Federal Circuit - Network-1 Technologies, Inc. v. Hewlett Packard - Joining Party Can Challenge Validity On Different Grounds Than Raised in IPR

In Network-1 Technologies, Inc. v. Hewlett Packard, the Federal Circuit held that a party joining an inter partes review (IPR) before Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) can later challenge patent validity in court as long the challenge is based on different grounds than those raised earlier in the IPR. 

As a reminder, 35 U.S.C. § 315(e) estops a petitioner from challenging patent claims in court on grounds it "raised or reasonable could have raised" after a final decision in an IPR. The Federal Circuit explained a joining party is not estopped from raising grounds different than those when the IPR was instituted. In short, a party is only estopped from challenging in court on the grounds it "raised or reasonably could have raised" in the IPR.

Copyright © 2020 Robert Moll. All rights reserved.

Federal Circuit - Facebook v. Windy City Innovations LLC - No Same-Party Joinder In Inter Partes Review

In Facebook v. Windy City Innovations LLC, the Federal Circuit held that 35 U.S.C. § 315(c) does not authorize same-party joinder, and does not authorize joinder of new issues (e.g., for cancellation), including issues that would otherwise be time-barred under 35 U.S.C. § 315(b) from inter partes review (IPR).

Unless Federal courts require infringement contentions well within one year of the service of an infringement complaint, this seems to increase legal fees for effective IPR petitions and increase the value of US patents with diverse claims.

See Bloomberg Law Patent Challengers Reassess Strategies After Ruling Bars Tactic.

Copyright © 2020 Robert Moll. All rights reserved.

Supreme Court - Thyrv, Inc. v. Click-to-Call Technologies, LP - No Appeal from PTAB's One Year Time Bar Decision on IPR

In Thyrv, Inc. v. Click-to-Call Technologies, LP, the Supreme Court held that a Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) determination on whether a petition is filed timely for inter partes review (IPR) is not appealable.

As background, an IPR permits a petitioner to request the review the validity of claims in view of written prior art. To institute the review, PTAB must find that the petitioner is likely to succeed with respect to at least one claim and the petition was timely filed (within one year of service of an infringement complaint).

In other words, the Supreme Court states 35 USC § 314(a) permits the patent owner no appeal to the Federal Circuit from an incorrect PTAB decision that a petition was timely filed as required in 35 USC § 315(b). Note in this case the infringement complaint (dismissed without prejudice) was filed 12 years before the IPR petition!

Thus, a patent owner must make every effort to win on the merits of the institution decision and the untimeliness of the petition before PTAB. On the other hand, if the IPR is instituted, the patent owner can still appeal a final decision of invalidity to the Federal Circuit.

Copyright © 2020 Robert Moll. All rights reserved.

PTAB - One-Year Bar, 35 U.S.C. § 315(b), and Estoppel, 35 U.S.C. § 325(e)(1)

Today, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) notified it has designated two decisions precedential:

LG Electronics, Inc. v. Mondis Tech Ltd., IPR2015-00937, Paper 8 (PTAB Sept. 17, 2015), which interprets "served with a complaint" for triggering the one-year bar under 35 U.S.C. § 315(b).

Westlake Services, LLC v. Credit Acceptance Corp., CBM2014-00176, Paper 28 (PTAB May 14, 2015), which interprets estoppel under 35 U.S.C. § 325(e)(1).

Copyright © 2016 Robert Moll. All rights reserved.