Opinion ID: 4191476
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Standard of Review and Legal Standard for New

Text: Ground of Rejection “Whether the [PTAB] relied on a new ground of rejection is a legal question that we review de novo.” In re Stepan Co., 660 F.3d 1341, 1343 (Fed. Cir. 2011). “When considering whether the [PTAB] issued a new ground of rejection, the ultimate criterion of whether a rejection is considered new in a decision by the [PTAB] is whether applicants have had fair opportunity to react to the thrust of the rejection.” In re Biedermann, 733 F.3d 329, 337 (Fed. Cir. 2013) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). The PTAB is not limited to “recit[ing] and agree[ing] with the examiner’s rejection in haec verba”; indeed, it may “further explain[] the examiner’s rejection” and thoroughly “respond[] to an applicant’s argument.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). However, if the PTAB “finds facts not found by the examiner regarding the differences between the prior art and the claimed invention, and these facts are the principal evidence upon which the [PTAB]’s rejection was based,” then the PTAB improperly enters a new ground of rejection. In re Leithem, 661 F.3d 1316, 1320 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (citation omitted). HONEYWELL INT’L INC. v. MEXICHEM AMANCO HOLDING S.A. 3