October 2011

Looking Ahead

In October, the Federal Circuit in Bettcher Industries, Inc. v. Bunzl USA, Inc., Nos. 11-1038, -1046 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 3, 2011), interpreted the estoppel provision for inter partes reexamination under
35 U.S.C. § 315.  Calling the question one of first impression, the panel ruled that estoppel under 35 U.S.C. § 315(c) comes into play only upon the exhaustion of appellate rights.  Look for the full summary in next month’s edition of Last Month at the Federal Circuit.