Posts Tagged: "institution"

PTAB Precedential: Two Decisions Against Exercising Discretion to Deny Institution Made Precedential

On December 17, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) designated two opinions as precedential, both decisions where the PTAB considered the so-called Fintiv factors and decided against exercising its discretion to deny institution of the inter partes review (IPR) challenges. In Sotera Wireless, Inc. v. Masimo Corporation, the PTAB addressed the Fintiv factors and noted that a petitioner’s broad stipulation not to pursue in district court proceedings any ground that it raised, or could have raised, in the inter partes review weighs strongly in favor of institution. In Snap, Inc. v. SRK Technology LLC, also analyzing the Fintiv factors, the PTAB explains that a district court stay that would remain in place until an inter partes review final written decision weighs strongly in favor of institution.

Comments are Piling Up in Response to the USPTO’s Request Regarding Discretion to Institute AIA Trials

As of December 1, 750 comments had been received in response to the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s “Request for Comments on Discretion To Institute Trials Before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board”, which was published in the Federal Register on October 20. Some notable submissions have been received from stakeholders including Senator Thom Tillis, Conservatives for Property Rights, Randy Landreneau, Robert Stoll and the Small Business Technology Council.