Policies, procedures, rules, guides, tools and manuals related to proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. More recent information can be found on the latest developments page.AppealsEx parte appealsRules for ex parte appealsRequest for oral argumentsPrecedential casesTrialsClaim construction final ruleAIA trial proceedingsRules for AIA trialsUmbrella rulesInter partes reviewPost-grant reviewCovered business method reviewDerivationNotice regarding options for amendments through reissues or reexaminations Trial Practice GuideConsolidated trial practice guide November 2019Trial practice guide July 2019 UpdateTrial practice guide August 2018 UpdateTrial practice guide (August 2012)Precedential cases Reexams and interferencesNotice regarding options for amendments through reissues or reexaminationsRules of inter partes reexaminationAppealsRules for contested casesRules for interferencesPrecedential cases Standard operating proceduresSOP 1 (rev. 15): Assignment of judges to panels (Sep. 20, 2018)SOP 2 (rev. 11): Designation or de-designation of decisions as precedential or informative (July 24, 2023)SOP 9 (rev. 1): Procedure for decisions remanded from the federal circuitInternal operating proceduresGuidance Memorandum for the Ex Parte Appeals ProcessIOP: Processing Procedures for Ex Parte AppealsGuidance MemorandumGuidance on Paneling of Cases (September 22, 2023)Interim procedure for discretionary denials in AIA post-grant proceeding with parallel district court litigation memorandum (June 21, 2022) Updated applicant admitted prior art (AAPA) memorandum (June 9, 2022)Indefiniteness in AIA post-grant proceedings memorandum (Jan. 6, 2021)Applicant admitted prior art (AAPA) memorandum (Aug. 18, 2020) (superseded by the Updated applicant admitted prior art (AAPA) memorandum issued on June 9, 2022)Notice regarding options for amendments through reissues or reexaminations (April 19, 2019)SAS impact memorandum (April 26, 2018) Motions to amend (MTA) memorandum (Nov. 21, 2017)Trial Practice GuideConsolidated trial practice guide November 2019Trial practice guide July 2019 UpdateTrial practice guide August 2018 UpdateTrial practice guide (August 2012)Statutes, rules, and referencesStatutes and rulesTitle 35 of the United States Code37 CFRFederal Rules of EvidenceRecent proposals, pilot programs, and final rules (presenting recent rules)USPTO referencesBoard-related Official Gazette noticesManual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP)USPTO Rules of Professional ConductEthics guidanceFederal referencesU.S. Supreme CourtU.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC)RulemakingRequest for comments on Motions to Amend and burden allocation rules (May 23, 2023)Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for AIA Proceedings before the PTAB (April 21, 2023)Recent proposals, pilot programs, and final rules (presenting recent rules)USPTO Executive Summary of Public Views on Discretionary Institution on AIA Proceedings (Jan. 19, 2021Comments on Discretion to Institute Trials Before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board published October 20, 2020 (Dec. 14, 2020)Request for comments on discretion to institute AIA trials (Oct. 20, 2020)FAQsP-TACTS FAQs (October 7, 2022)Revised Interim Director Review Process FAQs PTAB operational FAQs (May 29, 2020)Frequently asked questions about SAS implications (June 5, 2018)AIA FAQsGeneral PTAB FAQs
