By Hugh Warren and Jacob Grotenrath
In this installment, Banner Witcoff attorney Hugh Warren and summer associate Jacob Grotenrath examine recent decisions at the PTAB featuring: impermissible hindsight, failure to show reasonable expectation of success, the Board’s discretion to identify a real party-in-interest (RPI), and more!
Don’t contradict the art! STMicroelectronics, Inc. v. The Trustees of Purdue University, IPR2022-00252, Paper 13 (June 22, 2022) (Obermann, joined by Kokoski and Abraham) (denying institution of IPR because asserted combination of references was expressly refuted by those references and, thus, the petition smacked of impermissible hindsight).
Liquid? Solid? What’s the matter? PetIQ, Inc. v. Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH, IPR2022-00304, Paper 8 (June 23, 2022) (Wisz, joined by Hulse and Pollock) (denying institution of IPR because Petitioner failed to show a reasonable expectation that liquid pour-on formulations would be successful in solid mold preparations).
Don’t lose the forest for the trees when comparing references. Cartessa Aesthetics, LLC v. Serendia, LLC, IPR2022-00376, Paper 9 (June 27, 2022) (DeFranco, joined by Snedden and Hulse) (denying institution of IPR because, when the references are viewed as a whole, Petitioner failed to establish that prior art tumor ablation device was similar to Patent Owner’s acupuncture device, despite the ablation device claiming measures to protect skin).
Board won’t put the cart before the horse in RPI determination. Unified Patents, LLC f/k/a Unified Patents Inc. v. Voice Tech Corp., IPR2020-01018, Paper 52 (June 28, 2022) (Horvath, joined by Braden and Cygan) (denying request for rehearing to determine and identify in the final written decision whether a third party was an unnamed real party-in-interest (RPI) because the estoppel provisions under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e) “are prospective—they apply to the petitioner, its RPIs, and its privies who commence or maintain an action after a final written decision has issued,” and thus do not require the Board to determine if the third party is an RPI and then terminate the proceeding if it is).
Petitioners: Make sure your art passes the eye test. Ocado Group plc v. AutoStore Tech. AS, IPR2021-00274, Paper 61 (June 28, 2022) (Ippolito, joined by Howard and Finamore) (Board won’t speculate to interpret “blurry and unclear” figure in prior art reference, finding no anticipation).
Silence is not always golden. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., v. Blaze Mobile, Inc., IPR2021-01570, Paper 19 (June 29, 2022) (O’Hanlon, joined by Jung and Quinn) (denying request for rehearing of decision denying institution and reminding Petitioner that the Board’s declining to address an obviousness argument did not indicate agreement with the argument).
As a leader in post-issuance proceedings, Banner Witcoff is committed to staying on top of the latest developments at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). This post is part of our PTAB Highlights series, a regular summary of recent PTAB decisions designed to keep you up-to-date and informed of rulings affecting this constantly evolving area of the law.
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Banner Witcoff’s PTAB Highlights are provided as information of general interest. They are not intended to offer legal advice nor do they create an attorney-client relationship.
Posted: July 12, 2022
