Federal Circuit Holds IPR Estoppel Inapplicable to Ongoing EPRs
By Erin Bies, David Linden, and Dave Maiorana - On appeal from an ex parte reexamination (“EPR”) decision, the Federal Circuit held that a final written decision of an inter partes review (“IPR”) does not preclude the Patent Office from maintaining an ongoing EPR. ...
PTAB Voluntary Search Disclosure Declarations: A New Factor Supporting Institution
By Ruth Brindel,* Daniel Sloan, and Matt Johnson On November 17, 2025, USPTO Director John Squires issued a memorandum introducing a new procedure allowing petitioners to submit a voluntary Search Disclosure Declaration (SDD) that explains the petitioner’s search...
Prosecution Error Evidence & Timing Considerations Sends IPR Forward
By Ruth Brindel* and Matt Johnson The USPTO’s Acting Deputy Director, Coke Morgan Stewart, issued a decision on October 3, 2025, declining to exercise discretion to deny institution in Carbyne, Inc. v. Tritech Software Systems, IPR2025-00959, Paper 11 (Oct. 3 2025)....
USPTO Director Institution Decisions: Back To The Future?
By John Marlott - USPTO Director Squires recently published an open letter announcing that he was “Bringing the USPTO Back to the Future” by assuming responsibility for all IPR and PGR institution decisions. Why the reference to the 1980s movie recently re-released...
PRECEDENTIAL: PTAB Clarifies Real Party in Interest Analysis
By Carl Kukkonen and Matt Johnson - The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) has designated as precedential a decision that squarely reaffirms the statutory requirement to identify all real parties in interest (RPI) in AIA petitions. By elevating Corning Optical...