35 U.S.C. 324, Institution of post-grant review - Patent Laws
Executive summary:
Potential for Errors: This document contains one section of the U.S. Patent Act (found in Title 35 of the United States Code) as amended by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. This page was last updated in November 2011. While the page has been edited to help ensure that the changes made by the AIA to this section are reflected in this document, errors are possible. If you notice such errors, please contact Dan Tysver at (dtysver@bitlaw.com).
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35 U.S.C. 324. Institution of post-grant review
(a) THRESHOLD.--The Director may not authorize a post-grant review to be instituted unless the Director determines that the information presented in the petition filed under section 321, if such information is not rebutted, would demonstrate that it is more likely than not that at least 1 of the claims challenged in the petition is unpatentable.
(b) ADDITIONAL GROUNDS.--The determination required under subsection (a) may also be satisfied by a showing that the petition raises a novel or unsettled legal question that is important to other patents or patent applications.
(c) TIMING.--The Director shall determine whether to institute a post-grant review under this chapter pursuant to a petition filed under section 321 within 3 months after--
(1) receiving a preliminary response to the petition under section 323; or
(2) if no such preliminary response is filed, the last date on which such response may be filed.
(d) NOTICE.--The Director shall notify the petitioner and patent owner, in writing, of the Director's determination under subsection (a) or (b), and shall make such notice available to the public as soon as is practicable. Such notice shall include the date on which the review shall commence.
(e) NO APPEAL.--The determination by the Director whether to institute a post-grant review under this section shall be final and nonappealable.
Effective Dates for Changes Made to this Section
POST-GRANT REVIEW CHANGES
Section 6 of the America Invents Act
(f) REGULATIONS AND EFFECTIVE DATE.--
(1) REGULATIONS.--The Director shall, not later than the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, issue regulations to carry out chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, as added by subsection (d) of this section.
(2) APPLICABILITY.--
(A) IN GENERAL.--The amendments made by subsection (d) shall take effect upon the expiration of the 1–year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and, except as provided in section 18 and in paragraph (3), shall apply only to patents described in section 3(n)(1).
(B) LIMITATION.--The Director may impose a limit on the number of post-grant reviews that may be instituted under chapter 32 of title 35, United States Code, during each of the first 4 1–year periods in which the amendments made by subsection (d) are in effect.