Atextual Conditions for Patentability and Stare Decisis

by Dennis Crouch

The new petition in SawStop v. USPTO (Supreme Court 2022) focuses the question of whether COURTS have power to create non-statutory patentability doctrines.

Does the judiciary have the authority to require a patent applicant to meet a condition for patentability not required by the Patent Act?

SawStop Petition for Certiorari.  You might imagine this argument being raised as tied to any number of patent doctrines: atextual eligibility limitations; assignor estoppel; doctrine of equivalents, etc.  This particular case focuses on obviousness-type double patenting (OTDP).  Question 2 of the petition focuses the question further: “Is the judicially created doctrine of nonstatutory double patenting ultra vires?”

Section 103 of the Patent Act generally defines the doctrine of obviousness and instructs tribunals to look to the prior art and consider whether the claimed invention is sufficiently beyond the prior art. But, even if a claims are found patentable under Section 103, the USPTO still considers obviousness-type double patenting.  Even if there is no prior art, the USPTO still bars a patentee from obtaining a separate patent claiming an obvious variation of already-issued claims held by the patentee/inventor. Thus, although 102(b)(2) explains that certain prior-filed patents are not prior art when attributed to the applicant/inventor, OTDP steps in on the back-side to effectively assert those excused documents as prior art.  Pause here to note that one big difference between obviousness and OTDP is that applicants can skirt OTDP rejections by filing a terminal disclaimer that effectively links the two similar patents together along two axes: same term and same owners.

My middle school shop teacher was missing fingers courtesy of a table saw. Yours? Steve Gass has a PhD in physics and also a patent attorney.  He was doing some amateurs woodworking when he conceived of his SawStop technology.  The basic idea: if the spinning blade ever touching human skin, the electrical connection triggers an emergency brake that stops/retracts the blade within 5 milliseconds.  “Fast enough to turn a life changing event into a minor cut.”  Gass has over 100 patents and runs the innovative product company SafeSaw.

Gass’s U.S. Pat No. 9,927,796 was filed back in 2002 — claiming priority to a 2001 provisional application. That patent finally issued in 2018–only after SawSafe filed a civil action and received a court-judgment in its favor.  A 1974 patent had disclosed use of a safety circuit and a braking-means. However, the district court concluded  that the prior art was not enabling — i.e., a person of skilled in the art would not be able to construct (or even design) the claimed invention without undue experimentation. [2016 Decision].

Another 16 issued patents also claim priority back to this 2002 application.  One application is still pending, Application 15/935,432, that claims an obvious variant of what has already been patenting.   The USPTO rejected the ‘432 application based upon the judicially created non-statutory doctrine of obviousness-type double patenting.  SawStop did not want to file a terminal disclaimer on this valuable patent and instead appealed.  On appeal, the Federal Circuit affirmed without opinion in a R.36 Judgment.  Now, SawStop has petitioned the Supreme Court asking that the doctrine be eliminated.

= = =

Although the petition does not cite the Supreme Court’s recent abortion decision, it certainly picks-up upon some of the same themes:

  • A right to abortion “is nowhere mentioned in the Constitution.”  Similarly, obviousness type double patenting has no grounding in the Patent Act.
  • The fact that a precedent is old does not convert that precedent to a sacred text.

The Supreme Court in Bilski addressed this issue to some degree in the context of the non-statutory categorical bars of abstract ideas; laws of nature and natural phenomenon.

While these exceptions are not required by the statutory text, they are consistent with the notion that a patentable process must be “new and useful.” And, in any case, these exceptions have defined the reach of the statute as a matter of statutory stare decisis going back 150 years.

Bilski v. Kappos, 561 U.S. 593 (2010).  The Bilski court found a small textual hook, but also identified the doctrine as built upon longstanding precedent.

The longstanding nature of precedent is important in the patent context.  But unlike in the Constitutional abortion context, we have always had direct statutes guiding patent issuance and enforcement, beginning with the First Congress in 1790. In the area of obviousness, the doctrine was developed by courts and then implemented by statute in 1952.  In Graham though, the Supreme Court indicated that, with minor exceptions, the 1952 Act maintained all the old precedent.

Double Patenting in the Statute.  In its 2014 Abbvie decision, the Federal Circuit wrote that Obviousness Type Double Patenting is “grounded in the text of the Patent Act.”   In particular, the court honed-in on Section 101’s use of the singular article “a” in describing what is granted to an inventor: “a patent.”

While often described as a court-created doctrine, obviousness-type double patenting is grounded in the text of the Patent Act. . . . Section 101 reads: “Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, … may obtain a patent therefor.” 35 U.S.C. § 101 (emphasis added). Thus, § 101 forbids an individual from obtaining more than one patent on the same invention, i.e., double patenting.

Abbvie Inc. v. Mathilda and Terence Kennedy Inst. of Rheumatology Tr., 764 F.3d 1366, 1372 (Fed. Cir. 2014).  But Judge Dyk’s conclusions in Abbvie are not well grounded themselves as there are several ways this provision could be interpreted. It also proves too much, since there are ways for a patentee to obtain multiple patents covering patentably indistinct inventions: (1) via terminal disclaimer; (2) via restriction.  If the patentee files a terminal disclaimer then the patent office will allow multiple patents to issue.  If the patentee files a divisional application (following a restriction) then the patent office will allow multiple patents to issue even without a terminal disclaimer.

 

146 thoughts on “Atextual Conditions for Patentability and Stare Decisis

  1. 24

    If restriction practice and examination practice were reasonable, especially in some arts, a single, broader patent SHOULD issue instead of multiple narrower variants on the same theme. But, because examiners are rewarded on being adverse to the public and quantity over quality, patentees are forced to unfairly narrow claims and then file CONS or DIVS to cover other useful embodiments of the actual invention. I don’t like the games played by either examiners or applicants, but I’m rooting for Saw Stop on this one. Even if it’s bull pucky, maybe it’ll spur some re-evaluation of examination practices here. What am I saying. Of course it won’t. But I’m still rooting for Saw Stop because OTDP is abused by examiners almost as badly as restriction practice.

  2. 23

    In view of all the OTDP discussion here, this is to note a concise helpful article by a patent attorney who has written well on other patent law subjects: “A Look At The U.S. Doctrine of Obviousness-Type Double Patenting” by Courtenay C. Brinckerhoff (Foley&Lardner LLP) June 13, 2012

    1. 23.1

      Among the complexities of OTDP practice is whether to apply a one way or a two way obviousness test. As held at p.15 of In re Hubble (Fed. Cir. 2013): “ ..In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 1432 (Fed. Cir. 1998). Under that test, “the examiner asks whether the application claims are obvious over the patent claims.” Id. In certain circumstances, however, a two-way test may apply, wherein the examiner “also asks whether the patent claims are obvious over the application claims. If not, the application claims later may be allowed.” Id. The two-way test, which is “a narrow exception to the general rule of the one-way test,” arose out of the concern to: prevent rejections for obviousness-type double patenting when the applicants filed first for a basic invention and later for an improvement, but, through no fault of the applicants, the PTO decided the applications in the reverse order of filing, rejecting the basic application although it would have been allowed if the applications had been decided in the order of their filing. Id. We have explained that the two-way test is appropriate only in the “unusual circumstance” where “the PTO is solely responsible for the delay in causing the second-filed application to issue prior to the first.”

      1. 23.1.1

        P.S. I forgot to thank the commentator below who pointed out, as to the Fed. Cir. rationale for OTDP [a public policy against granting more than one patent to the same inventor claiming the “same” [obvious claims] invention], that 35 USC 121 [as well as 101] arguably supports a statutory suggestion for that “public policy.”

        1. 23.1.1.1

          [as well as 101]

          Clearly not.

          As you well know, Paul, 35 USC 101 has but two statutory requirements:

          1) the invention fits into at least one statutory category; and

          2) the invention has utility (under the patent sense of the word).

          That
          Is
          It

  3. 22

    The problem is that most applicants cave to OTDP rejections rather than fight them.

    1. 22.1

      Most of my clients are into building portfolios, so this is often not a battle worth fighting.

  4. 21

    This is one of the better inventions of all time, I hope the patentee wins against all unreasonable attacks. What a totally GREAT SOLUTION to a LONG STANDING PROBLEM IN THE ART !! Preventing ppl from losing fingers by a saw. Give that Man a Blue Ribbon.

  5. 20

    blah blah, stare decises, go re-read Erie vs. “the incredible Mr. Tompkins” for the Court’s view on that doctrine. Reality vs. appearances, sort of stuff.

  6. 19

    Rule 56 and the Supreme Court and CAFC case law on inequitable conduct related to failure to disclose information is not in the statutes. (I have seen some filings alleging inequitable conduct as being a failure to comply with 35 USC 112. Are you kidding me?). Is the non-statutory nature of the law now a defense against an allegation of inequitable conduct?

    1. 19.1

      George, this is an excellent point and the logical fallacy of the argument the petitioner here is making. The certiorari petition cleverly tries to characterize OTDP as a judicially created “condition of patentability” that exceeds the conditions in the Patent Act, but you could argue that it’s just another of many recognized judicially-created doctrines barring issuance or enforcement of patents. The broader argument here seems to be that a patentee can’t have its patent rights lost or reduced because of something that’s not expressly spelled out in the Patent Act. If that argument received any traction, then a lot of other judicially-created doctrines might also go bye-bye, like res judicata, collateral estoppel, inequitable conduct, prosecution laches, patent misuse, shop rights, sanctions for spoliation of evidence, and pretty much every single procedural vehicle not spelled out in the statute (but well-recognized in litigation and prosecution) that could result in forfeiture of patent rights.

    2. 19.2

      Are you conflating various other legal paths outside of “conditions of patentability?”

  7. 18

    If OTDP were eliminated, isn’t there a risk the Office would start using prosecution laches more aggressively to reject continuation applications based on unreasonable delay?

  8. 17

    Perhaps the brief should have cited, Henry Schein, Inc. v. Archer & White, Inc., 139 S.Ct. 534 (2019) (unless it is in fact cited). That case seems to over-turn a judicially created doctrine albeit of just some circuits, and states, “We may not rewrite the statute simply to accommodate that policy concern” and “it is not this Court’s proper role to redesign the Act” which at least makes for good “sound bites.” :)

  9. 16

    DC: “ The fact that a precedent is old does not convert that precedent to a sacred text”

    This is beyond “quaint” and into “I’m a hapless stooge carrying water for the worst people in the world” territory.

    The 6 Ayatollah’s don’t care about the age of a “precedent”, nor do they care about the strength of the reasoning behind that precedent. All they care about is increasing and maintaining the power of their Dominionist friends to control women, punish gays and non-whites, and shovel more money into the deserving hands of their ultra-capitalist benefactors. They are quite open about this.

    The “law” is a dead letter. Heckuva job, Dennis and Jason.

    1. 15.1

      Thanks. This is interesting. Two bits that surprised me:

      (1) “[T]he highest earnings [are] in the copyright-intensive industries, followed by earnings in the utility patent-intensive industries… .” I would have expected utility-patents to generate more value than copyrights.

      (2) “[R]elative to workers in non-IP-intensive industries, workers in IP-intensive industries are more likely to… be veterans.”

      1. 15.1.1

        ..(1)… really? You never hear of the Mickey Mouse parade (very old tune), and the supplanted Big Cinema and Big Music (now across a plethora of channels)…?

    2. 15.2

      Yes, Chisum basically summarizes my position that I have disclosed over the course of the last decade.

      That not a flook [sic].

  10. 14

    This seems unlikely to go anywhere.

    On the parallels to Dobbs, the Supreme Court has said a million times that stare decisis is stronger when courts aren’t the last word. If the Supreme Court gets a constitutional question wrong, Congress can’t overrule it. If the Supreme Court construes a statute incorrectly, Congress can amend the statute. If the Supreme Court wrongly invents obviousness-type double patenting, Congress can abolish it. My understanding of OTDP is that it comes from the Supreme Court, it’s been around for more than 150 years, courts and interested parties have assumed its existence and planned their affairs around it, and Congress has made no move to abolish it. There’s some intuitive appeal to the argument, but I doubt that even the most rigid textualist on the Supreme Court would find this interesting.

    1. 14.1

      Interesting – would it be incorrect then to say that the NEW stare decisis OF Dobbs is stronger than the stare decisis of Roe (given that absence of Constitutional right is eminently fixable by normal legislation, as opposed to such normal legislation not being able to address what would have been deemed a Constitutional right)…?

      1. 14.1.1

        I’ve never thought about that way. I have mixed feelings about the answer, and think it’s in some tension with the purpose of having constitutional rights.

        Logically, it works. If the Supreme Court reads constitutional rights too narrowly, Congress and the states can always expand them through legislation and state constitutions. But if the Supreme Court reads constitutional rights too broadly, then there’s no possible “fix” short of amendment.

        But if you take that view too far, it means that the Supreme Court should always err on the side of reading constitutional rights narrowly. That seems wrong to me. Constitutional rights are usually rights against the government, and supposed to be protected from the political process. If courts fail to prevent, e.g., viewpoint discrimination or general search warrants, it’s no answer to say that the government can always tie its own hands if the voters ask it to. If there is a constitutional right to abortion, and Dobbs is wrong on the merits, then that’s really bad. And it’s no answer to say that Texas and Mississippi can always create a right to abortion if their legislatures want to.

        The real lesson, I think most would say, is that it’s critically important that the Supreme Court decide constitutional questions correctly, because of the consequences of being wrong, in either direction. Read rights too broadly, and you tie the hands of government and illegitimately take decisions away from the people. Read them too narrowly, and you defeat the purpose of having constitutional rights in the first place. That’s why the court at least sometimes overrules constitutional decisions when it’s convinced they’re wrong.

        Other laws, e.g., statutes and common-law-type stuff are different. It’s not costless when courts get these questions wrong, but it makes more sense and seems more just to ask Congress to fix these sorts of things.

        1. 14.1.1.1

          Your back peddling weakens your initial point.

          I fear that you cannot have it both ways. Please choose one.

        2. 14.1.1.2

          “If there is a constitutional right to abortion, and Dobbs is wrong on the merits, then that’s really bad.”

          Fortunately for us there is no such constitutional right so we don’t have to worry about the rest.

        3. 14.1.1.3

          “Read rights too broadly, and you tie the hands of government and illegitimately take decisions away from the people.”

          They’ve been doing that in spades for like 70 years. Arguably there was some reason for them to 70 years ago, nowadays not so much.

      2. 14.1.2

        It is a Tenth Amendment issue. The Constitution limits the power of the federal government. If the feds don’t have the power, it is left to the states. Or the people.

        Congress cannot give the feds power that the Constitution does not.

        1. 14.1.2.1

          This sounds right to me. I read a lot of articles urging a nationwide codification of Roe, and a lot urging a nationwide abortion ban, but a sane reading of the constitution should take both of those options off the table.

          Neither homicide nor family law are specifically entrusted to the federal government in the constitution. Therefore, both should be regarded as reserved to the states. The feds should not be regarded as having power to set a nationwide policy on abortion in either direction.

        2. 14.1.2.2

          “Congress cannot give the feds power that the Constitution does not.”

          Congress can give themselves (aka the feds) whatever power they want by amending the constitution. Though there can be backlash.

          1. 14.1.2.2.1

            Congress can give themselves (aka the feds) whatever power they want by amending the constitution. Though there can be backlash

            We’ve been over this, 6.

            It is far less “backlash,” and far more much higher requirements — on purpose — to make such a change to the Law.

            1. 14.1.2.2.1.1

              Yes. So many people, including lawyers, do not understand this. Read Article V. Need 2/3s of both Houses or the legislatures of 2/3s of the states to convene a convention for proposing amendments and then you need ratification by the legislatures of 3/4s of the states.

              It is not easy for a reason.

        3. 14.1.2.3

          The Constitution does not spell out all the rights. It acts mainly as a brake on the Federal and State governments. Dobbs was decided by activist justices who did violence to the nature of stare decisis, and destroyed the myth that conservative Justices would abide by precedent. If the justices appointed by Trump could realistically be impeached and removed from office for lying to Congress, they would be. However, too many Republicans don’t have the guts or intellectual honesty.

          1. 14.1.2.3.1

            In pieces due to hyper active filter

            Wow — you are off on every single one of your points (after the first one):

            The Constitution does not spell out all the rights. It acts mainly as a brake on the Federal and State governments.

            Yay – you got one right (of course, this means Roe of course could not ESTABLISH the “right” as attempted).

          2. 14.1.2.3.2

            Dobbs was decided by activ1st justices who did v1 0 lence to the nature of stare decisis,

            Well, I can give you partial credit, as “activ1st justices” may be correct, but that is no more activ1st than those of Roe. As to v1 0 lence, there you are absolutely wrong.

          3. 14.1.2.3.3

            and des tr0 yed the myth that conservative Justices would abide by precedent.

            Nope – you cannot des Tr0y what was not there to begin with. Plus (reflecting your error on state decisis), precedent is not — nor should be — absolute.

          4. 14.1.2.3.4

            If the justices appointed by Trump could realistically be impeached and removed from office for l y 1ng to Congress, they would be.

            There was no l y 1ng to Congress (Alito wrote the decision, and NO to-be-Justice can pre-decide a case) — YOUR path would actually be a violation of judicial ethics.

          5. 14.1.2.3.5

            However, too many Repub licans don’t have the g it’s or intellectual h0n esty.

            There you go again, blaming a “party” while thinking your “party” must be correct. So, not only are you incorrect as to the substance here, your BLIND ide0 l0gue ways also run to error.

            And yes, I am a “D.”

      3. 14.1.3

        “the NEW stare decisis OF Dobbs is stronger than the stare decisis of Roe”

        The new of Dobbs is never ever going away anon. Not in your lifetime anyway. Don’t even worry about that. That’s obviously why leftists are but blas ted. And of course that congress likely lacks the authority to establish a right to an abortion without it coming directly from the constitution (people think they do, but they probably don’t).

        1. 14.1.3.3

          Yes. Even RBG admitted that Roe was not on firm ground.

          The nominees for Supreme Court purposely avoid answers about the future. Because they cannot say what they would do in a particular case. Yes, Roe was the law at the time. Yes, they believe in stare decisis. But they did not say they would never vote to overturn Roe. They would never answer that question.

          Justice Sotomayor said she was going to bring the views of a wise Latina to the court. Justice is supposed to be blind. Not based upon one’s POV. And that may be what is really disturbing to those who want it otherwise.

          1. 14.1.3.3.1

            Even the latest (celebrated) NEW Justice refused to answer certain questions.

            Of course, the absurdity of declining to answer what a woman was impacts the fickle Left’s Intersectionality agenda and it’s “SH UT UP MEN” agenda.

            (…and do not even hint at fetal life being a separate human life – from a scientific point of view…)

    2. 14.2

      Put differently, I’d challenge the petitioner to read Kimble v. Marvel and tell me how this case should come out differently.

        1. 14.2.1.1

          I’m ambivalent about Kimble, but I think the arguments for overruling Brulotte v. Thys were much stronger there than SawStop’s arguments for abolishing obviousness-type double patenting.

          1. 14.2.1.1.2

            Brulotte was a terrible decision, but Kimble was exactly right. If Congress did not like the outcome that Brulotte creates, Congress has had ample opportunity to fix it in the many revisions that the Congress has made to Title 35 in the time since. Congress’ inaction on this point (and others) should be read as cementing Brulotte (and other points of the common law of patents) in place unless and until the Congress takes action.

            Incidentally, this principle should not be understood as applying only to the SCOTUS. “[The Supreme] Court will not now lightly disturb a rule well settled by forty-five years of judicial consideration and conclusion in th[e circuit] courts.” Westinghouse Co. v. Formica Co., 266 U.S. 342, 349 (1924). See also, Merrill Lynch, Inc. v. Curran, 456 U.S. 353, 381-82 (1982). Where the circuit courts have laid down a consistent line of interpretation over many years and the Congress has—over that intervening time—amended the statute without changing the law to thwart the outcomes from the circuit courts, that similarly bespeaks a Congressional acquiescence that should not be lightly disturbed.

            1. 14.2.1.1.2.1

              Kimble was horribly decided — and (interestingly enough) presages Alito’s Dobbs decision.

              Kagan’s “I know it’s wrong, but meh, not going to change it” is simply atrocious.

    3. 14.3

      “the Supreme Court has said a million times that stare decisis is stronger when courts aren’t the last word.”

      Based supreme court listener.

  11. 13

    I expect that we all agree that this cert. petition has little chance of success. Imagine, however, that it were to succeed, what would this mean for the improper Markush group rejection. As Mr. F. mentions below, there is at least some statutory warrant for ODP in §121. There is no statutory warrant for improper Markush rejections, however.

    As a practical matter, the PTO needs the improper Markush rejection to police a fair application of examination fees. If the rejection were to disappear following a ruling that the courts may not invent new grounds of invalidity that are not explicitly provided in the text, could the USPTO continue to apply improper Markush as an objection?

    1. 13.1

      Are you thinking of improper multiply dependent claims (112e?)? Improper Markush claims have a pretty clear 112b support.

      1. 13.1.1

        Sorry, I am not following. If I claim “[a] machine comprising a first blade and and an attachment selected from the group consisting of a handle, a chain, and a second blade,” where is the §112(b) problem?

        1. 13.1.1.1

          There isn’t one as that isn’t an improper markush. An improper markush would be “the group comprising:” But I don’t see how that has anything to do with examination fees, which is why I was thinking maybe you were talking about multiple dependent claims. Regardless of whether this is a rejection or not, what does it have to do with policing examination fees?

          1. 13.1.1.1.1

            MPEP 2117.II: A Markush claim may be rejected under judicially approved “improper Markush grouping” principles when the claim contains an improper grouping of alternatively useable members. A Markush claim contains an “improper Markush grouping” if either: (1) the members of the Markush group do not share a “single structural similarity” or (2) the members do not share a common use.

        2. 13.1.1.2

          Actually I get it from the example below. The “handle, chain, second blade” example is not really accurate. You’re talking about putting three different inventive ideas in a single claim as a markush group. I don’t see what is wrong with that, you’re not suggesting that because they’re included in a single claim that restrictable subject matter doesn’t become unrestrictable does it?

          1. 13.1.1.2.1

            [Y]ou’re not suggesting that because they’re included in a single claim that restrictable subject matter doesn’t become unrestrictable does it?

            In a claim in a PCT national phase application, the three are still restrictable. Caterpillar Tractor Co. v. USPTO, 650 F. Supp. 218, 220 (E.D. Va. 1986). However, in a §111 application, this is not permissible. In re Weber, 580 F.2d 455, 458 (C.C.P.A. 1978). Rather, the only option where an applicant presents a number of disparate elements within a Markush is for the office to impose an improper Markush rejection. The office may not impose a restriction requirement on that Markush because “[i]f… a single claim is required to be divided up and presented in several applications, that claim would never be considered on its merits.” Id.

            Of course, a species election might still be proper, but a species election merely sets the starting point for a Markush group. If the examiner does not find art related to the elected species, then the examiner still must proceed to search the rest of the Markush.

    2. 13.2

      “As a practical matter, the PTO needs the improper Markush rejection to police a fair application of examination fees.”

      Why?

      Why is an improper markush mote problematic for examination than any broad claim?

      1. 13.2.1

        Improper Markush rejections exist to stop a person from claiming more than one distinct invention in a single claim. A broad claim on a single invention is easy to examine (the broadness makes it easy to find relevant art). An improper Markush group, however, forces the examiner to search the first Markush choice, then when that is clear of the art, to search the second Markush choice, etc.

        1. 13.2.1.1

          “A broad claim on a single invention is easy to examine (the broadness makes it easy to find relevant art). An improper Markush group, however, forces the examiner to search the first Markush choice, then when that is clear of the art, to search the second Markush choice, etc.”

          I sincerely don’t see how the broad claim to a “single invention” is different from a markush claim including a list of alternatives. The “single invention” frequently includes limitations which can be read on by alternatives. And the markush claim may be framed as limited to a single scope, where that scope includes an element which may be one of several alternatives. It appears to me to be distinction without difference.

          Though I’ll acknowledge that I may be confused because MPEP 800 is a burning pile of rubbish and my approach to restriction is “Don’t.”

          1. 13.2.1.1.1

            and my approach to restriction is “Don’t.”

            That seems like a minority view (albeit restrictions are generally not super-abundant, when they ARE requested, they are often improvidently so requested).

          2. 13.2.1.1.2

            Improper Markush rejections exist to stop a person from claiming more than one distinct invention in a single claim.

            I sincerely don’t see how the broad claim to a “single invention” is different from a markush claim including a list of alternatives

            Ah I see now. Imagine a claim to “a device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing code, wherein the code is selected from a group consisting of: [code for a network protocol], [code for implementing a machine learning algorith], [code for performing a business method on a computer]” – you’ve just put three tech centers into a single claim, so the claim can be species-restricted.

        2. 13.2.1.2

          “forces the examiner to search the first Markush choice, then when that is clear of the art, to search the second Markush choice, etc.”

          But only one alternative need be found to reject under prior art, right?

          Of course to “fully search” a markush claim and anticipate the amendments, the examiner must search for all the alternatives.

          But to “fully search” a broad “single invention” functional claim, the examiner must search for all the ways the specification supports for achieving the function.

          Honestly, between an express list of alternatives (markush) and a vague suggestion of the alternatives (broad non-markush claim), the former sounds easier to examine.

          1. 13.2.1.2.1

            Hopefully a concrete example will help to clarify. Imagine that I invent both a new hand soap and a new television. The soap has features A, B, and C, which I believe distinguish it from the prior art. The television has features D, E, & F, which I believe distinguish it from the prior art. I believe that we can agree that no single search will reveal the most relevant art for both of these inventions.

            If I file both in the same application and claim the soap in 1–10 and the t.v. in 11–20, the examiner will impose a restriction. The elected claims will be examined and the unelected will have to be canceled before the case can grant.

            If I write a single independent claim broad enough to read on both without using a Markush (e.g., “a composition of matter comprising carbon atoms”), this will extend so broadly that it is bound to fail until I start narrowing it toward one or the other of the real inventions that I have disclosed.

            The real problem comes when I start using Markush language. If I claim “a composition of matter comprising: A, B, & C; or D, E, & F” then the examiner must search both inventions for only one fee. The improper Markush rejection is the solution to this situation. Without the improper Markush rejection, an applicant can get any number of inventions examined for only one fee.

            1. 13.2.1.2.1.1

              I’m still, sincerely, not understanding how “a composition of matter comprising: A, B, & C; or D, E, & F” necessarily requires more search than “a composition of matter comprising carbon atoms”.

              Yes, it’s very easy to find prior art that demonstrates that a tiny fraction of our non-markush claim scope is anticipated. It is perhaps less easy to find ABC, but if I find only ABC I can similarly reject the markush claim based on just a fraction of the claim scope being anticipated.

              But just as finding ABC does not make a complete search of our markush claim, onlt finding ethane does not make a complete search of our non-markush claim.

              What is a “complete search”? The office tells examiners a complete search includes the claimed invention and any subject matter that may be reasonably expected to be needed to handle the amendments.

              So for our markush claim, I would ideally search for ABC, DEF, and anything that the specification suggests may be included in an amendment.

              And for our non-markush claim, I would ideally find ethane and search for anything that the specification suggests may be included in an amendment.

              For our non-markush claim to require less searching, the combined search space of “ABC, DEF, and potential amendments” must be larger than the search space of “compounds with 2 or more carbons, and potential amendments”.

              That could happen depending on the relative specifications, but it is not necessarily the case, and it is not a function of how the claim is formatted.

              1. 13.2.1.2.1.1.1

                So for our markush claim, I would ideally search for ABC, DEF, and anything that the specification suggests may be included in an amendment.

                Right. My point is, the PTO has a legitimate interest in being able to say “for one fee, you should get ABC searched, or DEF searched, but not both.”

                (1) If ABC and DEF are presented in separate claims, then the way to enforce the one-invention-per-fee policy is to impose a restriction requirement.

                (2) If one drafts a generic claim broad enough to read in both ABC and DEF without Markush language, then the way to enforce the one-invention-per-fee policy is simply—perhaps without even running a search—to impose an embarrassingly simple rejection to force the applicant to amend in a manner that narrows down to one or the other of the disclosed inventions (or invokes Markush language). for example, if the applicant claims “a composition comprising carbon atoms,” then one can cite anticipation on the basis that charcoal has been sold in the U.S. for more than one year before the filing date, which will force the applicant to amend to distinguish over charcoal. Once the applicant narrows to a claim in the vicinity of either ABC or DEF, then one can assert election by prosecution if the applicant tries to sneak the other invention back into the claim set. If the applicant invokes Markush language, then we are no longer in scenario #2, and must move on to scenario #3.

                (3) If one drafts a Markush claim to cover both ABC and DEF, then the improper Markush rejection (MPEP 2117.II) exists to force the issue so that the applicant will break ABC and DEF into separate claims. At that point you are back into scenario #1.

                Without the improper Markush rejection, however, the applicant can stall out in #3 indefinitely, at which point the PTO has to agree to search more than one invention for only one fee.

                1. (2) If one drafts a generic claim broad enough to read in both ABC and DEF without Markush language, then the way to enforce the one-invention-per-fee policy is simply—perhaps without even running a search—to impose an embarrassingly simple rejection to force the applicant to amend in a manner that narrows down to one or the other of the disclosed inventions

                  Why would you treat it on the merits? You can restrict out subject matter. You do have to restrict along claim lines. If Claim 1 has ABC and DEF in it you can file a species restriction and not put Claim 1 into either electable group.

                2. This is not how a species election works. MPEP 803.02

                  When examining a Markush claim, the examiner may… require a provisional election of species… The applicant’s election serves as a starting point for the search and examination of the claim. Following election, the Markush claim will be examined fully with respect to the elected species and further to the extent necessary to determine patentability… If the examiner determines that the elected species is allowable over the prior art, the examination of the Markush claim will be extended.

                  (boldface added)

                3. You do [not] have to restrict along claim lines.

                  You definitely do have to restrict along claim lines. In re Weber, 580 F.2d 455, 458 (C.C.P.A. 1978).

  12. 12

    In new hot mic audio obtained by Rolling Stone, Peggy Nienaber, executive director of Liberty Counsel’s D.C. ministry, bragged about praying with Supreme Court Justices at the court. Liberty Counsel authored an amicus brief in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case, in which the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and ended the federal right to abortion last month.

    Per the Rolling Stone’s Wednesday report, during a celebration marking the fall of Roe, someone on a livestream asked Nienabar, “You actually pray with the Supreme Court justices?” Nienaber responded: “I do. They will pray with us, those that like us to pray with them.” As for where these prayers are happening, Nienaber indicated they’re taking place inside the Supreme Court: “We actually go in there.”
    ——————-

    I’m sure our bias-obsessed expert here is revolted by this. Oh wait, it’s Dominionist attorneys praying with the 6 Ayatollahs, not Google’s counsel. That changes everything.

    1. 12.2

      Based supreme court prayers.

      “Oh wait, it’s Dominionist attorneys praying with the 6 Ayatollahs”

      Noice. MM dominion when bruh?

    2. 12.3

      [The] executive director of Liberty Counsel’s D.C. ministry… pray[ed] with Supreme Court Justices at the court.

      And? What is supposed to be the problem here? There is nothing unseemly about Supreme Court justices praying.

      If Liberty Counsel had a case pending before the Court, it would be improper for the Justices to meet ex parte with Liberty Counsel. Liberty Counsel do not have a case pending in front of the Court, however, so that is neither here nor there.

      1. 12.3.1

        …. but Greg “does not even see” posts by Malcolm (The Prophet) and myself…

        He has yet to retract that
        L
        I
        E

  13. 11

    When did the PTO first begin rejecting claims as being directed to an “abstract idea”? If the PTO historically examined based only on “statutory patent subject matter eligibility,” when did it begin to examine for “judicial exceptions”/”abstract idea”/”non-statutory patent subject matter eligibility”?

    1. 11.1

      I think this is an interesting point. One problem here is that the pre-52 concept of “invention” was wrapped up in both obviousness and eligibility.

      1. 11.1.1

        Really, you going to leave it at that?

        How much ink has been spilled detailing the Act of 1952 chastising the Supreme Court’s prior “Gist of the Invention” (and variants) with the express purpose of removing invention and replacing that term with the new 103?

      1. 11.2.1

        I missed on your numbering (also replied at 15, but that should go here).

        Yes, Night Writer – Chisum basically summarizes my extensive points presented tracing back more than a decade now.

        That’s no flook [sic]

  14. 10

    The Office can add references to assert an OTDP rejection. To me, that proves an overreach in the doctrine.

    After In re Hubbell, the Federal Circuit approved of imposing OTDP when the two properties only share a common inventor, but are not commonly owned, nor ever were. In essence, the MPEP practice was adopted. A terminal disclaimer cannot cure this OTDP rejection. So, the application dies, or must be unduly narrowed. The argument was based upon harassment by multiple owners, one of the original bases for the doctrine, which the terminal disclaimer practice prevents. Please note, however, that if the two separate properties had no common inventor, no rejection could be made and harassment by multiple assignees would still exist. So, Hubbell penalizes applications that share a common inventor. Fair, right? No, it is not.

    Finally, now that a later issued but earlier expiring patent can be an OTDP reference against an earlier issued but later expiring patent, it is totally confusing.

    1. 10.1

      [I]f the two separate properties had no common inventor, no rejection could be made and harassment by multiple assignees would still exist. So, Hubbell penalizes applications that share a common inventor.

      Not at all. If there were no common inventor, the earlier filed application would be art against the later, and the later would fail on pure obviousness grounds, rather than ODP.

      1. 10.2.1

        But only if neither application were filed more than a year after application publication or other public disclosure of the other, or, there is provable derivation.

    2. 10.3

      The Office can add references to assert an OTDP rejection.

      How else is one supposed to prove that the differences are obvious? You can’t show that a computer configured to run a program and a hard disk storing a program are obvious variants without some sort of factual finding that this application did not invent hard disks…

      1. 10.3.1

        Yes, but your own disclosure is being combined with a reference to levy a rejection that could not have otherwise been levied.

        1. 10.3.1.1

          Yes, but your own disclosure is being combined with a reference to levy a rejection that could not have otherwise been levied.

          Yes – that is the evidence that the variant would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill, I don’t follow why you think that’s a problem. You seem to take it as a given that “adding a reference” is some sort of overreach. To me, not adding the reference and just conclusorily deciding that the differences are insignificant just on the examiner’s say-so would be the overreach. Why is adding a reference “bad” and what should be done in its place?

          1. 10.3.1.1.1

            It is not “adding THE reference,” but instead is what that reference is being added TO.

  15. 9

    Twenty years ago, fresh out of law school and having passed two different state bar examines, I prepared my first draft response to a restriction requirement that included this constitutional argument. OTDP was judge made law to avoid submarine patents which were based on patent term that was tied to issue dates. PTA and other changes over the years specifically address prosecution delay. I see no reason to maintain OTDP and require terminal disclaimers.

    1. 9.1

      Guess that argument did not succeed, eh? I think that I would have heard if ODP had been ruled unconstitutional.

    2. 9.2

      In fairness, submarining is only one issue. The other was the ability to split ownership / risk having to pay multiple royalties on the same invention.

  16. 8

    This is going nowhere, and note that presenting a cert question saying “not required by the Patent Act” is strangely assuming the very issue disputed here. And, of course, ignoring the long history of decisions saying both statutory and judicial double-patenting is based on interpreting 101 as only allowing one patent per inventor on the same invention. Also, I believe there is at least one prior Sup.Ct. pharmaceutical case involving double-patenting, albeit its very existence was not then challenged as here.
    Last but not least, that there is a still-pending Application 15/935,432 claiming priority from a 2001 provisional, 21 years ago, is yet another inexcusable docket control failure of the PTO to take up and process applications based on their actual priority dates.

    1. 8.1

      Although the “submarine patents” problem was greatly reduced by the statutory change for applications filed on or after June 8, 1995 having a patent term of 20 years from the earliest priority claim filing date. However, as Dennis notes that is added to by term extensions for application PTO or winning appeal delays, which is another reason why egregious PTO processing delays ignoring TRUE filing dates are still inexcusable.

    2. 8.2

      Last but not least, that there is a still-pending Application 15/935,432 claiming priority from a 2001 provisional, 21 years ago, is yet another inexcusable docket control failure of the PTO to take up and process applications based on their actual priority dates.

      I don’t see why that has any bearing on anything. I have some 15-series still pending, and for all you know ‘432 was taken up the day after it was filed. An applicant could spend ten years prosecuting an application and file a continuation right before allowance and that application can’t possibly be taken up <10 years from its priority date no matter how quickly its examined.

      Continuations are placed on a speedier docket than standard filings, I am sure. That being said, I doubt the office provides them immediately and I'm not sure applicants would want it that way. I've gotten a few free non-finals because applicants filed a continuation using the original claims and applicant had neglected to file a preliminary amendment before it got to me. That's a simple cut-and-paste job for a nonfinal rejection.

      1. 8.2.1

        That’s a simple cut-and-paste job for a nonfinal rejection.

        Yeah, no.

        You still must account for all arguments on the record — using the same initial Office position just won’t cut it.

      2. 8.2.2

        Re: “An applicant could spend ten years prosecuting an application and file a continuation right before allowance and that application can’t possibly be taken up less than 10 years from its priority date no matter how quickly its examined.”
        True, and nobody expects instantaneous processing of continuations. But why does the PTO allow prosecution of originals to drag on for ten years, and then allow examiners to process numerous much-later-filed applications before even taking up assigned continuations with such really old real filing dates? That is not how a case docket control system or a patent system that is supposed to work. Nor a patent system that has as a major objective the faster spreading of useful arts technology knowledge. Especially, those U.S. applications that are not published.

        1. 8.2.2.1

          Are you saying that you have a continuation whose application has not published?

          That’d be a neat trick.

        2. 8.2.2.2

          “That is not how a case docket control system or a patent system that is supposed to work.”

          What sort of docket control systems do attorneys labor under?

          Do they give options, or are attorneys only allowed to work on the system identified highest priority case at a given moment?

          1. 8.2.2.2.1

            Yes, patent attorneys work under statutory bar deadlines, related-case deadlines, PTO deadlines and client designations of high-priority cases, all the time.

          2. 8.2.2.2.2

            As it has been quite awhile since Paul actually had a Reg. No., things may have changed since the dinosaurs passed on.

            Our firm typically loads up the attorneys, but those “hard dates” are usually handled well more than a month due, so attorneys choose what they want to work on at any given time**.

            ** of course, this is but a general rule, as it is not an altogether strange occurrence to have last-minute drop-ins and such.

        3. 8.2.2.3

          why does the PTO allow prosecution of originals to drag on for ten years,

          I assure you the examiners have very little control over how slowly applicants want to move in amending their claims.

          and then allow examiners to process numerous much-later-filed applications before even taking up assigned continuations with such really old real filing dates?

          Because examiners already have dockets. Lets say I have ten new applications on my docket and you file a continuation – First the processing of a new application (even a continuation) is not instantaneous. Then when it comes to me I have 50 open apps, which means on average 3 filings are coming in a week on those, then I have 10 new applications to get through, then I have whatever continuations were in the pipeline prior to your application, then I have your application.

          Depending on how quickly other people move it is entirely possible I’m only doing one new application a biweek, which means it takes nearly 3 months to process the docket that is showing on the day you file. That docket gets replaced by continuations that are filed before yours, and then theres yours. I think you misunderstand just how many applications we concurrently handle.

          1. 8.2.2.3.1

            I don’t think that this case presents the view that you may want.

            Hmm,

            Well, the sum total delay breaks down to about just over two years of applicant delay, and about just over 16 years of Office delay. Of that about 16, a solid 10 and 1/2 years of delay was involved in chasing an appeal (didn’t dig deeper, but looks like applicant was vindicated).

            1. 8.2.2.3.1.1

              Thanks, and that leads to another question of why an application appeal should take “a solid 10 and 1/2 years” even if appealed to the district court under Section 145?

  17. 7

    Hello? 101 provides the basis for STATUTORY double patenting, viz. not being able to get IDENTICAL claims in two different patents. There is no basis in 101 for OTDP. That’s why it’s a judicially created doctrine. If you’re looking for an implicit adoption of OTDP in the statute, look at 35 USC 121: although that section doesn’t mention OTDP by name, it doesn’t make sense outside the context of OTDP.

    I would love to see OTDP overturned by SCOTUS but I don’t expect it to be. In the era of 20-years-from-earliest-filing, it’s largely irrelevant, except in cases where PTA comes into play, in which case not filing a terminal disclaimer can be extremely important (as is apparently the case here…or in some Hyatt patent applications). In such cases, which by definition are cases in which the PTO has dragged its feet, it should be sufficient for the applicant to aver that the later-issuing patent will only be enforceable as long as it is co-owned with the earlier-issuing patent (which is the second thing a terminal disclaimer must presently include), but without requiring a disclaimer of term. It is the latter disclaimer that causes loss of PTA under 35 USC 154.

    More pertinent would be for the PTO to get slammed over its insistence on making OTDP rejections between pending *applications* and not holding such rejections in abeyence until one of the cases is granted as a patent. This policy has no basis in statute or reason.

    1. 7.1

      Hello? 101 provides the basis for STATUTORY double patenting, viz. not being able to get IDENTICAL claims in two different patents.
      You raise a good point, but not the one you intended.

      35 USC 101 is not a condition for patentability whereas 35 USC 102, 103 are explicitly described as conditions for patentability. Properly construed, 35 USC 101 was not intended to be a condition for patentability.

      That being said, I agree that in the era of “20-years-from-earliest-filing” that the judicial basis for OTDP rejections is largely eliminated.

    2. 7.2

      More pertinent would be for the PTO to get slammed over its insistence on making OTDP rejections between pending *applications* and not holding such rejections in abeyence until one of the cases is granted as a patent. This policy has no basis in statute or reason.

      I too think that these should be done away with, but it’s wrong to say it has no basis in reason. The office makes every possible rejection upfront to compact prosecution, and it is reasonable to say that if the patent claims in some other filing do not change that a rejection is necessary here.

  18. 6

    Nothing in the Constitution says you can’t patent a non-obvious math textbook!

    Super deep stuff. Also there is literally nothing in Dobbs that is worth paying attention to except as justification for openly carrying firearms and protesting in front of the Justice’s houses and everywhere else they and their families go.

    1. 6.1

      as justification for openly carrying firearms and protesting in front of the Justice’s houses and everywhere else they and their families go

      Please please PLEASE follow through on your thoughts here.

  19. 5

    Steve Gass is a greedy knob and just another example of blight in the legal field and in patent law particularly.

    But, hey, let’s just blow it all up so a bunch of selfish narcissist bh0les can shovel a few more bucks into their pockets.

  20. 4

    Terminal disclaimers are often filed because (1) it doesn’t actually change the patent term and (2) the limitation of common ownership is not an important limitation.

    What is the rationale here for filing cert? Is there term at issue (I suppose because of PTE)? Or is it a matter of principle?

    1. 4.1

      It is Patent-Term-Adjustment. In this case, if the patentee is able to win on appeal then it will get years of PTA added to the end of the patent term (based upon the time that the appeal took).

  21. 3

    Using the same logic put forth in this case, laws of nature, natural phenomena and abstract ideas become patentable. None of the Patent Act’s ever listed these judicial exceptions to patentability, so they would fall in the same manner as the judicially created double patenting doctrine.

    1. 3.1

      Maybe. The Court has been very cagey about the basis for the so-called “judicial exceptions,” but there is a perfectly sound argument for grounding the “exceptions” in the §101 text.

      1. 3.1.1

        but there is a perfectly sound argument for grounding the “exceptions” in the §101 text.

        No.

        Not only is this not so, the Court itself has expressly rejected this path.

    2. 3.2

      Dvan, no – but for possibly different reasons.

      For laws of nature, one should contemplate that the map is not the land (think phlogiston and the eather).

      For (true) abstract ideas, ideas do not fall into the statutory categories.

      For natural phenomena, the existence of such is satisfied under a natural source providing anticipation.

      Meddling by the Court remains just that: meddling.

  22. 2

    “the court honed-in on Section 101’s use of the singular article ‘a’ in describing what is granted to an inventor: ‘a patent.'”

    Yet the CAFC is perfectly fine with letting patent challengers get away with alleging that a claim and/or claim set is directed to more than one abstract idea . . . despite SCOTUS’ repeated use of the singular “a” abstract idea in Alice.

    In the name of patent destruction — and issuance denial — hypocrisy reins.

  23. 1

    It also proves too much, since there are ways for a patentee to obtain multiple patents covering patentably indistinct inventions: (1) via terminal disclaimer; (2) via restriction. If the patentee files a terminal disclaimer then the patent office will allow multiple patents to issue. If the patentee files a divisional application (following a restriction) then the patent office will allow multiple patents to issue even without a terminal disclaimer.

    This is pedantic.

    A restriction is only proper for patentably distinct inventions which happen to reside within the same application text. Divisionals are always (theoretically, assuming they are properly made and properly followed up upon) drawn to different inventions, which is why the office does not require a terminal disclaimer for them. They do not support the statement that a patentee can receive multiple patents for the same invention.

    A terminal disclaimer only operates to solve obviousness type double patenting, not statutory double patenting, and even then a terminal disclaimer only places the patentee in the same position as if they had asserted the full breadth of their claim in the original prosecution. An applicant who has an patentable invention may have the invention spread out amongst two different patent *numbers,* but only has an a single property right in them as the two numbers must travel together. It is functionally the same to have patent 1 with claims 1-10 and patent 2 with claims 1′-10′ that are treated atomically as it is to rescind patent 1 and issue patent 2 with claims 1-10 and 1′-10′ but renumbered as 1-20.

    I suppose if one wanted to push the “numbers” issue the judiciary and the office would just shift the obviousness analysis from the double patenting question to the restriction question. The office could unquestionably require one to surrender their first patent in order to issue the second (to enforce “a” patent therefore in 101) and unquestionably has the authority to restrict out claims that cover distinct subject matter (35 USC 121), so the obviousness analysis could just take place at the restriction level rather than the merits level.

    1. 1.1

      I agree on both points. Worse, if anyone should be complaining re numbers, it’s defendants, not patentees. Obviousness type double patenting is a huge boon to patentees everywhere.

      (Side note: another way of interpreting “a patent” is to declare all continuations invalid. Be careful around hornet nests…)

    2. 1.2

      Here’s a procedural rub that irks me. But feelings aside, the name of the game is the one who knows the rules best, wins….

      To stay under the claim count, I file my original application with 3 INDs, 20 total claims. All directed to a compound. This application grants. Before grant, I file a CON to the method of using the compound. (Assume perfect and absolute support in the spec for all method of use claims.) Prosecution on these claims is protracted. OTDP rejections are given. I overcome them with a terminal disclaimer. Let’s assume that on this method of using patent, I would be given 3+ years of PTA. However, because of the TD, I don’t get the PTA (and note the PTA is because of the USPTO’s delay, not applicant’s). In other words, applicant does everything according to the rules but can get back the patent term caused by the USPTO’s delay.

      Similar scenario to the above, but with one major difference. In the original application that I file, claim 21 is now an IND method of using claim. I paid the extra claim fee. I get a restriction requirement: claims 1-20 or 21. I elect 1-20 get my patent. File CON on claim 21. No OTDP rejection. No terminal disclaimer. Same PTA is given (3+years). The method of using the compound has a term that is 3+ years longer than the compound because of the delay by the USPTO. And it only cost me an extra $580 ($100 for >20 claims, $480 for >3 IND).

      In practice, I never limit my first application to any claim amount for this very reason. I also have gone as far as suggesting restriction and species requirements to the Examiner so that I am guaranteed to avoid a TD (and the Gilead decision).

      To me, this is form over substance at its best.

      1. 1.2.2

        I agree that we have a real potential issue here. The only saving grace is that most filers are not wanting to invest the $$$ up-front because the initial application filing is typically too early in the product lifecycle. Folks with big potential end-of-life value (but who want to pay a bit less up front) may want to follow the Provisional –> PCT –> Non-Provisional pathway.

        1. 1.2.2.1

          Not filing your first application with all claims (and thus relying on the spec to pull later-filed claims in a CON) is a penny wise, pound foolish strategy.

          1. 1.2.2.1.1

            Again – thanks — but mileage may vary (by art), and Almost none of my clients prefer your path — and they are the ones that get to decide.

            Omnibus path also carries other transactional costs, by the by

      2. 1.2.3

        [T]he name of the game is the one who knows the rules best, wins…, [but] this is form over substance at its best.

        Yes, this is the exaltation of form over substance, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. As you note, the one who knows the rules best wins. The order of presentation of claims is a potential trap for the unwary. Good public policy favors keeping such traps as part of the law. Occasionally, a drug patent is prosecuted by an applicant and attorney who do not know the rules well, and the result is that the drug goes generic 8 months (or 1 year, or three years, etc) before it might otherwise have, to the benefit of consumers.

        In other words, these traps increase the consumer surplus that emerges from the patent system. Meanwhile, the patentee who has fallen for the trap gets no less than s/he was promised upfront (20 years from the earliest non-provisional filing date) and has no one to blame but himself or herself that s/he did not get more. Everyone wins, in other words.

        1. 1.2.3.2

          >Everyone wins, in other words.

          Other than the attorney’s malpractice insurer…

          1. 1.2.3.2.1

            Re: “Other than the attorney’s malpractice insurer…”
            Good observation. Judicial or obviousness-type double-patenting has a number of confusing issues in different fact situations that are not even all that clearly treated in some Fed. Cir. decisions, much less clear to all practitioners, but may well be used for an invalidity attack if the patent is enforced.

      3. 1.2.4

        But that assumes that you are Prometheus and can predict the future with reasonable certainty. Otherwise you may be costing your clients extra fees that they would never had to pay otherwise (say when the first application is going nowhere with the PTO). But I do like the strategy.

        1. 1.2.4.2

          Exactly, which is why OC’s malpractice concerns in 1.2.3.2 is speculative and unlikely.

          1. 1.2.4.2.1

            IDK. The malpractice suit is presumably filed when the damage occurs i.e., upon the unnecessarily-early expiration of the patent. At that point, you know exactly how long prosecution took, what the licensing terms and payment history were, what the annual sales were, etc.

            Presumably, the firm will claim it was all part of some ‘prosecution strategy to … yada yada,” but that’s clearly “avoiding the hypo” here.

        2. 1.2.4.3

          I am an optimist. I plan for success.

          I tell my clients it is good investment up front. If you don’t invest the money up front, you are precluded from (i.e. have zero chance) staggering your patent exclusivity term. The result reminds me of clients who ask me: “Can you extend the life of X patent? The product is selling so well and we really would like a few more years of exclusivity…”

          Nope. Sorry. You didn’t invest the money on the extra claims up front, so even if I got a new patent via the CON route, it will expire on the same date as the earliest-filed application (b/c of the TD). So it’s not worth even filing the CON.

          Filing the omnibus claim set and paying more money up front on the first application filed, I have the slight chance that the DIV application gets a smidgeon of PTA and has a bit longer term. In my pharmaceutical world, every day of exclusivity on the back end of patent term is money. So even if it costs me an extra $10,000 (I’m exaggerating) in claim fees, and I get one extra day of term (b/c of PTA), the company makes money. For Example, Abbvie’s Humira sold ~$4B in 2022. That’s ~$11M a day. If $10K nets $11M, that’s a good investment. AND, it leaves a lot of room for all those patents for which I paid extra claim fees where the drug product never made it to market.

          1. 1.2.4.3.1

            For Example, Abbvie’s Humira sold ~$4B in 2022. That’s ~$11M a day. If $10K nets $11M, that’s a good investment. AND, it leaves a lot of room for all those patents for which I paid extra claim fees where the drug product never made it to market.

            +1

      4. 1.2.5

        Before grant, I file a CON to the method of using the compound.

        You should be filing a DIV, because a product and a method of its use are different inventions (mpep 806.05, which is why Claim 21 was restrictable in the other hypothetical) and the argument against the obviousness type double patenting is that the claims would have been restricted if put together.

        But yes, I agree that procedurally you should just pay for Claim 21 as it would solve the issue up front. It’s not that you can’t reach the same place, it’s that the extra expenditure ensures the proper result as there is a direct statement in the MPEP that you shouldn’t make a double patenting rejection to previously-restricted claims.

        1. 1.2.5.1

          Random – thanks for pointing out my nomenclature error. Yes, it should be called a DIV.

          In fact, you can “play a trick” when filing CONs/DIVS. You can actually designate every CON as a DIV!! MPEP 201.06 defines what a DIV is. “2.01 A later application for a distinct or independent invention, carved out of a pending application and disclosing and claiming only subject matter disclosed in the earlier or parent application, is known as a divisional application or “division.” ”

          By this definition, every CON must be a DIV.

          So every CON I file, I designate it as a DIV. I have yet to argue in prosecution to overcome an ODTP rejection that even though I didn’t get a restriction requirement, this CON is actually a DIV by definition and ODTP rejections should apply. But at least I have this arrow in my quiver.

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