- Zimvie, Inc. / Zimmer Biomet Spine, Inc. v. Roger P. JacksonInstitution deniedPTAB · Feb 26, 2024 · IPR2023-01430 · APJ Ulrike W Jenks · IPR · Institution
The Board denied institution because Patent Owner statutorily disclaimed all challenged claims 1–22.
RulingsInstitution decision- Adverse judgmentAdverse judgmentDenied
“Patent Owner has disclaimed all claims of the ’479 patent and paid the requisite fees. See Ex. 2001; see also 37 C.F.R. § 1.321 (setting forth requirements for statutory disclaimer). Accordingly, we deny institution of the requested inter partes review. See 37 C.F.R. § 42.107(e) (“No inter partes review will be instituted based on disclaimed claims.”); see also General Elec. Co. v. United Techs. Corp., IPR2017-00491, Paper 9 (PTAB July 6, 2017) (precedential) (denying institution of inter partes review under rule 37 C.F.R. § 42.107(e) based on disclaimer) (“General Electric”). In the present instance, and consistent with Rule 42.107(e) and the Board’s precedential General Electric decision, we determine that a denial of 1 Petitioner has filed three additional inter partes review petitions against three related patents assigned to Patent Owner: IPR2023-01431 (U.S. Patent No. 10,548,641 B2), IPR2023-01432 (U.S. Patent No. 10,898,233 B2), and IPR2023-01433 (U.S. Patent No. 11,129,646 B2). Pet. 1. Petitioner additionally acknowledges that the’479 patent is subject to a pending lawsuit entitled Jackson v. ZimVie Inc., No. 1:22-cv-00891-RGA (D. Del. Filed June 30, 2022). Pet. 1. institution is sufficient to dispose of this case. Because the Board cannot institute trial on disclaimed claims and all the challenged claims have been disclaimed here, no inter partes review will be instituted.” slip op. at 2
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 8,911,479 - PPC Broadband, Inc. v. Times Fiber Communications, Inc.Institution deniedPTAB · Oct 24, 2022 · IPR2022-00830 · APJ Frances L Ippolito · IPR · Institution
The Board denied institution of IPR on claims 1–14 and 16–21 because the Patent Owner effectively disclaimed all challenged claims.
RulingsInstitution decision- Adverse judgmentAdverse judgmentDenied
“conclude a disclaimer of claims 1–14 and 16–21 of the ’632 Patent, under 35 U.S.C. § 253(a) has been recorded in the Office as of July 28, 2022. Ex. 2002. Vectra Fitness, Inc., 162 F.3d at 1382. The record shows that a completed Form PTO/SB/43 (“DISCLAIMER IN PATENT UNDER 37 CFR 1.321(a)”) was filed and received by the Office on that date. See Ex. 2002. The disclaimer form was signed by Lance D’Armico, Secretary for Patent Owner Times Fiber Communications, Inc. See Ex. 2002, 3; see also Ex. 2001 (recorded assignment of the challenged patent from Amphenol Corporation to Times Fiber Communications, Inc., executed on December 23, 2021). The form identifies Patent Owner as having a “100% Ownership Interest” in the ’632 Patent, and identifies claims 1–14 and 16– 21 as being disclaimed. See Ex. 2002, 3. The evidence also reflects payment of the required fee. See id. at 1, 4–5. We determine Patent Owner has met the requirements for an effective disclaimer under 35 U.S.C. § 253 and 37 C.F.R. § 1.321(a). In view of this disclaimer, and as consistent with 37 C.F.R. § 42.107(e) and the Board’s precedential General Electric decision, we determine a denial of institution is sufficient to dispose of this case. See Gen. Elec. Co., IPR2017-00491, Paper 9. Thus, we decline to institute an inter partes review.” slip op. at 4
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 10,913,632 - Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC / Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH v. Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals LP And Amylin Pharmaceuticals, LLCInstitution deniedPTAB · Jun 28, 2016 · IPR2016-00348 · APJ Sheridan K Snedden · IPR · Institution
The Board denied institution on all challenged claims because the Petition did not identify a sufficiently clear combination of references or explain how they rendered the claims obvious.
RulingsInstitution decision- PTAB / AIA Trials › Institution threshold (reasonable likelihood / more likely than not)Institution denied meritsInstitution denied
“Section 312 requires that a petition for inter partes review “identif[y], . . . with particularity, each claim challenged, the grounds on which the challenge to each claim is based, and the evidence that supports the grounds for the challenge to each claim.” 35 U.S.C. § 312 (a)(3). Furthermore, our rules require a petition for inter partes review to (i) identify “[t]he specific statutory grounds under 35 U.S.C. [§] 102 or 103 on which the challenge to the claim is based and the patents or printed publications relied upon for each ground”; (ii) identify “[h]ow [each] construed claim is unpatentable under the statutory grounds identified”; (iii) “specify where each element of the claim is found in the prior art patents or printed publications relied upon”; and (iv) identify “the relevance of the evidence to the challenge raised, including identifying specific portions of the evidence that support the challenge.” 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(2), (4)–(5). Here, the Petition fails to explain sufficiently the specific combination of references it relies upon to satisfy these requirements.” slip op. at 5
- BurdenDenied
“Section 312 requires that a petition for inter partes review “identif[y], . . . with particularity, each claim challenged, the grounds on which the challenge to each claim is based, and the evidence that supports the grounds for the challenge to each claim.” 35 U.S.C. § 312 (a)(3). Furthermore, our rules require a petition for inter partes review to (i) identify “[t]he specific statutory grounds under 35 U.S.C. [§] 102 or 103 on which the challenge to the claim is based and the patents or printed publications relied upon for each ground”; (ii) identify “[h]ow [each] construed claim is unpatentable under the statutory grounds identified”; (iii) “specify where each element of the claim is found in the prior art patents or printed publications relied upon”; and (iv) identify “the relevance of the evidence to the challenge raised, including identifying specific portions of the evidence that support the challenge.” 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(2), (4)–(5). Here, the Petition fails to explain sufficiently the specific combination of references it relies upon to satisfy these requirements.” slip op. at 5
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 7,297,761 - PNC Bank, Na / Suntrust Bank v. Parus Holdings, Inc.Institution deniedPTAB · Nov 9, 2015 · CBM2015-00150 · APJ Bart A Gerstenblith · CBM · Institution
The Board denied institution for claims 1–18 because Petitioner did not show that the patent was eligible for covered business method review.
RulingsInstitution decision- PTAB / AIA Trials › Institution threshold (reasonable likelihood / more likely than not)Institution denied meritsInstitution denied
“for the creation of a transitional program for reviewing covered business method patents. “The Director may institute a transitional proceeding only for a patent that is a covered business method patent.” Pub. L. No. 112-29, § 18(a)(1)(E), 125 Stat. 284, 330 (Sept. 16, 2011). A “covered business method patent” is a patent that “claims a method or corresponding apparatus for performing data processing or other operations used in the practice, administration, or management of a financial product or service, except that the term does not include patents for technological inventions.” Id. § 18(d)(1), 125 Stat. at 331; accord 37 C.F.R. § 42.301(a) (providing the same definition of “covered business method patent”). “The petitioner must demonstrate that the patent for which review is sought is a covered business method patent.” 37 C.F.R. § 42.304(a).” slip op. at 9
- PTAB / AIA Trials › Other PTAB motions (exclude, strike, seal, additional discovery, rehearing)Denied
“discussed above, a teleconference was held with the parties on November 5, 2015. Petitioner and Patent Owner jointly request authorization to file a motion for termination under 35 U.S.C. § 327, the statute governing termination of instituted post-grant reviews due to settlement, but confirmed during the call that no written settlement agreement currently exists. The parties request that the proceedings terminate without estoppel, such that Petitioner can re-file the petitions upon completion of Federal Circuit review of the District Court’s ineligibility determination, if necessary. Patent Owner limits its agreement to Petitioner re-filing the same petitions. Effectively, the parties request that we stay these proceedings pending Federal Circuit review of the District Court’s decision. We deny the parties’ request. As explained below, the ’120 patent is not eligible for covered business method patent review. Deferring entering such a decision is inconsistent with our policy objective of “secur[ing] the just, speedy, and inexpensive resolution of every proceeding.” 37 C.F.R. § 42.1. We do not reach, and, thus, express no opinion on, eligibility of the claims of the ’120 patent under 35 U.S.C. § 101.” slip op. at 3
- Claim Construction › Threshold & procedure › Whether a term needs construction (O2 Micro)No construction neededOther
“II. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION Although Petitioner presents constructions for several claim terms, no terms require express construction for purposes of this Decision.” slip op. at 9
Claim constructionDiscretionary denialPatents in suitUS 8,843,120 - PNC Bank, Na / Suntrust Bank v. Parus Holdings, Inc.Institution deniedPTAB · Nov 9, 2015 · CBM2015-00110 · APJ Bart A Gerstenblith · CBM · Institution
The Board denied both petitions and did not institute CBM review of claims 1–18 because Petitioner did not show the patent was eligible for CBM review.
RulingsInstitution decision- PTAB / AIA Trials › Institution threshold (reasonable likelihood / more likely than not)Institution denied meritsInstitution denied
“On this record, Petitioner has not introduced persuasive evidence to show that at least one claim of the ’120 patent claims a method or corresponding apparatus for performing data processing or other operations used in the practice, administration, or management of a financial product or service. Accordingly, Petitioner has not met its burden of demonstrating that the ’120 patent is eligible for covered business method patent review.” slip op. at 19
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 8,843,120
Holdings, summaries, rulings, issues, outcomes, winners and claim constructions shown for a decision were generated by a large language model reading the opinion. They are a guide to the decision, not the decision. Confirm every one against the court's own text before relying on it. Outcomes read from the patent owner’s side. Party names are extracted from the decision and are missing on about 900 short Director denials and scans, which carry the trial number instead.