April 1, 2016

PGR, IPR, and CBMPR Rules Amended Effective May 2, 2016

Rule 37 CFR 42.11 has been amended to provide for sanctions against parties and attorneys:

41-11

 

Pages Limits

The 60 page limit for a IPR Petiton has been replaced with a limit of 14,000 words (37 CFR 42.24(a)(i), and 60 page limit of the Patent Owner Preliminary Response, and Response are likewise replaced with a 14,000 word limit (37 CFR 42.24(b)(1), (2)).  The 80 page limit for a PGR or CBMPR Petition has been replaced with a limit of 18,700 words (37 CFR 42.24(a)(ii), (iii)), and the 80 page limit of the Patent Owner Preliminary Response, and Response are likewise replaced with a 18,700 word limit (37 CFR 42.24(b)(1), (2)).. These word counts do not include the table of contents, table of authorities, grounds for standing under § 42.104, § 42.204, or § 42.304, mandatory notices under § 42.8, a certificate of service or word count, or appendix of exhibits or claim listing.  Where a paper is limited by a word count, the paper must include a certification as to the word count

The page limit for motions to amend is bumped to 25 pages (37 CFR 42.24(a)(vi)), as is the Petitioner’s Opposition (37 CFR 42.24(b)(d), and the reply to an opposition to a motion to amend is bumped to 12 pages (37 CFR 42.24(c)(3)).

Demonstratives

You now have to serve your demonstrative exhibits two days earlier — seven days before oral argument.  37 CFR 42.70(b).

BRI

The USPTO still insists on applying BRI to all claims, in all proceedings, except if the patent will expire within 18 months from the entry of the Notice of Filing Date Accorded to Petition, and the Patent Owner makes a timely motion.  37 CFR 42.100(b); 37 CFR 42.200(b); 37 CFR 42.300(b).

Bar Against Testimony in a Preliminary Response Removed

The bar against the submission of testimony to support a Preliminary Response has been removed.  37 CFR 42.107(c) and 37 CFR 42.207(c) have been removed.  While testimony can be submitted with a Preliminary Response, any genuine issue of material fact created by such testimonial evidence will be viewed in the light most favorable to the petitioner solely for purposes of deciding whether to institute an Inter Partes Review.  37 CFR 42.108(c);  37 CFR 42.208(c)