May 31, 2019
Authored and Edited by David C. Seastrunk; Daniel F. Klodowski; Elliot C. Cook; Jason E. Stach
Through May 15, 2019, the Federal Circuit decided 524 PTAB appeals from IPRs and CBMs. The Federal Circuit affirmed the PTAB on every issue in 388 (74.05%) cases and reversed or vacated the PTAB on every issue in 70 (13.36%) cases. A mixed outcome on appeal, where at least one issue was affirmed and at least one issue was vacated or reversed, occurred in 49 (9.35%) cases.
The court dismissed 17 (3.24%) appeals without rendering a decision on the merits. Dismissals may occur, for example, where the Federal Circuit determines that it does not have jurisdiction to hear an appeal, such as in an appeal from a PTAB institution decision.
As the Supreme Court established in Cuozzo Speed Techs., LLC v. Lee, the Federal Circuit is barred from considering appeals from at least certain aspects of institution decisions under 35 U.S.C. § 314(d). Dismissals may also result from settlements among the parties to the appeal, or where the court determines that a prior decision renders an appeal moot. However, with the Federal Circuit’s en banc opinion in Wi-Fi One, LLC v. Broadcom Corp. determining that decisions regarding the IPR time bar under 35 U.S.C. § 315(b) are reviewable on appeal, the number of PTAB appeals to the Federal Circuit may increase over time.
The volume of issues on appeal may also increase as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in SAS Institute Inc. v. Iancu. In response to SAS, the Patent Office has decided that, if it institutes review on any claim, it will also institute review on every claim and ground presented in a petition. The Federal Circuit has also remanded some final written decisions issued after SAS where the PTAB did not consider every challenge presented in a petition.
An important tool that helps the Federal Circuit manage its significant docket of PTAB appeals is the Rule 36 affirmance, whereby the court affirms the PTAB without rendering a full, written opinion. Of the 524 PTAB appeals it has considered thus far, the Federal Circuit has issued Rule 36 affirmances in 244 (46.56%) cases. The court issued written opinions, including affirmances, reversals, dismissals, and mixed decisions, in 280 (53.44%) cases.
Breaking down the numbers further, in its appeals from IPRs, the Federal Circuit affirmed the PTAB on every issue in 358 (73.97%) cases, reversed or vacated the PTAB on every issue in 66 (13.64%) cases, issued a mixed outcome in 47 (9.71%) cases, and dismissed 13 (2.69%) cases.
In CBM appeals, the Federal Circuit affirmed the PTAB on every issue in 30 (75%) cases, issued a mixed outcome in 2 (5%) cases, dismissed 4 (10%) cases, and reversed or vacated the PTAB on every issue in 4 (10%) cases.
Stay tuned to the AIA Blog for the latest updates, analysis, and statistics on all aspects of PTAB and Federal Circuit practice. Subscribe to the AIA Blog at the bottom of the page to receive notifications of new posts via email.
Copyright © 2019 Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP.
DISCLAIMER: Although we wish to hear from you, information exchanged in this blog cannot and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not post any information that you consider to be personal or confidential. If you wish for Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP to consider representing you, in order to establish an attorney-client relationship you must first enter a written representation agreement with Finnegan. Contact us for additional information. Additional disclaimer information.
INCONTESTABLE® Blog
The Federal Circuit’s Heartfelt Affirmation of Everybody’s Right to Use “Everybody vs. Racism”
March 22, 2024
At the PTAB Blog
Federal Circuit PTAB Appeal Statistics for December 2023 and January 2024
March 8, 2024
At the PTAB Blog
IPR and PGR Statistics for Final Written Decisions Issued in January 2024
March 7, 2024
Due to international data regulations, we’ve updated our privacy policy. Click here to read our privacy policy in full.
We use cookies on this website to provide you with the best user experience. By accepting cookies, you agree to our use of cookies. Please note that if you opt not to accept or if you disable cookies, the “Your Finnegan” feature on this website will be disabled as well. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Privacy Policy.
Finnegan is thrilled to announce the launch of our new blog, Ad Law Buzz, devoted solely to breaking news, developments, trends, and analysis in advertising law.