© copyright 2011 oblon, spivak, mcclelland, maier & neustadt l.l.p. streamlined patent...
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© Copyright 2011 Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt L.L.P.
Streamlined Patent Reexamination Proceedings: Petition Practice
Management
Scott McKeown
Streamlined Patent Reexamination Proceedings: Petition Practice
Management
Scott McKeown
1940 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703.413.3000, Fax 703.413.2220, www.oblon.com 2
Reexamination Petition CrisisReexamination Petition Crisis
85%
68%64%
46%49%0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Inter partesrequests
Inter partesrequests knownto be inlitigation
Inter Partes Reexaminations in Litigation, 2005-2009
FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 20100
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
Reexam Requests vs PetitionsFY 2006 through FY 2010
Reexam RequestsPetitions
Volu
me
Growing proportion of reexaminations now inter partes
Litigation inspired tactics/filings Petition pendency infects special
dispatch of CRU Purely procedural issues are
common
1940 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703.413.3000, Fax 703.413.2220, www.oblon.com 3
Inter Partes Petition Example Inter Partes Petition Example
Petition to Waive Page Limit Insignificant Procedural Issue (but common)1. Office Action March 5, 20102. Response June 10, 2011 (petition to waive page limit)
-3PR Comment due July 10?3. September 10, 2010, OPLA grants petition “perfects response.”4. October 10, 2010 3PR files Comment5. 3PR Comment delay a function of OPLA backlog
-In this case 7/10 – 10/10… examiner waitsSpecial dispatch frustrated by minor procedural issue
Other common procedural issues/complaints-Late Mail, improper papers, etc (aggravate petition backlog)
1940 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703.413.3000, Fax 703.413.2220, www.oblon.com 41940 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703.413.3000, Fax 703.413.2220, www.oblon.com 4
Proposal: Ombudsman Management of Procedural Matters
Proposal: Ombudsman Management of Procedural Matters
IPR Ombudsman to decide procedural disputes only Build on Interference model (Phase 1)
Leverage existing BPAI paralegals
Telephone conference
Phase 2 (Interview/Motion Hearing for Substantive Issues)
Joint motion for page limit issues?-- solve issue before filing
Help eliminate delay of petition pendency
Reduce OPLA petitions to substantive issues. Help clarify when opposition is permitted (i.e., petitions only)
Begin Transition to BPAI control of IPR (Patent Reform)
1940 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703.413.3000, Fax 703.413.2220, www.oblon.com 5
Proposal: Pilot Program Web Portal
Proposal: Pilot Program Web Portal
Start BPAI Pilot Program (IPR Web Portal) Build on existing Interference Platform
Email service managed by USPTO
Reduce petitions on mail timing.
Avoid COS non-compliance issues
Reduce paperwork
Begin transition to BPAI control
These proposals are directed to A8, Qs 10-11 and 13
1940 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703.413.3000, Fax 703.413.2220, www.oblon.com 6
Thank YouThank You
Scott A. McKeown
703-412-6297
1940 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703.413.3000, Fax 703.413.2220, www.oblon.com 6