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Federal Circuit clarifies what IPR petition must disclose to provide adequate notice to Patent Owner

Taylor Mauze (US)By Taylor Mauze (US) on Posted in Federal Circuit, General

In In re NuVasive, Inc., the Federal Circuit clarified what constitutes adequate notice to a Patent Owner of “pertinent portions” of a prior art reference relied upon in an IPR petition. Case No. 2015-1672 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 9, 2016).

On appeal to the Federal Circuit after the Board cancelled all but one of the challenged claims under 35 U.S.C. § 103, the Patent Owner argued that it did not receive adequate notice or opportunity to address certain portions of the Michelson reference upon which the Board largely based its obviousness finding. The Federal Circuit agreed in part.

The … Continue Reading

CAFC requires weighing diligence evidence as a whole and rejects “scouring” for gaps

Jeff Kitchen (US)By Jeff Kitchen (US) on Posted in Federal Circuit

In Perfect Surgical v. Olympus America, Inc., the Federal Circuit found harmful error in the PTAB’s diligence framework and conclusions, thereby potentially lowering the bar required to establish diligence in PTAB cases. Case No. 2015-2043 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 15, 2016).

In the underlying IPR, the Board found a patent owner did not prove the inventor continuously exercised reasonable diligence throughout the critical period of time needed to antedate a prior art reference, due to three unexplained gaps: (1) an almost three-week period of time where the inventor had a draft application before he provided comments back to a … Continue Reading

No due process violation where PTAB “previews” new construction at oral hearing

Stephanie DeBrow (US)By Stephanie DeBrow (US) on Posted in Claim construction, Federal Circuit

In Intellectual Ventures II LLC v. Ericsson Inc.,[1] the Federal Circuit considered whether the PTAB’s adoption of a new claim construction in its Final Written Decision constitutes a violation of the parties’ due process. Intellectual Ventures argued that it was denied due process because the construction set forth in the Board’s Final Written Decision was not one that any of the parties offered and was never “previewed” to the parties until oral argument. IV contended that the Board’s decision runs afoul of two recent Federal Circuit decisions—In re Magnum Oil International, Ltd. and SAS Institute, Inc. v. … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit rules that PTAB’s decision on time-bar is still not appealable

Michelle Wang (US)By Michelle Wang (US) on Posted in Federal Circuit

A Federal Circuit panel recently confirmed that 35 U.S.C. § 314(d) does not permit appeal of a decision by the PTAB that an IPR petitioner is not time-barred under 35 U.S.C. § 315(b). Wi-Fi One, LLC v. Broadcom Corporation, No. 2015-1944 (Fed. Cir. Sep. 16, 2016).

Patent Owner unsuccessfully argued to the PTAB that Petitioner was time-barred from seeking IPR of its patent because Petitioner was in privity with certain entities involved in parallel district court litigation over the patent who were time-barred under Section 315(b). On appeal, Patent Owner recognized that the Federal Circuit (in Achates Reference … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit Rejects PTAB’s Analysis of Motion to Amend

James Crawford (US)By James Crawford (US) on Posted in Federal Circuit, Motions to amend

In Veritas Technologies LLC v. Veeam Software Corporation, the Federal Circuit concluded that the PTAB erred in denying Patent Owner’s motion to amend claims in an IPR proceeding and remanded to the PTAB for further consideration of the substitute claims submitted in the motion. No. 2014-00090 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 30, 2016).

In the IPR, the Board applied the broadest reasonable interpretation standard of claim interpretation and invalidated the challenged claims as obvious over prior art. The Board also denied Patent Owner’s motion to amend, concluding only that Patent Owner and its expert declarant had failed to address whether … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit Rejects PTAB’s Reliance on “Common Sense” to Supply Missing Claim Limitation

Jeff Kitchen (US)By Jeff Kitchen (US) on Posted in Federal Circuit

In Arendi S.A.R.I. v. Apple Inc., et al., the Federal Circuit reversed a PTAB decision finding all instituted claims in an IPR invalid as obvious based on the prior art and “common sense.” No. 2015-2073 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 10, 2016).

The challenged patent claimed, in part, a method for accessing a document and searching for information outside the document using a second computer program based on certain types of information contained in the document as identified by a first computer program. The only reference cited as prior art disclosed a computer program that recognizes a telephone number as … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit criticizes PTAB for changing claim construction midstream

Stephanie DeBrow (US)By Stephanie DeBrow (US) on Posted in Claim construction, Federal Circuit

In SAS Institute, Inc. v. ComplementSoft, LLC, the Federal Circuit criticized the PTAB for changing its claim construction “midstream” and vacated the Board’s finding that, under the newly adopted construction, one of the claims in the Patent Owner’s software patent was valid. Nos. 2015-1346, 2015-1347 (Fed. Cir. Jun. 10, 2016).

In its institution decision, the Board construed the term “graphical representations of data flows” as “a map of the path of data through the executing source code,” and relied on its construction of that term in denying institution on one of the grounds included in the petition.

In … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit rejects PTAB’s attempt at burden-shifting

By on Posted in Federal Circuit

In In Re Magnum Oil Tools Int’l, Ltd., the Federal Circuit found that the PTAB had improperly used its IPR institution standard—a reasonable likelihood that the petitioner would prevail as to at least one of the claims challenged in the petition—as justification for shifting the burden of persuasion and burden or production onto the Patent Owner after institution. No. 2015-1300 (Fed Cir. Jul. 25, 2016).

The IPR petition challenged claims as obvious based on two different groups of prior art combinations: Alpha and Lehr. The Board instituted review based on the Lehr combinations but not the Alpha combinations, which … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit rules that PTAB may base IPR final decisions on evidence outside instituted grounds

By on Posted in Federal Circuit

In a recent decision affirming the PTAB’s obviousness findings in an IPR, the Federal Circuit confirmed that the Board may use prior art not cited in instituted grounds as evidence to support a final decision. Genzyme Therapeutic Prod. Ltd. P’ship v. Biomarin Pharm. Inc., No. 2015-1721 (Fed. Cir. June 14, 2016).

In two IPR petitions, Biomarin challenged all claims of two Genzyme patents as being invalid for obviousness on multiple grounds. The Board instituted review of both patents on two grounds each and ultimately found all claims for both patents invalid as obvious in its final written decision.… Continue Reading

Federal Circuit provides guidance on broadest reasonable interpretation standard for claim construction in PTAB proceedings

Michelle Wang (US)James Crawford (US)By Michelle Wang (US) and James Crawford (US) on Posted in Claim construction, Federal Circuit

In two recent cases, the Federal Circuit provided guidance on applying the broadest reasonable interpretation (BRI) standard for claim construction in IPR proceedings. PPC Broadband Inc. v. Corning Optical Communications RF, LLC, No. 2015-1361, 1366, 1368, 1369 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 22, 2016) (“PPC I”) and PPC Broadband Inc. v. Corning Optical Communications RF, LLC, No. 2015-1364 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 22, 2016) (“PPC II”).

In PPC I, the CAFC affirmed portions of the Board’s decision, vacated other portions, and remanded. The CAFC reviewed claim constructions for terms in claims that the Board previously found unpatentable as obvious. Recognizing that … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit Affirms PTAB’s Conclusion that Claims Reciting a Subsidy Are CBM Eligible

Andrew Liddell (US)By Andrew Liddell (US) on Posted in Federal Circuit

In Blue Calypso, LLC, v. Groupon, Inc., the Federal Circuit concluded that the Board did not exceed its authority to conduct a CBM review of Blue Calypso’s challenged patents, and that the Board correctly applied the statutory definitions of “covered business method” and “technological invention” to the challenged claims. Nos. 2015-1396, -1397, -1398, -1399, -1401 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 1, 2016).

While the Board’s decision to institute a covered business method review is “final and nonappealable” under the AIA, the AIA does not prevent the Federal Circuit from reviewing whether a claim is eligible for CBM review. See Versata … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit rules that it has no jurisdiction to review PTAB’s refusal to institute redundant grounds

By on Posted in Federal Circuit, Institution decisions

In a recent decision affirming the PTAB’s patentability determination in an IPR, the Federal Circuit confirmed that it has no jurisdiction to review the Board’s refusal to institute grounds it deemed to be redundant of instituted grounds. Harmonic, Inc. v. Avid Technology, Inc., No. 2015-1072 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 1, 2016).

In its IPR petition, the Petitioner challenged claims 1-20 of the patent at issue in view of seven different prior art grounds. The Board instituted review of claims 1-16 on one obviousness ground, declined to institute review on four other grounds it deemed to be “redundant” to the … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit holds that grounds denied institution as redundant are not subject to estoppel

Tom Owens (US)By Tom Owens (US) on Posted in Federal Circuit, Institution decisions

In its recent decision in Shaw Industries Group, Inc. v. Automated Creel Systems, Inc., the Federal Circuit held that estoppel does not apply to grounds denied institution on the basis of redundancy. No. 2015-1116 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 23, 2016).

In its institution decision in an IPR, the Board instituted two obviousness grounds against a set of claims, but denied an anticipation ground against the same claims solely on the basis that the ground was redundant. The Board did not address the substance of the anticipation ground, nor did it explain how the ground was redundant. In the final … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit re-affirms and clarifies PTAB rules for motions to amend claims

By on Posted in Federal Circuit, Motions to amend

In Nike, Inc. v. Adidas AG, the Federal Circuit re-affirmed the PTAB’s requirement that in IPR proceedings the Patent Owner must show the patentability of proposed substitute claims over both the prior art of record in the IPR and other prior art known to the Patent Owner. No. 2014-1719 (Fed Cir. Feb. 11, 2016). However, the court clarified that for known prior art not of record in the IPR, the Patent Owner needs only to submit a simple statement of patentability if the Patent Owner’s duty of good faith and candor to the PTO is not at issue.… Continue Reading

Federal Circuit approves PTAB practice of addressing patentability of only instituted claims in final written decisions

Tom Owens (US)By Tom Owens (US) on Posted in Federal Circuit

In Synopsys, Inc. v. Mentor Graphics Corp., a split Federal Circuit panel held that final written decisions in IPR proceedings need not address all claims challenged in the petition. Nos. 2014-1516, 2014-1530 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 10, 2016).

In its institution decision, the Board instituted review of only some of the claims challenged in the petition. In the final written decision, the Board found a subset of those instituted claims unpatentable. Consistent with Board practice, the final written decision did not address the patentability of challenged claims that were not instituted.

On appeal, in addition to substantively disputing the … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit rules that PTAB failed to adequately describe its reasoning for obviousness finding

By on Posted in Federal Circuit, General

In a recent decision vacating the PTAB’s obviousness findings in an IPR, the Federal Circuit set forth criteria necessary to support future obviousness findings. Cutsforth, Inc. v. MotivePower, Inc., No. 2015-1316 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 22, 2016) (nonprecedential).

In its 2014 IPR petition, the Petitioner challenged all claims of the patent at issue as being invalid for obviousness over a combination of references. The Board instituted review of all claims on this ground and ultimately found all claims invalid for obviousness in its final written decision.

On appeal, the Federal Circuit upheld the Board’s claim constructions but vacated the … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit rules that PTAB has full discretion to deny request to file motion for supplemental information

Andrew Liddell (US)By Andrew Liddell (US) on Posted in Federal Circuit, General

A unanimous Federal Circuit panel recently affirmed the PTAB’s decision denying a Petitioner’s request to file a motion to submit an expert report as supplemental information under 37 C.F.R. § 42.123(a). Redline Detection, LLC v. Star Envirotech, Inc., No. 15-1047 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 31, 2015).

USPTO regulations permit a party to file a motion to submit supplemental information after the Board issues its Institution Decision. 37 C.F.R. § 42.123. In particular, Section 42.123(a) states that a party may request to file a motion to submit supplemental information as long as (1) the request is made within one month … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit weighs in again on reviewability of institution decisions

By on Posted in Federal Circuit, Institution decisions

In a recent case affirming the PTAB’s final decision of invalidity, the Federal Circuit held that it lacks jurisdiction to review whether the Board improperly instituted a CBM Review on a ground not asserted in the petition. SightSound Techs., LLC v. Apple Inc., 809 F.3d 1307 (Fed. Cir. 2015). The Federal Circuit, however, reiterated that it has jurisdiction to review whether the Board improperly determined that the patents qualify as CBM patents.

While 35 U.S.C. § 324(e), like its IPR counterpart § 314(e), bars appellate review of the Board’s determination of whether to institute a CBM Review, the … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit approves having same PTAB panel make both institution and final decisions in IPR proceedings

Michelle Wang (US)James Crawford (US)By Michelle Wang (US) and James Crawford (US) on Posted in Federal Circuit, Institution decisions

In affirming a PTAB ruling that the challenged patent was invalid for obviousness, a split Federal Circuit panel recently held that neither the America Invents Act nor the Constitution precludes the same PTAB panel that made the decision to institute IPR from also rendering the final written decision on patent validity. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. v. Covidien LP, No. 2014-1771 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 13, 2016). The Federal Circuit also found that having the same PTAB panel decide both determinations is consistent with the “efficiency” goals of the AIA.

In its appeal to the Federal Circuit, Ethicon made two main … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit confirms that statutory bar defense to AIA proceedings is not subject to waiver

Allan Braxdale (US)By Allan Braxdale (US) on Posted in Federal Circuit, Institution decisions

In GTNX, Inc., v. Inttra, Inc., — F.3d —, 2015 WL 3692319 (Fed. Cir. June 16, 2015), the Federal Circuit held that a Patent Owner’s failure to invoke the statutory bar set forth in 35 U.S.C. § 325(a)(1) prior to an institution decision by the Board does not constitute a waiver, and the Court reiterated that it lacks jurisdiction with respect to appeals of institution decisions.

Under § 325(a)(1), a post-grant review proceeding may not be instituted if, before the date on which the petition for such a review is filed, the petitioner or real party in interest … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit addresses use of BRI standard and motions to amend claims in IPRs

By on Posted in Claim construction, Federal Circuit, Motions to amend

In Microsoft Corp. v. Proxyconn, Inc., — F.3d —, 2015 WL 3747257 (Fed. Cir. June 16, 2015), the Federal Circuit once again affirmed that the broadest reasonable interpretation (“BRI”) standard of claim construction applies in IPRs, providing further guidance on applying the standard. It also approved of the Board’s requirement on motions to amend claims that the Patent Owner must demonstrate that its substitute claims are patentable over the prior art of record.

The Federal Circuit stated that Patent Owner Proxycon’s argument that the BRI standard should not apply in IPRs was foreclosed by its decision in In … Continue Reading

Judicial review of PTAB institution decisions: When one door closes, another opens

Stephanie DeBrow (US)By Stephanie DeBrow (US) on Posted in Federal Circuit, Institution decisions

In a group of recent decisions the Federal Circuit held that it lacks jurisdiction to review the PTO’s decision to institute both IPR and CBM proceedings. However, with regard to CBM proceedings, the Court appears to have created a potential “backdoor” method for challenging institution decisions.

In In re Cuozzo Speed Technologies, LLC, an earlier version of which we wrote about here, the Federal Circuit held that judicial review of a determination to institute IPR proceedings is precluded by statute. The operative statutory provision states that “[t]he determination by the Director whether to institute an inter partes review … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit rules it has no interlocutory jurisdiction on denial of motion to stay until CBM Review is instituted

Andrew Liddell (US)By Andrew Liddell (US) on Posted in Federal Circuit, General

We have previously written about the emerging trend of district courts not granting motions to stay until IPR or CBM proceedings have been instituted. The Federal Circuit seemed to indirectly support that approach in its recent decision in Intellectual Ventures II LLC v. JPMorgan Chase & Co., in which it held that it lacked jurisdiction under § 18(b)(2) of the AIA to consider an interlocutory appeal on a motion to stay until the PTAB institutes a Covered Business Method Review proceeding. 781 F.3d 1372 (Fed. Cir. 2015).

Intellectual Ventures sued several JP Morgan Chase entities alleging infringement of … Continue Reading

Federal Circuit affirms PTAB in first review of IPR decision

Michelle Wang (US)James Crawford (US)By Michelle Wang (US) and James Crawford (US) on Posted in Claim construction, Federal Circuit, General, Institution decisions

In In re Cuozzo, the Federal Circuit held, in a 2-1 opinion, that decisions of the PTAB to institute an IPR are not appealable and confirmed the use of the broadest reasonable interpretation standard for claim construction proceedings in IPR. In re Cuozzo Speed Techs., LLC, No. 2014-1301 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 4, 2015).

The Court noted its previous holding (discussed here) that 35 U.S.C. § 314(d) precludes interlocutory review of decisions whether to institute IPR. The Court then found that § 314(d) excludes all review of these decisions, including after the Board issues a final decision, … Continue Reading

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