On June 21, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in United States v. Arthrex, Inc., Nos. 19-1434, 19- 1452, 19-1458, 2021 WL 2519433, addressing the Constitution’s appointments clause as it relates to PTAB administrative patent judges (APJs). The court considered whether APJs are “principal officers” who must be appointed by the President with the Senate’s advice and consent, or, as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the U.S. government argued, whether they are “inferior officers” who can be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce. 

Key takeaways of Arthrex decision 

In its decision, the Supreme Court provided a new, tailored remedy to ensure that APJs function as inferior officers. Specifically, the court held “that 35 U.S.C. § 6(c) is unenforceable as applied to the Director insofar as it prevents the Director from reviewing the decisions of the PTAB on his own. The Director may engage in such review and reach his own decision.” Thus, Arthrex provides the Director authority to unilaterally review a PTAB final decision in an inter partes review by rehearing. 

Interim process for Director review following Arthrex 

The Office has implemented an interim procedure for a Director review, consistent with the Arthrex decision. In this interim procedure, such a review may be initiated sua sponte by the Director or requested by a party to a PTAB proceeding. Parties may request Director review of a final written decision in an inter parties review or a post-grant review by concurrently (1) entering a Request for Rehearing by the Director into PTAB E2E and (2) submitting a notification of the Request for Rehearing by the Director to the Office by email to 
Director_PTABDecision_Review@uspto.gov, copying counsel for all parties by email. 

For more details on the interim Director review process, please see Arthrex Q&As (/patents/patent-trial-and appeal-board/procedures/arthrex-qas). 

Other information regarding the interim Director review process 

The PTAB is hosting a “Boardside Chat” webinar on Thursday, July 1, 2021, at 10 am ET to discuss the Arthrex decision, explain the interim procedure for Director review of PTAB decisions, and answer questions.

7/4/2021 USPTO implementation of an interim Director review process following Arthrex | USPTO 

If parties have any questions about the impact of the Arthrex decision on PTAB proceedings, the parties may contact the Board at trials@uspto.gov. 

The USPTO also seeks feedback on the interim Director review process. Suggestions are welcome and may be submitted to Director_Review_Suggestions@uspto.gov. 

This information is owned by Patent Trial and Appeal Board. 

Published on: Jun 29, 2021 10:13 AM EDT 

Last Modified: Jun 29, 2021 01:44 PM EDT