美國IPR（Inter Partes Review）的程序筆記

美國IPR（Inter Partes Review）的程序筆記

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2012-title35/pdf/USCODE-2012-title35-partIII-chap31.pdf

Sec.
311.Inter partes review.
312.Petitions.
313.Preliminary response to petition.
314.Institution of inter partes review.
315.Relation to other proceedings or actions.
316.Conduct of inter partes review.
317.Settlement.318.Decision of the Board.319.Appeal.

本篇僅重點摘錄。

IPR提出的期限

(1)專利核准後的9個月後（9個月內可提PGR）；
(2)PGR程序終止後。

------------------------------
IPR的啟始條件

標準的IPR（Inter Partes Review）程序事先由請願人提出IPR請願（專利無效異議），由專利權人提出初步回應，之後可經修正請願等程序，再由PTAB行政法官進行審理後作出「啟始決定（institution decisino）」。

這時，可以得到PTAB的回應，如果要啟始此IPR程序，條件是：
PTAB審查時，判斷請願人提出的資訊是否合理地能讓「至少一項」專利範圍無效，如果有，就發出啟始IPR的命令。

發出啟始決定的時機：
收到專利權人初步回應（preliminary response）後三個月內；如果專利權人沒有提出初步回應，則在初始決定可能提出的時間點後三個月內。

啟始決定內容：
(1) 是否啟始IPR的決定；
(2) 提出可能發出IPR決定的日期。

§42.108   Institution of inter partes review.
(a) When instituting inter partes review, the Board may authorize the review to proceed on all or some of the challenged claims and on all or some of the grounds of unpatentability asserted for each claim.

(b) At any time prior to institution of inter partes review, the Board may deny some or all grounds for unpatentability for some or all of the challenged claims. Denial of a ground is a Board decision not to institute inter partes review on that ground.

(c) Sufficient grounds. Inter partes review shall not be instituted for a ground of unpatentability unless the Board decides that the petition supporting the ground would demonstrate that there is a reasonable likelihood that at least one of the claims challenged in the petition is unpatentable. The Board's decision will take into account a patent owner preliminary response where such a response is filed, including any testimonial evidence, but a 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. A petitioner may seek leave to file a reply to the preliminary response in accordance with §§42.23 and 42.24(c). Any such request must make a showing of good cause.

------------------------------
IPR關聯的其他事件

(1) 如果IPR提出前利害關係人已經提出其他挑戰專利權的民事程序；
(2) 若已經IPR在前提出，之後（或當日）提出的其他民事程序（如專利侵權訴訟）將被停止（暫停）；
(3) 在上述(2)的情況下，專利權人可以請願撤銷停止、專利權人提起反訴（counterclaim）主張利害關係人涉及侵權、利害關係人可以撤銷民事程序。

------------------------------
IPR無法被啟始的程序問題是：在相關利害關係人被提告侵權後超過一年

"(b)  PATENTOWNER’SACTION.—An  inter  partesreview  may  not  be  instituted  if  the  petition  re-questing the proceeding is filed more than 1 year after  the  date  on  which  the  petitioner,  real party  in  interest,  or  privy  of  the  petitioner  is served  with  a  complaint  alleging  infringementof  the  patent."

------------------------------
和解

IPR請願人可以提出終止IPR程序，除非PTAB在終止提出前已經決定要繼續完成。
IPR終止後，IPR程序不會產生禁反言效果。
如果IPR已經沒有請願人這個角色，PTAB可終止IPR程序。
終止IPR程序的主要理由是請願人與專利權人彼此之間已有協議，此份協議應提出給PTAB，且被視為商業機密。

------------------------------
若無以上終止與程序上的問題，IPR程序經啟始後，PTAB作出最終決定（final decision）。

IPR細則Inter Partes Review Rules (37 CFR Ch. 42, Subpart B)：
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=abf9f1fbe7e2e2f6e1a2427361375cc6&r=PART&n=37y1.0.1.3.12#37:1.0.1.3.12.2

其他參考：
PTAB應對所有提起IPR的請求項作出最終決定 - SAS Institute v. Lee (Supreme Court 2017)（https://enpan.blogspot.com/2018/04/ptabipr-sas-institute-v-lee-supreme.html）

https://www.ipwatchdog.com/2018/06/29/changing-standards-appellate-review-ipr-institution-decisions/id=98809/

Ron