SWIPLit

Supreme Court Holds that PTAB Judges Are Unconstitutionally Appointed

By Daniel M. Staren and David G. Barker The Supreme Court held this week that the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (“USPTO”) appointment of Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) judges cannot be constitutionally enforced because the USPTO director does not have authority to review final PTAB decisions. Smith & Nephew, Inc. and ArthroCare […]

| 2 min read | Tagged: , ,
DS
DB

Federal Circuit Holds Tribal Immunity Does Not Bar IPR of Tribe-Owned Patents

By Tyler J. Fortner and David G. Barker Last week, the Federal Circuit held that tribal sovereign immunity does not apply to inter partes review (IPR) actions instituted at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.  The decision, in Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe et al. v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., comes approximately a month and a half […]

| 2 min read | Tagged:
TF
Former Associate
DB

Federal Circuit Considers Possible Tribal Immunity from Inter Partes Review

By Daniel S. Ivie and David G. Barker Last week, a Federal Circuit panel considered whether transferring patents to a tribal nation invoked the tribe’s sovereign immunity precluding inter partes review. The panel heard oral argument in Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe et al. v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. et al., which concerns an appeal from the […]

| 2 min read | Tagged:
DI
Former Associate
DB

Supreme Court Uproots Current PTAB Practice by Quashing Partial Decisions

By Trisha Farmer Lau and David G. Barker On April 24, 2018, in SAS Institute, Inc. v. Iancu, the Supreme Court held that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) must decide the validity of every patent claim challenged when it undertakes inter partes review under the America Invents Act (“AIA”).  In a 5-4 decision, […]

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TL
Former Associate
DB

Supreme Court Confirms Inter Partes Review Is Constitutional

By Jacob C. Jones and David G. Barker In Oil States Energy Services, LLC v. Greene’s Energy Group, LLC, the United States Supreme Court held today, in a 7-2 decision, that the inter partes review process under the America Invents Act (AIA), 35 U.S.C. § 100 et seq. (2011), does not violate Article III or […]

| 3 min read | Tagged: , , , , , ,
JJ
DB

Supreme Court to Consider Constitutionality of AIA Inter Partes Review Proceedings

By Rachael Peters Pugel and Andrew F. Halaby The Supreme Court has granted a writ of certiorari challenging the constitutionality of inter partes review proceedings conducted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office under the America Invents Act.  The Court’s ruling in this matter, especially if it holds inter partes reviews to be unconstitutional, […]

| 2 min read | Tagged: , , , , ,
RP
AH
Former Partner