Opinion ID: 222190
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Accessibility

Text: Whether a reference is publicly accessible is a question of fact that we review for substantial evidence. In re Klopfenstein, 380 F.3d 1345, 1350 (Fed. Cir.2004) (holding that whether a reference is publicly accessible is based on the facts and circumstances surrounding the reference's disclosure to members of the public). A reference is publicly available if it was disseminated or otherwise made available to the extent that persons interested and ordinarily skilled in the subject matter or art exercising reasonable diligence, can locate it. Kyocera Wireless Corp. v. Int'l Trade Comm'n, 545 F.3d 1340, 1350 (Fed.Cir.2008). The Board's determination that Telenor was publicly accessible is supported by substantial evidence. The Board is correct that the patent specification is drawn to a wider field than simply electronic mail. The title of the document itself, Mobile Data Network Description, is descriptive of the subject matter of the patents and the problem the patents purport to solve  the transmission of data to mobile computers. The subject matter categories Telenor was assigned by the Library, computer networks and communication protocols, are similarly indicative of the subject matter of the patents at issue. These facts alone amount to substantial evidence that Telenor was available to one of ordinary skill in the art exercising reasonable diligence. Finally, we will not set aside the Board's determination that Mr. Sorsdahl's opinion was more credible than Dr. Rhyne's regarding the correct field of invention. Mr. Sorsdahl stated that one of ordinary skill in the art would search for the term mobile data network when looking into the technology of the patented invention and thus would have uncovered Telenor. The Board's factual determinations are supported by substantial evidence. In light of those facts, we agree with its legal conclusion that Telenor is a printed publication under § 102(b).