Opinion ID: 715850
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: 30 As an initial matter, this court questioned the propriety of reviewing at this time the PTO's Final Determination in a declaratory judgment action. Was the question of its correctness raised in a case or controversy? U.S. Const. art. III, § 2. Upon review of all of the circumstances, we hold that the constitutional limitation on review is satisfied. The dispute arose between appellees and the FDA, which refused to publish new expiration dates pursuant to a claim of entitlement under URAA. In that connection, the PTO's ruling may be reviewed inasmuch as the FDA adopted the PTO's interpretation of the statute as the basis for its action. Further, appellants are damaged by reason of their entitlement to notice from generic manufacturers depending on the patent expiration date which they would not receive without publication of the new date. An actual case or controversy is presented. Cf. DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Co. v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., 62 F.3d 1397, 35 USPQ2d 1718 (Fed.Cir.1995).