Opinion ID: 785646
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Redeclaration of the Interference

Text: 6 Sullivan challenges the final decision of the Board on a number of grounds. First, he argues that this court lacks jurisdiction to review the decision because the Board never acquired jurisdiction, allegedly because some of the claims involved in the interference were copied more than one year after the issuance of the '916 patent. Sullivan's jurisdictional argument is unpersuasive. This court has jurisdiction over appeals from decisions of the Board with respect to ... interferences pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1295(a)(4). Even if the Board's assertion of jurisdiction were improper, this court would still have jurisdiction to review the decision, make that determination, and ultimately remand the case with instructions to dismiss. See, e.g., Mitchell v. Maurer, 293 U.S. 237, 243-44, 55 S.Ct. 162, 79 L.Ed. 338 (1934) (holding that jurisdiction was not proper in the district court and remanding with directions to dismiss). 7 Sullivan argues that the Board's actions were void ab initio because the original declaration of the interference was allegedly unlawful. Whether or not the original interference was erroneously declared, however, the Board subsequently redeclared the interference, in the exercise of its discretion under 35 U.S.C. § 135(a) and 37 C.F.R. § 1.640(b)(1). The Board noted that the Bingel amendment to claim 8, which it entered simultaneously with the redeclaration of the interference, may obviate Sullivan's 35 U.S.C. § 135(b) motion. Notice Redeclaring Interference, slip op. at 5. This was so because Sullivan failed to specifically explain how Bingel's amended claim 8 is the `same or substantially the same subject matter' as claimed in Sullivan's '916 patent. Id. To establish that the Board lacked jurisdiction, Sullivan must demonstrate not that the original declaration was improper, but rather that the redeclaration of the interference between the amended Bingel application and the two Sullivan patents was somehow unlawful. 8 Sullivan attacks the redeclaration of the interference and entry of the amendment on the grounds that he was given no notice or opportunity to be heard. The record indicates, however, that the Board notified Sullivan that an opposition to Bingel's expedited motion to amend could be filed and was due no later than November 18, 2002. Furthermore, the Board's November 20, 2002 order entering the amendment reflects that an opposition was filed by Sullivan: Sullivan alleges that the request and entry of the Bingel amendment is improvident due to 35 U.S.C. § 135(b) and 37 C.F.R. § 1.56. Notice Redeclaring Interference, slip op. at 5. On this record, we cannot conclude that the Board's actions in redeclaring the interference were arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, unsupported by substantial evidence, or otherwise not in accordance with law. 2