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發(fā)布:IPRdaily中文網(wǎng)(IPRdaily.cn)
作者:Harold Johnson律師 及Stephen Leahu律師
供稿:Brinks Gilson & Lione律師事務(wù)所
原標(biāo)題:美國專利商標(biāo)局局長修改專利審判與上訴委員會(huì)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)操作程序
本文案件中,USPTO對(duì)PTAB的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)操作程序(Standard Operating Procedures, SOPs)進(jìn)行修改,修改涉及司法審查小組的案件指派和將判決結(jié)果作為判例先例兩方面。同時(shí),新成立的判例意見小組還可對(duì)待決審判進(jìn)行重審,及對(duì)特殊重要案件進(jìn)行上訴。
為提高美國專利商標(biāo)局(U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, USPTO)決策的可預(yù)見性與透明度,USPTO局長Andrei Lancu對(duì)專利審判與上訴委員會(huì)(Patent Trial and Appeal Board, PTAB)的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)操作程序(Standard Operating Procedures, SOPs)進(jìn)行修改,修改涉及司法審查小組(Judicial panels)的案件指派和將判決結(jié)果作為判例先例兩方面。
本次修改基于USPTO在PTAB程序中的6年經(jīng)驗(yàn)積累,和從利益相關(guān)者、從業(yè)人員、法庭與立法者收到的反饋意見。
SOP對(duì)通知當(dāng)事人關(guān)于司法審查小組案件指派和替換的程序作出修改,包括在經(jīng)專利商標(biāo)局局長的批準(zhǔn)下,司法審查小組可由超過三位法官組成。法官的經(jīng)驗(yàn)與技術(shù)背景將會(huì)在審查小組案件指派中納入考量。一個(gè)判例意見小組(Precedential Opinion Panel,POP)被組建,其中通常包括局長、專利委員和PTAB首席法官。在某些情況下,POP成員可將其權(quán)利委派他人。POP可對(duì)待決審判召集重審,及對(duì)特殊重要案件進(jìn)行上訴。修改后的SOP解釋了當(dāng)要求POP對(duì)待決案件進(jìn)行重審時(shí)的規(guī)則、程序和時(shí)效。
而且,POP可協(xié)助局長決策將PTAB判決結(jié)果,指定為判例先例(precedent)或教導(dǎo)性(informative)意見。這一更加具有預(yù)見性和透明性的程序?qū)⑷〈皵U(kuò)展審查小組成員的做法(PTAB在特別情況下將原有三位行政法官的審查小組擴(kuò)展至四位,其中包括首席法官和經(jīng)挑選的副法官,這種做法被指責(zé)會(huì)造成“panel stacking”,既加入第四位法官的目的為與局長意見一致從而影響重要案件判決結(jié)果)。
因此,對(duì)擴(kuò)展審查小組而產(chǎn)生對(duì)判決結(jié)果影響的擔(dān)憂,應(yīng)可得到緩解。SOP的修訂還預(yù)期將會(huì)令更多判決結(jié)果被指定為判例先例。當(dāng)事人的案件如被POP進(jìn)行審查,將會(huì)收到相應(yīng)通知,并得到對(duì)案件進(jìn)行決策POP成員的身份信息。
附:英文全文
The USPTO Director Revises PTAB Standard Operating Procedures
To advance predictability and transparency across the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Director Andrei Iancu revised the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the assignment of its judicial panels and the designation of its decisions. The revisions are based on the USPTO’s six years of experience with PTAB proceedings, and the feedback that it received from stakeholders, practitioners, courts, and legislators.
The SOP revisions change the procedures for informing parties about panel assignments and replacements, including the designation of panels with more than three judges when approved by the Director. The experience and technological backgrounds of judges will be considered in their assignment to a panel. A Precedential Opinion Panel (POP) has been created, which will typically include the Director, the Commissioner for Patents, and the Chief Judge of the PTAB. Under certain circumstances, POP members may delegate their authority. The POP may be convened to rehear matters in pending trials and appeals on issues of exceptional importance. The revisions explain the standards, procedures, and timing for requesting POP review in a pending case on rehearing.
Further, the POP may assist the Director in designating PTAB decisions as precedential or informative. This is expected to replace the prior practice of appointing expanded panels with a process that is more predictable and transparent. Consequentially, concerns about expanded panels that may influence decisions should be alleviated. It is also anticipated that the SOP revisions will result in more decisions being designated as precedential. Parties will be provided with notice when POP review takes place, as well as the identification of the POP members who will decide their case.
發(fā)布:IPRdaily中文網(wǎng)(IPRdaily.cn)
作者:Harold Johnson律師 及Stephen Leahu律師
供稿:Brinks Gilson & Lione律師事務(wù)所
編輯:IPRdaily趙珍 校對(duì):IPRdaily縱橫君
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文章不錯(cuò),犒勞下辛苦的作者吧