Fed Circuit Reverses PTAB Decision In IPR Proceeding

On June 16, the Federal Circuit issued its first-ever reversal of a Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision in an America Invents Act post-grant proceeding.  The opinion, drafted by Chief Judge Prost and joined by CAFC Judge Lourie and E.D. Tex. Judge Gilstrap, provides considerable guidance on claim construction and claim amendments in practice before the PTAB.

The case is Microsoft Corp. v. Proxyconn, Inc., No. 2014-1542 and 1543.  It reached the Federal Circuit after Proxyconn asserted U.S. Patent No. 6,757,717 against Microsoft in the Central District of California, and Microsoft initiated two separate inter partes review proceedings against the patent (IPR2012-00026 and IPR2013-00109).  The PTAB joined the two IPRs and granted review on certain claims.  In its final written decision, the PTAB found all but one reviewed claim unpatentable and denied Proxyconn's motion to amend its claims.  Both parties appealed.  The Patent Office intervened in support of the