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DOC/PTO RIN: 0651-AD50 Publication ID: Fall 2023 
Title: Motion to Amend Practice and Procedures in Trial Proceedings Under the America Invents Act Before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
Abstract:

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) amends the existing consolidated set of rules relating to the Office trial practice for inter partes review (IPR), post-grant review (PGR), the transitional program for covered business method patents (CBM), and derivation proceedings that implemented provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) providing for trials before the Office to reflect current Office practice. Specifically, the Office amends the rules of practice to modify or make permanent certain provisions of the Office’s Motion to Amend (MTA) pilot program and MTA-related rules regarding burden allocation. The MTA pilot program was put into effect on March 15, 2019 to provide options for Patent Owners to amend claims of a patent challenged in an AIA proceeding. The Office issued a Request for Comments in May 2023 seeking public feedback on the MTA pilot program as currently implemented, and the burden-allocation rules that apply in the MTA context. The Office is evaluating the feedback received to determine what rule changes or clarifications are warranted, given the feedback and the Office’s experience with the MTA process under the pilot program.

 
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Long-Term Actions 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 37 CFR 42   
Legal Authority: 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2)    35 U.S.C. 6    35 U.S.C. 21    35 U.S.C. 23    35 U.S.C. 41    35 U.S.C. 135    35 U.S.C. 311 to 316    35 U.S.C. 321 to 326    Pub. L. 112-29    Pub. L. 112-274   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
Request for Comments  05/23/2023  88 FR 33063   
Comment Period End  07/24/2023 
Next Action Undetermined  To Be Determined 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Michael Tierney
Vice Chief Administrative Patent Judge
Department of Commerce
Patent and Trademark Office
600 Dulany Street, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
Phone:571 272-9797
Fax:571 273-0053
Email: michael.tierney@uspto.gov