View Rule

View EO 12866 Meetings Printer-Friendly Version     Download RIN Data in XML

DOC/PTO RIN: 0651-AD16 Publication ID: Fall 2018 
Title: Changes to the Claim Construction Standard for Interpreting Claims in Trial Proceedings Before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
Abstract:

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) changes the claim construction standard for interpreting claims in inter partes review (IPR), post-grant review (PGR), and the transitional program for covered business method patents (CBM) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board). In particular, the Office replaces the broadest reasonable interpretation (BRI) standard for construing unexpired patent claims and proposed claims in these trial proceedings with a standard that is the same as the standard applied in federal district courts and International Trade Commission (ITC) proceedings. The Office also amends the rules to add that the Office will consider any prior claim construction determination concerning a term of the involved claim in a civil action, or an ITC proceeding, that is timely made of record in an IPR, PGR, or CBM proceeding.

 
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
EO 13771 Designation: Fully or Partially Exempt 
CFR Citation: 37 CFR 42   
Legal Authority: 35 U.S.C. 135    35 U.S.C. 2    35 U.S.C. 21    35 U.S.C. 23    35 U.S.C. 311 to 312    35 U.S.C. 316    35 U.S.C. 321 to 326    35 U.S.C. 41    35 U.S.C. 6   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  05/09/2018  83 FR 21221   
NPRM Comment Period End  07/09/2018 
Final Rule  10/11/2018  83 FR 51340   
Final Rule Effective  11/13/2018 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Scott Weidenfeller
Vice Chief Administrative Patent Judge
Department of Commerce
Patent and Trademark Office
600 Dulany Street,
Alexandria, VA 22313
Phone:571 272-9797
Fax:571 273-9797
Email: scott.weidenfeller@uspto.gov