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ARTICLE · 13 NOVEMBER 2025

The New Director Institution Process: USPTO Hour Webinar Provides Updates And First Decision Is Released

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP
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On October 29, 2025, the USPTO held a USPTO Hour to discuss Director institution for AIA trial proceedings following the October 17, 2025, memorandum...

United StatesIntellectual Property
Christine M. Akagi
Christine M. Akagi
Umber Aggarwal
Umber Aggarwal
Forrest Jones
Forrest Jones
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On October 29, 2025, the USPTO held a USPTO Hour to discuss Director institution for AIA trial proceedings following the October 17, 2025, memorandum ("Director Institution Memorandum") by Director Squires, which was discussed in a previous post. As previously discussed, the Director Institution Memorandum revoked the delegation of institution decisions from panels of Administrative Patent Judges (APJs) at the Board. Instead, the Director will issue decisions granting or denying institution. And on Friday, October 31, 2025, we received the first decision, denying 13 unrelated IPRs in one document.

Acting Chief Judge Kalyan Deshpande and Vice Chief Judge Michael Kim led the discussion and presentation of accompanying slides.

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