Amendments At The PTAB Hamstrung By Litigation Realities

Agency Still Responding to Criticism on Amendment Difficulty

A constant criticism of the Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) has been the perceived difficulty in amending claims in an AIA trial proceeding. In response, the PTAB has pointed out that the vast majority of motions to amendment fail to distinguish over the art of record. That is, the Board is not applying Draconian procedural requirements. Rather, in my experience, Patent Owners are attempting to skirt an intervening rights defense with a cosmetic change, or seeking to maintain their infringement case with an incremental change in claim scope. Such amendments routinely fail to clear the art of record (or supplemental art that is easily located). Not appreciating the real-life practicalities of amendment practice, many critics hoped that the shift in burden post Aqua Products would now favor amendments. While there has been a slight uptick for 2018, as expected, Aqua Products is not moving the needle.