subpart A of part 42. Furthermore, the Office in separate rulemakings is proposing to add a new subpart B to 37 CFR part 42 (RIN 0651-AC71) to provide rules specific to inter partes reviews, a new subpart D to 37 CFR part 42 (RIN 0651-AC73; RIN 0651-AC75) to provide rules specific to the transitional program for covered business method patents, and a new subpart E to 37 CFR part 42 (RIN 0651-AC74) to provide rules specific to derivation proceedings.
Title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter I, Part 42, Subpart C, entitled “Post-Grant Review” is proposed to be added as follows:
Section 42.200: Proposed § 42.200 would set forth policy considerations for post-grant review proceedings.
Proposed § 42.200(a) would provide that a post-grant review is a trial and subject to the rules set forth in subpart A.
Proposed § 42.200(b) would provide that a claim in an unexpired patent shall be given its broadest reasonable construction in light of the specification in which it appears. This proposed rule would be consistent with longstanding established principles of claim construction before the Office. In re Am. Acad. of Sci. Tech Ctr., 367 F.3d 1359, 1364 (Fed. Cir. 2004); In re Yamamoto, 740 F.2d 1569, 1571 (Fed. Cir. 1984). As explained in Yamamoto, a party's ability to amend claims to avoid prior art distinguishes Office proceedings from district court proceedings and justifies the difficult standard for claim interpretation. Yamamoto, 740 F.2d at 1572.
Proposed § 42.200(c) would provide a one-year timeframe for administering the proceeding after institution, with up to a six-month extension for good cause. This proposed rule is consistent with 35 U.S.C. 326(a)(11), which sets forth statutory time frames for post-grant review.
Proposed § 42.200(d) would provide that interferences commenced within one year of enactment of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act shall proceed under part 41 of 37 CFR except as the Chief Administrative Patent Judge may otherwise order in the interests of justice. The expectation is that dismissal will be rarely, if ever, ordered. Hence, any case where such an order arises would be exceptional and should be handled as its circumstances require. This proposed rule is consistent with § 6(f)(3) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, which provides that the Director shall include in regulations the procedures under which an interference commenced before the effective date of the act is to proceed.
Section 42.201: Proposed § 42.201 would provide who may file a petition for post-grant review.
Proposed § 42.201(a) would provide that a person who is not the patent owner may file a petition to institute a post-grant review, unless the petitioner or real party in interest had already filed a civil action challenging the validity of a claim of the patent. The proposed rule would follow the statutory language of 35 U.S.C. 325(a)(1), which provides that post-grant reviews are barred by prior civil action.
Proposed § 42.201(b) would provide that a petition may not be filed where the petitioner, the petitioner's real party in interest, or a privy of the petitioner is estopped from challenging the claims on the grounds identified in the petition. The proposed rule is consistent with 35 U.S.C. 325(e)(1) and 315(e)(1), as amended, which provide for estoppel based upon a final written decision in a post-grant review, a covered business method review, or inter partes review.
Section 42.202: Proposed § 42.202 would set forth the timeliness requirement for filing a post-grant review petition.
Proposed § 42.202(a) would provide that a petition for a post-grant review of a patent must be filed no later than the date that is nine months after the date of the grant of a patent or of the issuance of a reissue patent. Proposed § 42.202(a) would also provide that a petition may not request a post-grant review for a claim in a reissue patent that is identical to or narrower than a claim in the original patent from which the reissue patent was issued unless the petition is filed not later than the date that is nine months after the date of the grant of the original patent. The proposed rule would be consistent with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 321(c).
Proposed § 42.202(b) would provide that the Director may limit the number of post-grant reviews that may be instituted during each of the first four 1-year periods after post-grant review takes effect. This proposed rule is consistent with § 6(f)(2)(B) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (Pub. L. 112-29, 125 Stat. 284, 311 (2011)), which provides for graduated implementation of post-grant reviews. The Office, however, does not expect to limit the number of petitions at this time.
Section 42.203: Proposed § 42.203 would provide that a fee must accompany a petition for post-grant review and that no filing date will be accorded until full payment is received. This proposed rule is consistent with 35 U.S.C. 322(a)(1), which provides that a petition may only be considered if the petition is accompanied by the payment of the fee established by the Director.
Section 42.204: Proposed § 42.204 would provide for the content of petitions to institute a post-grant review. The proposed rule is consistent with 35 U.S.C. 322(a)(4), which allows the Director to prescribe regulations concerning the information provided with the petition.
Proposed § 42.204(a) would provide that a petition must demonstrate that the petitioner has standing. To establish standing, a petitioner, at a minimum, must certify that the patent is available for post-grant review and that the petitioner is not barred or estopped from requesting a post-grant review. This proposed requirement attempts to ensure that a party has standing to file the post-grant review and would help prevent spuriously-instituted post-grant reviews. Facially, improper standing is a basis for denying the petition without proceeding to the merits of the petition.
Proposed § 42.204(b) would require that the petition identify the precise relief requested for the claims challenged. Specifically, the proposed rule would require that the petition identify each claim being challenged, the specific grounds on which each claim is challenged, how the claims are to be construed, how the claims as construed are unpatentable, why the claims as construed are unpatentable under the identified grounds, and the exhibit numbers of the evidence relied upon with a citation to the portion of the evidence that is relied upon to support the challenge. This proposed rule is consistent with 35 U.S.C. 322(a)(3), which requires that the petition identify, in writing and with particularity, each claim challenged, the grounds on which the challenge to each claim is based, and the evidence supporting the challenge. It is also consistent with 35 U.S.C. 322(a)(4), which allows the Director to require additional information as part of the petition. The proposed rule would provide an efficient means for identifying the legal and factual basis satisfying the threshold for instituting a proceeding and would provide the patent owner with a minimum level of notice as to the basis for the challenge to the claims.
Proposed § 42.204(c) would provide that a petitioner seeking to correct clerical or typographical mistakes in a petition could file a procedural motion to correct the mistakes. The proposed rule would also provide that the grant of such a motion would not alter the filing date of the petition.
Section 42.205: Proposed § 42.205 would provide petition and exhibit service requirements in addition to the service requirements of § 42.6.
Proposed § 42.205(a) would require the petitioner to serve the patent owner at the correspondence address of record for the patent, and permits service at any other address known to the petitioner as likely to effect service as well. Once a patent has issued, communications between the Office and the patent owner often suffer. Ray v. Lehman, 55 F.3d 606 (Fed. Cir. 1995) (patentee's failure to maintain correspondence address contributed to failure to pay maintenance fee and therefore expiration of the patent). While the proposed rule requires service at the correspondence address of record in the patent, the petitioner will already be in communication with the patent owner, in many cases, at a better service address than the official correspondence address.
Proposed § 42.205(b) would address the situation where service to a patent's correspondence address does not result in actual service on the patent owner. When the petitioner becomes aware of a service problem, it must promptly advise the Board of the problem. The petitioner may be required to certify that it is not aware of any better address for service of the patent owner. The Board may authorize other forms of service, such as service by publication in the Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Section 42.206: Proposed § 42.206 would provide for the filing date requirements of a post-grant review petition.
Proposed § 42.206(a) would set forth the requirements for a complete petition. 35 U.S.C. 322 states that a petition may only be considered when the petition identifies all the real parties in interest, when a copy of the petition is provided to the patent owner or the owner's representative, and that the petition be accompanied by the fee established by the Director. Consistent with the statute, the proposed rule would require that a complete petition be filed along with the fee and that it be served upon the patent owner.
Proposed § 42.206(b) would provide one month to correct defective requests to institute a post-grant review, unless the statutory deadline in which to file a petition for post-grant review has expired. The proposed rule is consistent with the requirement of 35 U.S.C. 322 that the Board may not consider a petition that fails to meet the statutory requirements for a petition. In determining whether to grant a filing date, the Board would review a petition for procedural compliance. Where a procedural defect is noted, e.g., failure to state the claims being challenged, the Board would notify the petitioner that the petition was incomplete and identify any non-compliance issues.
Section 42.207: Proposed § 42.207(a) would provide that the patent owner may file a preliminary response to the petition. The rule is consistent with 35 U.S.C. 323, which provides for such a response.
Proposed § 42.207(b) would provide that the due date for the preliminary response to petition is no later than two months from the date of the notice that the request to institute a post-grant review has been granted a filing date. This proposed rule is consistent with 35 U.S.C. 323, which provides that the Director shall set a time period for filing the preliminary patent owner response.
Within three months from the filing of the preliminary patent owner response, or three months from the date such a response was due, the Board would determine whether to institute the review. A patent owner seeking a shortened period for the determination may wish to file a preliminary response well before the date the response is due, including filing a paper stating that no preliminary response will be filed. No adverse inference will be drawn where a patent owner elects not to file a response or elects to waive the response.
Proposed § 42.207(c) would provide that the preliminary patent owner response would not be allowed to present new testimony evidence, for example, expert witness testimony on patentability. 35 U.S.C. 323 provides that a preliminary patent owner response set forth reasons why no post-grant review should be instituted. In contrast, 35 U.S.C. 326(a)(8) provides for a patent owner response after institution and requires the presentation, through affidavits or declarations, of any additional factual evidence and expert opinions on which the patent owner relies in support of the response. The difference in statutory language demonstrates that 35 U.S.C. 323 does not permit for the presentation of evidence as a matter of right in the form of testimony in support of a preliminary patent owner response, and the proposed rule reflects this distinction. In certain instances, however, a patent owner may be granted additional discovery before filing their preliminary response and submit any testimonial evidence obtained through the discovery. For example, additional discovery may be authorized where patent owner raises sufficient concerns regarding the petitioner's certification of standing.
Although 35 U.S.C. 324 does not require that a preliminary patent owner response be considered, the Board expects to consider such a response in all but exceptional cases.
Proposed § 42.207(d) would provide that the preliminary patent owner response would not be allowed to include any amendment. See proposed § 42.221 for filing a motion to amend the patent after a post-grant review has been instituted.
Proposed § 42.207(e) would provide that the patent owner may file a statutory disclaimer under 35 U.S.C. 253(a) in compliance with § 1.321(a), disclaiming one or more claims in the patent, and no post-grant review will be instituted based on disclaimed claims.
Section 42.208: Proposed § 42.208 would provide for the institution of a post-grant review.
35 U.S.C. 324(a), as amended, states that the Director may not authorize a post-grant review to be instituted, unless the Director determines that the information in the petition, if such information is not rebutted, demonstrate that it is more likely than not at least one of the claims challenged in the petition is unpatentable. Alternatively, the Director may institute a post-grant review by a showing that the petition raises a novel or unsettled legal question that is important to other patents or patent applications. Proposed § 42.208 is consistent with this statutory requirement and identifies how the Board may authorize such a review to proceed.
Proposed § 42.208(a) would provide that the Board may authorize the review to proceed on all or some of the challenged claims and on all or some of the grounds of unpatentability asserted for each claim. Specifically, in instituting the review, the Board would authorize the review to proceed on the challenged claims for which the threshold requirements for the proceeding have been met. The Board would identify which of the grounds the review will proceed upon on a claim-by-claim basis. Any claim or issue not included in the authorization for review would not be part of the post-grant review. The Office intends to publish a notice of the institution of a post-grant review in the Official Gazette.
Proposed § 42.208(b) would provide that the Board, prior to institution of a review, may deny some or all grounds for unpatentability on some or all of the challenged claims. This proposed rule is consistent with the efficient administration of the Office, which is a consideration in prescribing post-grant review regulations under 35 U.S.C. 326(b).
Proposed § 42.208(c) would provide that the institution may be based on a more likely than not standard and is consistent with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 324(a).
Proposed § 42.208(d) would provide that a determination under § 42.208(c) may be satisfied by a showing that the petition raises a novel or unsettled legal question that is important to other patents or patent applications. This proposed rule is consistent with 35 U.S.C. 324(b). The expectation is that this ground for a post-grant review would be used sparingly.
Section 42.220: Proposed § 42.220 would set forth the procedure in which the patent owner may file a patent owner response.
Proposed § 42.220(a) would provide for a patent owner response and is consistent with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 326(a)(8).
Proposed § 42.220(b) would provide that if no time for filing a patent owner response to a petition is provided in a Board order, the default time for filing the response would be two months from the date the post-grant review is instituted. The Board's experience with patent owner responses is that two months provides a sufficient amount of time to respond in a typical case, especially as the patent owner would already have been provided two months to file a preliminary patent owner response prior to institution. Additionally, the proposed time for response is consistent with the requirement that the trial be conducted such that the Board renders a final decision within one year of the institution of the review. 35 U.S.C. 326(a)(11).
Section 42.221: Proposed § 42.221 would provide a procedure for a patent owner to file motions to amend the patent.
Proposed § 42.221(a) would make it clear that the first motion to amend need not be authorized by the Board. If the motion complies with the timing and procedural requirements, the motion would be entered. Additional motions to amend would require prior Board authorization. All motions to amend, even if entered, will not automatically result in entry of the proposed amendment into the patent.
The requirement to consult the Board reflects the Board's need to regulate the substitution of claims and the amendment of the patent to control unnecessary proliferation of issues and abuses. The proposed rule aids in the efficient administration of the Office and the timely completion of the review. 35 U.S.C. 326(b).
Proposed § 42.221(b) would provide that a motion to amend the claims must set forth: (1) The support in the original disclosure of the patent for each claim that is added or amended, and (2) the support in an earlier filed disclosure for each claim for which benefit of the filing date of the earlier filed disclosure is sought.
Proposed § 42.221(c) would provide that a motion to amend the claims will not be authorized where the amendment does not respond to the ground of unpatentability involved in the trial or seeks to enlarge the scope of the claims or introduce new matter.
The proposed rule aids the efficient administration of the Office and the timely completion of the review, 35 U.S.C. 326(b), and is also consistent with 35 U.S.C. 326(d)(3), which prohibits enlarging the scope of claims or introducing new matter.
Under the proposed rules, a patent owner may request filing more than one motion to amend its claims during the course of the proceeding. Additional motions to amend may be permitted upon a demonstration of good cause by the patent owner. In considering whether good cause is shown, the Board will take into account how the filing of such motions would impact the timely completion of the proceeding and the additional burden placed on the petitioner. Specifically, belated motions to amend may cause the integrity and efficiency of the review to suffer as the petitioner may be required to devote significant time and resources on claims that are of constantly changing scope. Furthermore, due to time constraints, motions to amend late in the process may not provide a petitioner a full and fair opportunity to respond to the newly presented subject matter. Accordingly, the longer a patent owner waits to request authorization to file an additional motion to amend, the higher the likelihood the request will be denied. Similarly, motion to amend may be permitted upon a joint request of the petitioner and the patent owner to advance settlement where the motion does not jeopardize the ability of the Office to timely complete the proceeding.
Section 42.222: Proposed § 42.222 would prescribe a rule consistent with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 325(d) regarding multiple proceedings involving the subject patent. When there is a question of a stay concerning a matter for which a statutory time period is running in one of the proceedings, where the stay would impact the ability of the Office to meet the statutory deadline, it is expected that the Director would be consulted prior to issuance of a stay, given that the stay would impact the ability of the Office to meet the statutory deadline for completing the post-grant review. For example, it is expected that the Board would consult the Director prior to the issuance of a stay in an ex parte reexamination proceeding where the three month statutory time period under 35 U.S.C. 303 is running.
Section 42.223: Proposed § 42.223 would provide for the filing of supplemental information. 35 U.S.C. 326(a)(3) provides that the Director shall establish regulations establishing procedures for filing supplemental information after the petition is filed. 35 U.S.C. 324(a) provides that the institution of a post-grant review is based upon the information filed in the petition under 35 U.S.C. 321 and any response filed under 35 U.S.C. 323. As the institution of the post-grant review is not based upon supplemental information, the proposed rule would provide that motions identifying supplemental information be filed after the institution of the post-grant review.
Section 42.224: Proposed § 42.224 would provide that additional discovery in a post-grant review is limited to evidence directly related to factual assertions advanced by a party to the proceeding and that the standard for additional discovery is good cause. The proposed rule is consistent with 35 U.S.C. 326(a)(5), which provides that the Director shall prescribe regulations setting forth the standards and procedures for discovery of relevant evidence that is directly related to factual assertions by either party.
While an interests-of-justice standard will be employed in granting additional discovery in inter partes reviews and derivation proceedings, new subpart C will provide that a good cause standard is employed in post-grant reviews, and by consequence, in covered business method patent reviews. Good cause and interests of justice are closely related standards, but on balance, the interests-of-justice standard is slightly higher than good cause. While a good cause standard requires a party to show a specific factual reason to justify the needed discovery, interests of justice would mean that the Board would look at all relevant factors. The interests-of-justice standard covers considerable more ground than the good cause standard, and in using such a standard the Board will attempt to consider whether the additional discovery is necessary in light of “the totality of the relevant circumstances.” U.S. v. Roberts, 978 F.2d 17, 22 (1st Cir. 1992).
A. Administrative Procedure Act (APA): This notice proposes rules of practice concerning the procedure for requesting a post-grant or covered business method patent review, and the trial process after initiation of such a review. The changes being proposed in this notice do not change the substantive criteria of patentability. These proposed changes involve rules of agency practice and procedure and/or interpretive rules. See Bachow Commc'ns Inc. v. FCC, 237 F.3d 683, 690 (DC Cir. 2001) (rules governing an application process are procedural under the Administrative Procedure Act); Inova Alexandria Hosp. v. Shalala, 244 F.3d 342, 350 (4th Cir. 2001) (rules for handling appeals were procedural where they did not change the substantive standard for reviewing claims); Nat'l Org. of Veterans' Advocates v. Sec'y of Veterans Affairs, 260 F.3d 1365, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (rule that clarifies interpretation of a statute is interpretive).
B. Regulatory Flexibility Act: The Office estimates that 50 petitions for post-grant and covered business method patent review will be filed in fiscal year 2013. This will be the first fiscal year in which the review proceeding will be available for an entire fiscal year.
In fiscal year 2013, it is expected that no post-grant review petitions will be received, other than those filed under the transitional program for covered business method patents. Thus, the estimated number of post-grant and covered business method patent review petitions is based on the number of inter partes reexamination requests filed in fiscal year 2011 for patents having an original classification in class 705 of the United States Patent Classification System. Class 705 is the classification for patents directed to data processing in the following areas: financial, business practice, management, or cost/price determination. See http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/classification/uspc705/sched705.pdf.
The Office received 20 requests for inter partes reexamination of patents classified in Class 705 in fiscal year 2011. The Office is estimating the number of petitions for covered business method patent review to be higher than 20 requests due to an expansion of the grounds for which review may be requested including subject matter eligibility grounds, the greater coordination with litigation, and the provision that patents will be eligible for the proceeding regardless of filing date of the application which resulted in the patent. It is not anticipated that any post-grant review petitions will be received in fiscal year 2013 as only patents issuing based on certain applications filed on or after March 16, 2013 are eligible for post-grant review, or certain applications involved in an interference proceeding commenced before September 12, 2012. Public Law 112-29, § 6(f), 125 Stat. 284, 311 (2011).
The Office has reviewed the entity status of patents for which inter partes reexamination was requested from October 1, 2000, to September 23, 2011. This data only includes filings granted a filing date in the particular year rather than filings in which a request was received in the year. The first inter partes reexamination was filed on July 27, 2001. A summary of that review is provided in Table 1 below. As shown by Table 1, patents known to be owned by a small entity represented 32.79% of patents for which inter partes reexamination was requested. Based on an assumption that the same percentage of patents owned by small entities will be subject to post-grant and covered business method patent review, it is estimated that 16 petitions for post-grant and covered business method patent review would be filed to seek review of patents owned by a small entity in fiscal year 2013, the first full fiscal year that these proceedings will be available.
1,278 419 32.79
Furthermore, the Office recognizes that there would be an offset to this number for patents that expire earlier than 20 years from their filing date due to a benefit claim to an earlier application or due to a filing of a terminal disclaimer. The Office likewise recognizes that there would be an offset in the estimate in the opposite manner due to the accrual of patent term extension and adjustment. The Office, however, does not maintain data on the date of expiration by operation of a terminal disclaimer. Therefore, the Office has not adjusted the estimate of 375,000 patents owned by small entities in force as of October 1, 2011. While the Office maintains information regarding patent term extension and adjustment accrued by each patent, the Office does not collect data on the expiration date of patents that are subject to a terminal disclaimer. As such, the Office has not adjusted the estimated of 375,000 patents owned by small entities in force as of October 1, 2011, for accrual of patent term extension and adjustment, because in view of the incomplete terminal disclaimer data issue, would be incomplete and any estimate adjustment would be administratively burdensome. Thus, it is estimated that the number of small entity patents in force in fiscal year 2013 will be at least 375,000.
Based on the estimated number of patents in force, the number of small entity owned patents impacted by post-grant and covered business method patent review in fiscal year 2013 (16 patents) would be less than 0.005% (16/375,000) of all patents in force that are owned by small entities. The USPTO nonetheless has undertaken an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis of the proposed rule.
1. Description of the Reasons That Action by the Office Is Being Considered: On September 16, 2011, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act was enacted into law (Pub. L. 112-29, 125 Stat. 284 (2011)). Section 6 of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act amends title 35, United States Code, by adding chapter 32 to create a new post-grant review proceeding. Section 18 of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act provides for a transitional program for covered business method patents which will employ the standards and procedures of the post-grant review proceeding with a few exceptions. For the implementation, § 6(f) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act requires that the Director issue regulations to carry out chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, within one year after the date of enactment. Public Law 112-29, § 6(f), 125 Stat. 284, 311 (2011).
2. Succinct Statement of the Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, the Proposed Rules: The proposed rules seek to implement post-grant and covered business method patent review as authorized by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act requires that the Director prescribe rules for the post-grant and covered business method patent reviews that result in a final determination not later than one year after the date on which the Director notices the institution of a proceeding. The one-year period may be extended for not more than 6 months if good cause is shown. See 35 U.S.C. 326(a)(11). The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act also requires that the Director, in prescribing rules for post-grant and covered business method patent reviews, consider the effect of the rules on the economy, the integrity of the patent system, the efficient administration of the Office, and the ability of the Office to complete timely the instituted proceedings. See 35 U.S.C. 326(b). Consistent with the time periods provided in 35 U.S.C. 326(a)(11), the proposed rules are designed to, except where good cause is shown to exist, result in a final determination by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board within one year of the notice of initiation of the review. This one-year review will enhance the effect on the economy, and improve the integrity of the patent system and the efficient administration of the Office.
As discussed above, it is anticipated that 50 petitions for post-grant and covered business method patent review will be filed in fiscal year 2013. The Office has reviewed the percentage of patents for which inter partes reexamination was requested from October 1, 2000 to September 23, 2011. A summary of that review is provided in Table 1 above. As demonstrated by Table 1, patents known to be owned by a small entity represent 32.79% of patents for which inter partes reexamination was requested. Based on an assumption that the same percentage of patents owned by small entities will be subject to the new review proceedings, it is estimated that 16 patents owned by small entities would be affected by a post-grant or covered business method patent review.
The USPTO estimates that 2.5% of patent owners will file a request for adverse judgment prior to a decision to institute and that another 2.5% will file a request for adverse judgment or fail to participate after initiation. Specifically, an estimated 2 patent owners will file a request for adverse judgment or fail to participate after institution in post-grant and covered business method patent review proceedings combined. Based on the percentage of small entity owned patents that were the subject of inter partes reexamination (32.79%) from October 1, 2000 to September 23, 2011, it is estimated that 1 small entity will file such requests or fail to participate in post-grant and covered business method patent review combined.
Under the proposed rules, prior to determining whether to institute a review, the patent owner may file an optional patent owner preliminary response to the petition. Given the new time period requirements to file a petition for review before the Board relative to patent enforcement proceedings and the desire to avoid the cost of a trial and delays to related infringement actions, it is anticipated that 90% of petitions, other than those for which a request for adverse judgment is filed, will result in the filing of a patent owner preliminary response. Specifically, the Office estimates that 45 patent owners will file a preliminary response to a post-grant or covered business method petition. Based on the percentage of small entity owned patents that were the subject of inter partes reexamination (32.79%), it is estimated that 15 small entities will file a preliminary response to a post-grant or covered business method patent review petition filed in fiscal year 2013.
During fiscal year 2011, the Office issued 21 decisions following a request for reconsideration of a decision on appeal in inter partes reexamination. The average time from original decision to decision on reconsideration was 4.4 months. Thus, the decisions on reconsideration were based on original decisions issued from July 2010 until June 2011. During this time period, the Office mailed 63 decisions on appeals in inter partes reexamination. See BPAI Statistics—Receipts and Dispositions by Technology Center, http://www.uspto.gov/ip/boards/bpai/stats/receipts/index.jsp (monthly data). Based on the assumption that the same rate of reconsideration (21 divided by 63 or 33.333%) will occur, the Office estimates that 2 requests for reconsideration will be filed. Based on the percentage of small entity owned patents that were the subject of inter partes reexamination (32.79%), it is estimated that 1 small entity will file a request for a reconsideration of a decision dismissing the petition for post-grant and covered business method patent review filed in fiscal year 2013.
The Office reviewed motions, oppositions, and replies in a number of contested trial proceedings before the trial section of the Board. The review included determining whether the motion, opposition, and reply were directed to patentability grounds and non-priority non-patentability grounds. Based on the review, it is anticipated that post-grant and covered business method patent reviews will have an average of 8.89 motions, oppositions, and replies per trial after institution. Settlement is estimated to occur in 20% of instituted trials at various points of the trial. In the trials that are settled, it is estimated that only 50% of the noted motions, oppositions, and replies would be filed.
After a trial has been instituted but prior to a final written decision, parties to a post-grant or covered business method patent review may request an oral hearing. It is anticipated that 45 requests for oral hearings will be filed based on the number of requests for oral hearings in inter partes reexamination, the stated desirability for oral hearings during the legislative process, and the public input received prior to this notice of proposed rulemaking. Based on the percentage of small entity owned patents that were the subject of inter partes reexamination (32.79%), it is estimated that 15 small entities will file a request for oral hearing in the post-grant or covered business method patent reviews instituted in fiscal year 2013.
Parties to a post-grant or covered business method patent review may file requests to treat a settlement as business confidential, and request for adverse judgment. A written request to make a settlement agreement available may also be filed. Given the short time period set for conducting trials, it is anticipated that the alternative dispute resolution options will be infrequently used. The Office estimates that 2 requests to treat a settlement as business confidential, and 10 requests for adverse judgment, default adverse judgment, or settlement notices will be filed. The Office also estimates that 2 requests to make a settlement available will be filed. Based on the percentage of small entity owned patents that were the subject of inter partes reexamination (32.79%), it is estimated that 1 small entity will file a request to treat a settlement as business confidential and 3 small entities will file a request for adverse judgment, default adverse judgment notices, or settlement notices in the reviews instituted in fiscal year 2013.
Parties to a post-grant or covered business method patent review may seek judicial review of the final decision of the Board. Historically, 33% of examiner's decisions in inter partes reexamination proceedings have been appealed to the Board. It is anticipated that 16% of final decision of the Board would be appealed. The reduction in appeal rate is based the higher threshold for institution, the focused process, and the experience of the Board in conducted contested cases. Therefore, it is estimated that 5 parties would seek judicial review of the final decisions of the Board in post-grant or covered business method patent reviews instituted in fiscal year 2013. Furthermore, based on the percentage of small entity owned patents that were the subject of inter partes reexamination (32.79%), it is estimated that 2 small entities would seek judicial review of final decisions of the Board in the post-grant or covered business method patent reviews instituted in fiscal year 2013.
4. Description of the Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance Requirements of the Proposed Rule, Including an Estimate of the Classes of Small Entities Which Will Be Subject to the Requirement and the Type of Professional Skills Necessary for Preparation of the Report or Record: Based on the filing trends of inter partes reexamination requests, it is anticipated that petitions for post-grant review will be filed across all technologies with approximately 50% being filed in electrical technologies, approximately 30% in mechanical technologies, and the remaining 20% in chemical technologies and design. Under the proposed rules, a person who is not the owner of a patent may file a petition to institute a review of the patent, with a few exceptions. Given this, a petition for review is likely to be filed by an entity practicing in the same or similar field as the patent. Therefore, it is anticipated that 50% of the petitions for review will be filed in the electronic field, 30% in the mechanical field, and 20% in the chemical or design fields for post-grant review.
Covered business method patent reviews would be limited to business method patents that are not patents for technological inventions. Under the proposed rules, a person who is not the owner of a patent may file a petition to institute a review of the patent, with a few exceptions. Given this, it is anticipated that a petition for review is likely to be filed by an entity practicing in the business method field for covered business methods.
Preparation of the petition would require analyzing the patent claims, locating evidence supporting arguments of unpatentability, and preparing the petition seeking review of the patent. This notice provides the proposed procedural requirements that are common for the new trials. Additional requirements are provided in contemporaneous trial specific proposed rulemaking. The procedures for petitions to institute a post-grant review are proposed in §§ 42.5, 42.6, 42.8, 42.11, 42.13, 42.20, 42.21, 42.22, 42.24(a)(2)), 42.63, 42.65, and 42.201 through 42.205. The procedures for petitions to institute a covered business method patent review are proposed in §§ 42.5, 42.6, 42.8, 42.11, 42.13, 42.20, 42.21, 42.22, 42.24(a)(3), 42.63, 42.65, 42.203, 42.205, and 42.302 through 42.304.
The cost of preparing a petition for post-grant or covered business method patent review is estimated to be 33.333% higher than the cost of preparing an inter partes review petition because the petition for post-grant or covered business method patent review may seek to institute a proceeding on additional grounds such as subject matter eligibility. The American Intellectual Property Law Association's AIPLA Report of the Economic Survey 2011 reported that the average cost of preparing a request for inter partes reexamination was $46,000. Based on the work required to prepare and file such a request, the Office considers the reported cost as a reasonable estimate. Therefore, the Office estimates that the cost of preparing a petition for post-grant or covered business method patent review would be $61,333 (including expert costs).
The filing of a petition for review would also require payment by the petitioner of the appropriate petition fee to recover the aggregate cost for providing the review. The appropriate petition fee would be determined by the number of claims for which review is sought and the type of review. The proposed fees for filing a petition for post-grant or covered business method patent review would be: $35,800 to request review of 20 or fewer claims, $44,750 to request review of 21 to 30 claims, $53,700 to request review of 31 to 40 claims, $71,600 to request review of 41 to 50 claims, $89,500 to request review of 51 to 60 claims, and an additional $35,800 to request review of additional groups of 10 claims.
For a petition for post-grant or covered business method patent review with 20 or fewer challenged claims, it is anticipated that 121 hours of judge time would be required. For 21 to 30 challenged claims, an additional 30 hours is anticipated for a total of 151 hours of judge time. For 31 to 40 challenged claims, an additional 60 hours is anticipated for a total of 181 hours of judge time. For 41 to 50 challenged claims, an additional 121 hours is anticipated for a total of 242 hours of judge time. For 51 to 60 challenged claims, an additional 181 hours is anticipated for a total of 302 hours of judge time. The increase in adjustment reflects the added complexity that typically occurs as more claims are in dispute.
The proposed rules would permit the patent owner to file a preliminary response to the petition setting forth the reasons why no review should be initiated. The procedures for a patent owner to file a preliminary response as an opposition are proposed in §§ 42.6, 42.8, 42.11, 42.13, 42.21, 42.23, 42.24(b), 42.51, 42.52, 42.53, 42.54, 42.63, 42.64, 42.65, 42.107, 42.120, 42.207, and 42.220. The patent owner is not required to file a preliminary response. The Office estimates that the preparation and filing of a patent owner preliminary response would require 100 hours of professional time and cost $34,000 (including expert costs). The AIPLA Report of the Economic Survey 2011 reported that the average cost for inter partes reexamination including of the request ($46,000), the first patent owner response, and third-party comments was $75,000 (see I-175) and the median billing rate for professional time of $340 per hour for attorneys in private firms (see 8). Thus, the cost of the first patent owner reply and the third party statement is $29,000. The Office finds these costs to be reasonable estimates. The patent owner reply and third party statement, however, occur after the examiner has made an initial threshold determination and made only the appropriate rejections. Accordingly, it is anticipated that filing a patent owner preliminary response to a petition for review would cost more than the initial reply in a reexamination, or an estimated $34,000 (including expert costs).
The Office will determine whether to institute a trial within three months after the earlier of: (1) The submission of a patent owner preliminary response, (2) the waiver of filing a patent owner preliminary response, or (3) the expiration of the time period for filing a patent owner preliminary response. If the Office decides not to institute a trial, the petitioner may file a request for reconsideration of the Office's decision. It is anticipated that a request for reconsideration will require 80 hours of professional time to prepare and file, for a cost of $27,200. This estimate is based on the complexity of the issues and desire to avoid time bars imposed by 35 U.S.C. 325(b).
Following institution of a trial, the parties may be authorized to file various motions, e.g., motions to amend and motions for additional discovery. Where a motion is authorized, an opposition may be authorized, and where an opposition is authorized, a reply may be authorized. The procedures for filing a motion are proposed in §§ 42.6, 42.8, 42.11, 42.13, 42.21, 42.22, 42.24(a)(5), 42.51, 42.52, 42.53, 42.54, 42.63, 42.64, 42.65, 42.221, and 42.223. The procedures for filing an opposition are proposed in §§ 42.6, 42.8, 42.11, 42.13, 42.21, 42.23, 42.24(b), 42.51, 42.52, 42.53, 42.54, 42.63, 42.64, 42.65, 42.207, and 42.220. The procedures for filing a reply are proposed in §§ 42.6, 42.8, 42.11, 42.13, 42.21, 42.23, 42.24(c), 42.51, 42.52, 42.53, 42.54, 42.63, and 42.65. As discussed previously, the Office estimates that the average post-grant or covered business method patent review will have 8.89 motions, oppositions, and replies after institution.
The AIPLA Report of the Economic Survey 2011 reported that the average cost in contested cases before the trial section of the Board prior to the priority phase was $322,000 per party. Because of the overlap of issues in patentability grounds, it is expected that the cost per motion will decline as more motions are filed in a proceeding. It is estimated that a motion, opposition, or reply in a derivation would cost $34,000, which is estimated by dividing the total public cost for all motions in current contested cases divided by the estimated number of motions in derivations under 35 U.S.C. 135, as amended. The cost of a motion, opposition, or reply in a post-grant or covered business method patent review is estimated at $44,200 (including expert costs), reflecting the reduction in overlap between motions relative to derivation. Based on the work required to file and prepare such briefs, the Office considers the reported cost as a reasonable estimate.
After a trial has been instituted but prior to a final written decision, parties to a post-grant or covered business method patent review may request an oral hearing. The procedure for filing requests for oral argument is proposed in § 42.70. The AIPLA Report of the Economic Survey 2011 reported that the third quartile cost of an ex parte appeal with an oral argument is $12,000, while the third quartile cost of an ex parte appeal without an oral argument is $6,000. In view of the reported costs, which the Office finds reasonable, and the increased complexity of an oral hearing with multiple parties, it is estimated that the cost per party for oral hearings would be $6,800 or $800 more than the reported third quartile cost for an ex parte oral hearing.
Parties to a post-grant or covered business method patent review may file requests to treat a settlement as business confidential, or file a request for adverse judgment. A written request to make a settlement agreement available may also be filed. The procedures to file requests that a settlement be treated as business confidential are proposed in § 42.74(c). The procedures to file requests for adverse judgment are proposed in § 42.73(b). The procedures to file requests to make a settlement agreement available are proposed in § 42.74(c)(2). It is anticipated that requests to treat a settlement as business confidential will require 2 hours of professional time or $680. It is anticipated that requests for adverse judgment will require 1 hour of professional time or $340. It is anticipated that requests to make a settlement agreement available will require 1 hour of professional time or $340. The requests to make a settlement agreement available will also require payment of a fee of $400 specified in proposed § 42.15(d).
By contrast, the Office has a page limit on the motions filed in contested cases, except where parties are specifically authorized to exceed the limitation. The typical contested case proceeding is subject to a standing order that sets a 50 page limit for motions and oppositions on priority, a 15 page limit for miscellaneous motions (§ 41.121(a)(3)) and oppositions (§ 41.122), and a 25 page limit for other motions (§ 41.121(a)(2)) and oppositions to other motions. In typical proceedings, replies are subject to a 15 page limit if directed to priority, a 5 page limit for miscellaneous issues, and 10 pages for other motions. The average contested case was terminated in 10.1 months in fiscal year 2009, in 12 months in fiscal year 2010, and 9 months in fiscal year 2011. The percentage of contested cases terminated within 2 years was 93.7% in fiscal year 2009, 88.0% in fiscal year 2010, and 94.0% in fiscal year 2011. See BPAI Statistics—Performance Measures, http://www.uspto.gov/ip/boards/bpai/stats/perform/index.jsp.
Under the proposed rules, a post-grant review petition would be based upon any grounds identified in 35 U.S.C. 321(b), e.g., failure to comply with 35 U.S.C. 101, 102, 103, and 112 (except best mode). Under current practice, a party would be limited to filing two or three motions, each limited to 25 pages, for a maximum of 75 pages. Where there is more than one motion for unpatentability based upon different statutory grounds, the Board's experience is that the motions contain similar discussions of technology and claim constructions. Such overlap is unnecessary where a single petition for unpatentability is filed. Thus, the proposed 70 page limit is considered sufficient in all but exceptional cases.
Covered business method patent review is similar in scope to that of post-grant review as there is substantial overlap in the statutory grounds permitted for review. Thus, the proposed page limit for proposed covered business method patent reviews is 70 pages, which is the same as that proposed for post-grant review.
The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act requires that the Director, in prescribing rules for post-grant and covered business method patent reviews, consider the effect of the rules on the economy, the integrity of the patent system, the efficient administration of the Office, and the ability of the Office to complete timely the instituted proceedings. See 35 U.S.C. 326(b). In view of the actual results of the duration of proceedings in inter partes reexamination (without page limits) and contested cases (with page limits), proposing procedures with reasonable page limits would be consistent with the objectives set forth in the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. Based on our experience on the time needed to complete a non-page limited proceeding, the option of non-page limited proceedings was not adopted.
I. Adopted Option. Number of claims for which review is requested. The number of claims often impacts the complexity of the request and increases the demands placed on the deciding officials. Cf. In re Katz Interactive Call Processing Patent Litig., 639 F.3d 1303, 1309 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (limiting number of asserted claims is appropriate to efficiently manage a case). Moreover, the number of claims for which review is requested can be easily determined and administered, which avoids delays in the Office and the impact on the economy or patent system that would occur if an otherwise meritorious request is refused due to improper fee payment. Any subsequent petition would be time barred in view 35 U.S.C. 325.
II. Alternative Option I. Number of grounds for which review is requested. The Office has experience with large numbers of cumulative grounds being presented in inter partes reexaminations, which often add little value to the proceedings. Allowing for a large number of grounds to be presented on payment of an additional fee(s) is not favored. Determination of the number of grounds in a request may be contentious and difficult and may result in a large amount of high-level petition work. As such, the option would have a negative impact on small entities. Moreover, interferences instituted in the 1980s and early 1990s suffered from this problem as there was no page limit for motions and the parties had little incentive to focus the issues for decision. The resulting interference records were often a collection of disparate issues and evidence. This led to lengthy and unwarranted delays in deciding interference cases as well as increased costs for parties and the Office. Accordingly, this alternative is inconsistent with objectives of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act that the Director, in prescribing rules for the post-grant and covered business method patent reviews, consider the effect of the rules on the economy, the integrity of the patent system, the efficient administration of the Office, and the ability of the Office to timely complete the instituted proceedings.
In addition, the trial section of the Board recently experimented with motions having a fixed page limit for the argument section and an unlimited number of pages for the statement of facts. Unlimited pages for the statement of facts led to a dramatic increase in the number of alleged facts and pages associated with those facts. For example, one party used approximately 10 pages for a single “fact” that merely cut and pasted a portion of a declarant's cross-examination. Based upon the trial section's experience with unlimited pages of facts, the Board recently reverted back to a fixed page limit for the entire motion (argument and facts). Accordingly, this alternative is inconsistent with objectives of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act that the Director, in prescribing rules for the post-grant and covered business method patent reviews, consider the effect of the rules on the economy, the integrity of the patent system, the efficient administration of the Office, and the ability of the Office to complete timely the instituted proceedings.
IV. Alternative Option III. The Office considered an alternative fee setting regime in which fees would be charged at various steps in the review process, a first fee on filing of the petition, a second fee if instituted, a third fee on filing a motion in opposition to amended claims, etc. The alternative fee setting regime would hamper the ability of the Office to complete timely reviews, would result in dismissal of pending proceedings with patentability in doubt due to non-payment of required fees by third parties, and would be inconsistent with 35 U.S.C. 322 that requires the fee established by the Director be paid at the time of filing the petition. Accordingly, this alternative is inconsistent with objectives of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act that the Director, in prescribing rules for post-grant and covered business method patent reviews, consider the effect of the rules on the economy, the integrity of the patent system, the efficient administration of the Office, and the ability of the Office to complete timely the instituted proceedings.
Discovery: The Office considered a procedure for discovery similar to the one available during district court litigation. Discovery of that scope has been criticized sharply, particularly when attorneys use discovery tools as tactical weapons, which hinder the “just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action and proceedings.” See Introduction to An E-Discovery Model Order available at http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/images/stories/announcements/Ediscovery_Model_Order.pdf. Accordingly, this alternative would have been inconsistent with objectives of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act that the Director, in prescribing rules for the post-grant and covered business method patent reviews, consider the effect of the rules on the economy, the integrity of the patent system, the efficient administration of the Office, and the ability of the Office to complete timely the instituted proceedings.
The Office considered broadly permitting practitioners not registered to practice by the Office to represent parties in trial as well as categorically prohibiting such practice. A prohibition on the practice would be inconsistent with the Board's experience, and more importantly, might result in increased costs particularly where a small entity has selected its district court litigation team for representation before the Board and has a patent review filed after litigation efforts have commenced. Alternatively, broadly making the practice available would create burdens on the Office in administering the trials and in completing the trial within the established timeframe, particularly if the selected practitioner does not have the requisite skill. In weighing the desirability of admitting a practitioner pro hac vice, the economic impact on the party in interest would be considered which would tend to increase the likelihood that a small entity could be represented by a non-registered practitioner. Accordingly, the alternatives to eliminate pro hac vice practice or to permit it more broadly would have been inconsistent with objectives of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act that the Director, in prescribing rules for the post-grant and covered business method patent reviews, consider the effect of the rules on the economy, the integrity of the patent system, the efficient administration of the Office, and the ability of the Office to complete timely the instituted proceedings.
Based on the Office's experience, a paper based filing system increases delay in processing papers, delay in public availability, and the chance that a paper may be misplaced or made available to an improper party if confidential. Accordingly, the alternative of a paper based filing system would have been inconsistent with objectives of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act that the Director, in prescribing rules for the post-grant and covered business method patent reviews, consider the effect of the rules on the economy, the integrity of the patent system, the efficient administration of the Office, and the ability of the Office to complete timely the instituted proceedings.
Based on the petition and other filing requirements for initiating a review proceeding, the USPTO estimates the burden of the proposed rules on the public to be $22,761,410 in fiscal year 2013 which represents the sum of the estimated total annual (hour) respondent cost burden ($20,405,610) plus the estimated total annual non-hour respondent cost burden ($2,355,800) provided in Part O, Section II, of this notice, infra.
Likewise, it is anticipated that the proposed rules will minimize duplication of efforts. In particular, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act provides more coordination between district court infringement litigation and post-grant or covered business method patent reviews to reduce duplication of efforts and costs.
The AIPLA Report of the Economic Survey 2011 reports that the total cost of patent litigation where the damages at risk are less than $1,000,000 average $916,000, where the damages at risk are between $1,000,000 and $25,000,000 average $2,769,000, and where the damages at risk exceed $25,000,000 average $6,018,000. There may be a significant reduction in overall burden if, as intended, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act and the proposed rules reduce the overlap between review at the USPTO of issued patents and validity determination during patent infringement actions. Data from the United States district courts reveals that 2,830 patent cases were filed in 2006, 2,896 in 2007, 2,909 in 2008, 2,792 in 2009, and 3,301 in 2010. See U.S. Courts, Judicial Business of the United States Courts, www.uscourts.gov/uscourts/Statistics/JudicialBusiness/2010/appendices/C02ASep10.pdf (last visited Nov. 11, 2011) (hosting annual reports for 1997 through 2010). Thus, the Office estimates that no more than 3,300 patent cases (the highest number of yearly filings between 2006 and 2010 rounded to the nearest 100) are likely to be filed annually. The aggregate burden estimate above ($22,761,410) was not offset by a reduction in burden based on improved coordination between district court patent litigation and the new inter partes review proceedings.
O. Paperwork Reduction Act: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3549) requires that the USPTO consider the impact of paperwork and other information collection burdens imposed on the public. This proposed rulemaking involves information collection requirements which are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3549). The collection of information involved in this notice has been submitted to OMB under OMB control number 0651-00xx. In the Notice “Rules of Practice for Trials before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and Judicial Review of Patent Trial and Appeal Board Decisions,” RIN 0651-AC70, the information collection for all of the new trials authorized by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act were provided. In the Notice “Changes to Implement Post-Grant Review Proceedings,” RIN 0651-AC72, the information collection for post-grant review and covered business method patent review combined authorized by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act were provided. This notice also provides the subset of burden created by the covered business method patent review provisions. The proposed collection will be available at the OMB's Information Collection Review Web site (www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain).
(1) Petitions to institute a post-grant review (§§ 42.6, 42.8, 42.11, 42.13, 42.21, 42.22, 42.24(a)(2), 42.63, 42.65, and 42.201 through 42.205);
(2) petitions to institute a covered business method patent review (§§ 42.5, 42.6, 42.8, 42.11, 42.13, 42.20, 42.21, 42.22, 42.24(a)(3), 42.63, 42.65, 42.203, 42.205, and 42.302 through 42.304);
(3) motions (§§ 42.6, 42.8, 42.11, 42.13, 42.21, 42.22, 42.24(a)(5), 42.51 through 42.54, 42.63, 42.64, 42.65, 42.221, 42.123, and 42.223);
(4) oppositions (§§ 42.6, 42.8, 42.11, 42.13, 42.21, 42.23, 42.24(b), 42.51, 42.52, 42.53, 42.54, 42.63, 42.64, 42.65, 42.207, and 42.220);
(5) replies provided for in 35 U.S.C. 321-329 (§§ 42.6, 42.8, 42.11, 42.13, 42.21, 42.23, 42.24(c), 42.51, 42.52, 42.53, 42.54, 42.63, and 42.65).
Section 18 of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act provides for a transitional program for covered business method patents, which will employ the standards and procedures of the post-grant review proceeding with a few exceptions.
In estimating the number of hours necessary for preparing a petition to institute a post-grant or covered business method patent review, the USPTO considered the estimated cost of preparing a request for inter partes reexamination ($46,000), the median billing rate ($340/hour), and the observation that the cost of inter partes reexamination has risen the fastest of all litigation costs since 2009 in the AIPLA Report of the Economic Survey 2011. Since additional grounds are provided in post-grant or covered business method patent review, the Office estimates the cost of preparing a petition to institute a review will be 33.333% more than the estimated cost of preparing a request for inter partes reexamination, or $61,333.
The USPTO also reviewed recent contested cases before the trial section of the Board to make estimates on the average number of motions for any matter including priority, the subset of those motions directed to non-priority issues, the subset of those motions directed to non-priority patentability issues, and the subset of those motions directed to patentability issues based on a patent or printed publication on the basis of 35 U.S.C. 102 or 103. The review of current contested cases before the trial section of the Board indicated that approximately 15% of motions were directed to prior art grounds, 18% of motions were directed to other patentability grounds, 27% were directed to miscellaneous issues, and 40% were directed to priority issues. It was estimated that the cost per motion to a party in current contested cases before the trial section of the Board declines because of overlap in subject matter, expert overlap, and familiarity with the technical subject matter. Given the overlap of subject matter, a proceeding with fewer motions will have a somewhat less than proportional decrease in costs since the overlapping costs will be spread over fewer motions.
It is estimated that the cost of a post-grant or covered business method patent review would be 75% of the cost of current contested cases before the trial section of the Board to the end of the preliminary motion period. A post-grant or covered business method patent review should have many fewer motions since only one party will have a patent that is the subject of the proceeding (compared with each party having at least a patent or an application in current contested cases before the trial section of the Board). Moreover, fewer issues can be raised since post-grant and covered business method patent reviews will not have the priority-related issues that must be addressed in current contested cases before the trial section of the Board before the priority phase. Again, a 75% weighting factor should capture the typical costs of a post-grant or covered business method patent review.
The title, description, and respondent description of the information collection are shown below with an estimate of the annual reporting burdens for the post-grant and covered business method patent review provisions. Included in this estimate is the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The principal impact of the proposed changes in this notice of proposed rulemaking is to implement the changes to Office practice necessitated by §§ 6(d) and 18 of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act.
Estimated Total Annual Non-hour Respondent Cost Burden: $2,355,800 per year. There are no capital start-up or maintenance costs associated with this information collection. However, this collection does have annual (non-hour) costs in the form of filing fees. There are filing fees associated with petitions for post-grant and covered business method patent review and for requests to treat a settlement as business confidential. The total fees for this collection are calculated in the accompanying table. The USPTO estimates that the total fees associated with this collection will be approximately $2,355,800 per year.
Petition for post-grant or covered business method patent review 180.4 50 9,020
Reply to initial post-grant or covered business method patent review 100 45 4,500
Motions, replies and oppositions after institution in post-grant or covered business method patent review 130 342 44,460
Petition for post-grant or covered business method patent review 50 $47,100 $2,355,000
Reply to post-grant or covered business method patent review petition 45 0 0
Motions, replies and oppositions after initiation in post-grant or covered business method patent review 342 0 0
Totals 515 $2,355,800
Interested persons are requested to send comments regarding this information collection by April 10, 2012, to: (1) The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10202, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Nicholas A. Fraser, the Desk Officer for the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and via email at nfraser@omb.eop.gov; and (2) The Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences by electronic mail message over the Internet addressed to: post_grant_review@uspto.gov, or by mail addressed to: Mail Stop Patent Board, Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, marked to the attention of “Lead Judge Michael Tierney, Post-Grant Review Proposed Rules.”
Authority: 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), 6, 21, 23, 41, 135, 311, 312, 316, 321-326 and Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, Pub. L. 112-29, sections 6(c), 6(f), and 18, 125 Stat. 284, 304, 311, and 329 (2011).
2. A subpart C is added to read as follows:
Subpart C—Post-Grant Review General
Who may petition for a post-grant review.
Post-grant review fee.
Amendment of the patent.
Multiple proceedings.
Filing of supplemental information.
(c) A post-grant review proceeding shall be administered such that pendency before the Board after institution is normally no more than one year. The time can be extended by up to six months for good cause by the Chief Administrative Patent Judge.
(d) Interferences commenced before September 16, 2012, shall proceed under part 41 of this chapter except as the Chief Administrative Patent Judge, acting on behalf of the Director, may otherwise order in the interests of justice.
§ 42.201
(a) Before the date on which the petition for review is filed, the petitioner or real party in interest filed a civil action challenging the validity of a claim of the patent; or
(b) The petitioner, the petitioner's real party in interest, or a privy of the petitioner is estopped from challenging the claims on the grounds identified in the petition.
(b) The Director may impose a limit on the number of post-grant reviews that may be instituted during each of the first four one-year periods in which 35 U.S.C. 321 is in effect by providing notice in the Office's Official Gazette or Federal Register. Petitions filed after an established limit has been reached will be deemed untimely.
§ 42.203
(a) A post-grant review fee set forth in § 42.15(b) must accompany the petition.
§ 42.204
In addition to the requirements of §§ 42.8 and 42.22, the petition must set forth:
(a) Grounds for standing. The petitioner must certify that the patent for which review is sought is available for post-grant review and that the petitioner is not barred or estopped from requesting a post-grant review of the patent.
(2) The specific statutory grounds permitted under paragraph (2) or (3) of 35 U.S.C. 282(b) on which the challenge to the claim is based;
(3) How the challenged claim is to be construed. Where the claim to be construed contains a means-plus-function or step-plus-function limitation as permitted under 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, the construction of the claim must identify the specific portions of the specification that describe the structure, material, or acts corresponding to each claimed function;
(5) The exhibit number of the supporting evidence relied upon to support the challenge and state the relevance of the evidence to the challenge raised, including identifying specific portions of the evidence that support the challenge. The Board may exclude or give no weight to the evidence where a party has failed to state its relevance or to identify specific portions of the evidence that support the challenge.
§ 42.205
(b) If the petitioner cannot effect service of the petition and supporting evidence on the patent owner at the correspondence address of record for the subject patent, the petitioner must immediately contact the Board to discuss alternate modes of service.
§ 42.206
(a) Complete petition. A petition to institute a post grant review will not be accorded a filing date until the petition satisfies all of the following requirements:
(1) Complies with § 42.204 or § 42.304,
(2) Service of the petition on the correspondence address of record as provided in § 42.205(a); and
(3) Is accompanied by the filing fee in § 42.15(b).
(b) Incomplete request. Where a party files an incomplete petition, no filing date will be accorded and the Office will dismiss the request if the deficiency in the petition is not corrected within the earlier of either one month from the notice of an incomplete petition, or the expiration of the statutory deadline in which to file a petition for post-grant review.
§ 42.207
(a) The patent owner may file a preliminary response to the petition. The response is limited to setting forth the reasons why no post-grant review should be instituted under 35 U.S.C. 324. The response can include evidence except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. The preliminary response is an opposition for purposes of determining page limits under § 42.24.
(b) Due date. The preliminary response must be filed no later than two months after the date of a notice indicating that the request to institute a post-grant review has been granted a filing date. A patent owner may expedite the proceeding by filing an election to waive the preliminary patent owner response.
(c) No new testimonial evidence. The preliminary response shall not present new testimony evidence beyond that already of record.
(d) No amendments. The preliminary response shall not include any amendment.
(e) Disclaim Patent Claims. The patent owner may file a statutory disclaimer under 35 U.S.C. 253(a) in compliance with § 1.321(a), disclaiming one or more claims in the patent. No post-grant review will be instituted based on disclaimed claims.
(c) Sufficient grounds. Post-grant review shall not be instituted for a ground of unpatentability, unless the Board decides that the petition supporting the ground would, if unrebutted, demonstrate that it is more likely than not that at least one of the claims challenged in the petition is unpatentable. The Board's decision will take into account a preliminary patent owner response where such a response is filed.
(d) Additional grounds. Sufficient grounds under § 42.208(c) may be a showing that the petition raises a novel or unsettled legal question that is important to other patents or patent applications.
(a) Scope. A patent owner may file a response to the petition addressing any ground for unpatentability not already denied. A patent owner response is filed as an opposition and is subject to the page limits provided in § 42.24.
(b) Due date for response. If no date for filing a patent owner response to a petition is provided in a Board order, the default date for filing a patent owner response is two months from the date the post-grant review is instituted.
§ 42.221
(a) A patent owner may file one motion to amend a patent but only after conferring with the Board. Any additional motions to amend may not be filed without Board authorization.
(b) A motion to amend must set forth:
(2) The support in an earlier filed disclosure for each claim for which benefit of the filing date of the earlier filed disclosure is sought.
(c) A motion to amend the claims of a patent will not be authorized where:
(1) The amendment does not respond to a ground of unpatentability involved in the trial; or
(2) The amendment seeks to enlarge the scope of the claims of the patent or introduce new subject matter.
§ 42.222
Where another matter involving the patent is before the Office, the Board may during the pendency of the post-grant review enter any appropriate order regarding the additional matter including providing for the stay, transfer, consolidation, or termination of any such matter.
§ 42.223
Once a trial has been instituted, a petitioner may request authorization to file a motion identifying supplemental information relevant to a ground for which the trial has been instituted. The request must be made within one month of the date the trial is instituted.
§ 42.224
[FR Doc. 2012-2529 Filed 2-9-12; 8:45 am]