diamond1, parker, gottschalk, ultramercial

REVERSED
1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
1617 Ex Parte Ho 10/599,779 FREDMAN Concurring PRATS 103 CONNOLLY BOVE LODGE & HUTZ LLP YU, GINA C

2400 Networking, Mulitplexing, Cable, and Security
2467 Ex Parte Ahmed 10/126,699 WHITEHEAD, JR. 101/102/103 HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C. SCHEIBEL, ROBERT C

“Although abstract principles are not eligible for patent protection, an application of an abstract idea may well be deserving of patent protection. See Diamond v. Diehr, 450 U.S. 175, 187, 101 S.Ct. 1048 (1981) (“an application of a law of nature or mathematical formula to a known structure or process may well be deserving of patent protection”); Parker v. Flook, 437 U.S. 584, 591, 98 S.Ct. 2522, 57 L.Ed.2d 451 (1978) (“While a scientific truth, or the mathematical expression of it, is not a patentable invention, a novel and useful structure created with the aid of knowledge of scientific truth may be.”). The application of an abstract idea to a “new and useful end” is the type of invention that the Supreme Court has described as deserving of patent protection. Gottschalk v. Benson, 409 U.S. 63, 67, 93 S.Ct. 253, 34 L.Ed.2d 273 (1972). After all, unlike the Copyright Act which divides idea from expression, the Patent Act covers and protects any new and useful technical advance, including applied ideas.” Ultramercial v. Hulu, 657 F.3d 1323, 1327 (Fed. Cir. 2011).


Diamond v. Diehr, 450 U.S. 175, 209 USPQ 1 (1981) . . 2106, 2106.01, 2106.02, 2107.01

Parker v. Flook, 437 U.S. 584, 198 USPQ 193 (1978). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2106

Gottschalk v. Benson, 409 U.S. 63, 175 USPQ 673 (1972). . . . .2106, 2106.01, 2106.02

3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3721 Ex Parte Jung et al 11/518,540 KAUFFMAN 103 THE INVENTION SCIENCE FUND CLARENCE T. TEGREENE PARADISO, JOHN ROGER

3761 Ex Parte Nakahata et al 10/736,282 BONILLA 112(1)/103 THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY HAND, MELANIE JO

3761 Ex Parte Thorson et al 11/373,029 PRATS 103 KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC. KIDWELL, MICHELE M

3774 Ex Parte Foley 11/451,836 McCARTHY 103 Medtronic, Inc (Spinal/Krieg DeVault) SWEET, THOMAS

AFFIRMED-IN-PART
3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3629 Ex Parte Zou et al 10/379,733 FETTING 103 obviousness-type double patenting ACS (Affiliated Computer Services)/Finnegan OUELLETTE, JONATHAN P

AFFIRMED
1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1726 Ex Parte Herman 10/995,616 HASTINGS 102/103 OSTROLENK FABER LLP WALKER, KEITH D

1735 Ex Parte Barnes et al 11/426,937 HASTINGS 102/103 Bracewell & Giuliani LLP SAAD, ERIN BARRY

2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2881 Ex Parte Flanagan et al 10/940,199 COURTENAY 102/103 Agilent Technologies, Inc. in care of: CPA Global JOHNSTON, PHILLIP A

3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3685 Ex Parte Stefik et al 11/216,275 FETTING 103 Reed Smith LLP HEWITT II, CALVIN L
 
REHEARING
 
DENIED 
2600 Communications
2628 Ex Parte Campbell et al  11/507,979 COURTENAY 103 PATE BAIRD, PLLC MARTELLO, EDWARD

diamond1, comiskey, bilski, rice, gutta, exxon research, miller,

REVERSED

1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
07/19/2011 1627 Ex Parte Lee et al 11/724,095 WALSH 103(a) Kevin D. Erickson Pauley Petersen & Erickson EXAMINER SOROUSH, LAYLA

3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
07/20/2011 3623 Ex Parte TEMPLETON 09/416,278 PETRAVICK 112(2)/102(e)/103(a) 37 C.F.R. 41.50(b) 101 PETERS VERNY , L.L.P. EXAMINER BOSWELL, BETH V

See Diamond v. Diehr, 450 U.S. 175, 188 (S. Ct. 1981); In re Comiskey, 554 F.3d 967, 973 (Fed. Cir. 2009) (declining to reach an obviousness rejection on appeal after concluding many claims were non-statutory under § 101); In re Bilski, 545 F.3d 943, 951 n.1 (noting that § 101 is a threshold requirement and that the Examiner may reject claims solely on that basis); In re Rice, 132 F.2d 140, 141 (CCPA 1942) (finding it unnecessary to reach rejection based on prior art after concluding claims were directed to nonstatutory subject matter); Ex Parte Gutta, 93 USPQ2d 1025, 1036 (BPAI 2009) (per curiam) (expanded panel) (precedential) (as the claims on appeal do not recite patent-eligible subject matter under § 101, the prior art rejections need not be considered).

Diamond v. Diehr, 450 U.S. 175, 209 USPQ 1 (1981) . . 2106, 2106.01, 2106.02, 2107.01

07/19/2011 3624 Ex Parte Troyer et al 10/652,139 CRAWFORD 102(b)/103(a) PPG INDUSTRIES, INC. EXAMINER MANSFIELD, THOMAS L

3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products &1amp; Design
07/19/2011 3764 Ex Parte Carvalho et al 10/040,575 CALVE 103(a) PHILIP S. JOHNSON JOHNSON & JOHNSON EXAMINER ANDERSON, CATHARINE L
AFFIRMED-IN-PART

2100 Computer Architecture and Software
07/19/2011 2172 Ex Parte Beltran et al 10/781,307 DANG 103(a) GATES & COOPER LLP EXAMINER ABDUL-ALI, OMAR R

07/19/2011 2174 Ex Parte Law et al 10/830,926 DANG 103(a) MAYER & WILLIAMS PC EXAMINER KE, PENG

3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
07/20/2011 3652 Ex Parte Gifford et al 10/908,594 COCKS 112(2)/102(e)/103(a) LAW OFFICE OF DELIO & PETERSON, LLC. EXAMINER RUDAWITZ, JOSHUA I

A claim is not indefinite under 35 U.S.C. § 112, second paragraph, if a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand what is claimed when the claim is read in light of the specification. Exxon Research & Eng'g Co. v. United States, 265 F.3d 1371, 1375 (Fed.Cir. 2001). Breadth in scope does not equal indefiniteness. In re Miller, 441 F.2d 689, 693 (CCPA 1971).

Miller, In re, 441 F.2d 689, 169 USPQ 597 (CCPA 1971) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2173.04

AFFIRMED

1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
07/20/2011 1643 Ex Parte King et al 10/731,759 MILLS 103(a) COZEN O'CONNOR, P.C. EXAMINER SANG, HONG

1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
07/20/2011 1782 Ex Parte Schryver 10/778,366 FRANKLIN 103(a) MCKELLAR IP LAW, PLLC EXAMINER AUGHENBAUGH, WALTER

2100 Computer Architecture and Software
07/20/2011 2168 Ex Parte Needham et al 10/880,301 CHEN 102(e) HICKMAN PALERMO TRUONG & BECKER/ORACLE EXAMINER GORTAYO, DANGELINO N

2600 Communications
07/19/2011 2624 Ex Parte Baker et al 10/744,879 CRAWFORD 102(b)/103(a) PITNEY BOWES INC. EXAMINER TUCKER, WESLEY J

Phillips, gulack, diamond1, ngai, lowry, cruciferous, MEHL

REVERSED

1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
1612 Ex Parte Pacetti et al 11/487,059 GRIMES 103(a) SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY (US) LLP EXAMINER GULLEDGE, BRIAN M
1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1715 Ex Parte Leistra et al 10/698,659 KRATZ 103(a) BACHMAN & LAPOINTE, P.C. EXAMINER LIGHTFOOT, ELENA TSOY
2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2166 Ex Parte Gernold 10/784,196 MacDONALD 103(a) FISH & RICHARDSON, P.C. EXAMINER HARPER, ELIYAH STONE
2400 Networking, Mulitplexing, Cable, and Security
2441 Ex Parte Keohane et al 10/406,651 MacDONALD 103(a) DILLON & YUDELL LLP EXAMINER BATURAY, ALICIA

While a general-usage dictionary can be helpful in understanding claim language, a general dictionary “cannot overcome art-specific evidence of the meaning of a claim term.” Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1318, 1322 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (citations and internal quotations omitted).

Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 75 USPQ2d 1321 (Fed. Cir. 2005) . 2111, 2111.01, 2143.01, 2258

2471 Ex Parte Barron 10/401,236 SAADAT 102(b)/103(a) HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY EXAMINER HYUN, SOON D
2600 Communications
2617 Ex Parte Cheung et al 10/893,216 SAADAT 103(a) WALL & TONG, LLP/ALCATEL-LUCENT USA INC. EXAMINER PATEL, NIMESH

AFFIRMED-IN-PART

1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1745 Ex Parte Gass 10/944,535 TIMM 112(1)/103(a) REINHART BOERNER VAN DEUREN S.C. EXAMINER MCCLELLAND, KIMBERLY KEIL
2600 Communications
2624 Ex Parte Barbour 11/045,703 SAADAT 102(b)/103(a) PEARNE & GORDON LLP EXAMINER WOLDEMARIAM, AKILILU K

2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2823 Ex Parte Booth et al 11/250,043 KOHUT 103(a) IBM CORPORATION EXAMINER KIM, SU C

3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3748 Ex Parte Bruck 10/912,302 GRIMES 103(a) LERNER GREENBERG STEMER LLP EXAMINER NGUYEN, TU MINH

AFFIRMED

1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1724 Ex Parte Hamamjy et al 11/114,261 OWENS 103(a) TROP, PRUNER & HU, P.C. EXAMINER BRAYTON, JOHN JOSEPH

1767 Ex Parte Haider et al 11/315,667 GRIMES 103(a) BAYER MATERIAL SCIENCE LLC EXAMINER RIOJA, MELISSA A
2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2156 Ex Parte Barghouthi 11/186,600 JEFFERY 103(a) IBM CORPORATION EXAMINER ROSTAMI, MOHAMMAD S

2175 Ex Parte Balinsky et al 11/190,436 DANG 102(b)/103(a) HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY EXAMINER ORR, HENRY W

2186 Ex Parte Xu et al 11/224,418 JEFFERY 102(b)/103(a) MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP (MICROSOFT) EXAMINER CHRZANOWSKI, MATTHEW R
2600 Communications
2626 Ex Parte Cross et al 11/154,897 MANTIS MERCADER 102(e) WOLF GREENFIELD & SACKS, P.C. EXAMINER SERROU, ABDELALI

The subject matter presented in claim 1 on appeal relates to features that differ from the prior art solely on the basis of “non-functional descriptive material,” which is generally not given patentable weight when determining patentability of an invention over the prior art. In re Gulack, 703 F.2d 1381, 1385 (Fed. Cir. 1983). The PTO may not disregard claim limitations comprised of printed matter. See id. at 1384; see also Diamond v. Diehr, 450 U.S. 175, 191 (1981). However, the Examiner need not give patentable weight to descriptive material absent a new and unobvious functional relationship between the descriptive material and the substrate. See In re Ngai, 367 F.3d 1336, 1338 (Fed. Cir. 2004); In re Lowry, 32 F.3d 1579, 1583-84 (Fed Cir. 1994).

Gulack, In re, 703 F.2d 1381, 217 USPQ 401 (Fed. Cir. 1983) . . . . . . . . . . .2106.01, 2112.01

Diamond v. Diehr, 450 U.S. 175, 209 USPQ 1 (1981) . . 2106, 2106.01, 2106.02, 2107.01

Ngai, In re, 367 F.3d 1336, 70 USPQ2d 1862 (Fed. Cir. 2004) . . . . . . . . . . 2106.01, 2112.01Lowry, In re, 32 F.3d 1579, 32 USPQ2d 1031 (Fed. Cir. 1994) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2106.01
2629 Ex Parte Goodwin et al 11/122,610 RUGGIERO 103(a) IBM CORPORATION (RVW) EXAMINER CHOW, YUK

2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2816 Ex Parte Viswanathan 11/400,850 NAPPI 102(b)/103(a) TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED EXAMINER NGUYEN, HAI L

REHEARING

GRANTED-IN-PART

3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3724 Ex Parte Gass 10/984,643 PATE III 103(a) SD3, LLC EXAMINER ALIE, GHASSEM

In order for the Examiner to show that a claim limitation is inherent in the prior art, the Examiner must establish that the prior art necessarily functions in accordance with or includes the claim limitation. See In re Cruciferous Sprout Litig., 301 F.3d 1343, 1349 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (emphasis added). “Under the principles of inherency, if the prior art necessarily functions in accordance with, or includes, the claimed limitations, it anticipates.” Id. (quoting MEHL/Biophile Int’l Corp. v. Milgraum, 192 F.3d 1362, 1365 (Fed. Cir. 1999)).

Cruciferous Sprout Litig., In re, 301 F.3d 1343, 64 USPQ2d 1202 (Fed. Cir. 2002) . . 2111.02

cochrane, diamond1, gottschalk,

REVERSED 

1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering 

Ex Parte Imachi et al 11091368 COLAIANNI 102(b)/103(a) KUBOVCIK & KUBOVCIK EXAMINER RHEE, JANE J

2100 Computer Architecture and Software

Ex Parte Clinton 10179624 BARRETT 112(2)/103(a) LEYDIG VOIT & MAYER, LTD EXAMINER MITCHELL, JASON D 

Ex Parte Nightingale et al 10142148 DANG 112(1)/102(b)/103(a) NIXON & VANDERHYE, PC EXAMINER PATEL, SHAMBHAVI K 

Ex Parte Sattler et al 11026052 DIXON 101/103(a) KENYON & KENYON LLP EXAMINER CHOI, MICHELE C 

“A process is . . . an act, or a series of acts, performed upon the subject-matter to be transformed and reduced to a different state or thing.” Cochrane v. Deener, 94 U.S. 780, 788 (1877). “‘Transformation and reduction of an article ‘to a different state or thing’ is the clue to the patentability of a process claim that does not include particular machines.’” Diamond v. Diehr, 450 U.S. 175, 184 (1981) (quoting Gottschalk v. Benson, 409 U.S. 63, 70 (1972)). 

Diamond v. Diehr, 450 U.S. 175, 209 USPQ 1 (1981) . . 2106, 2106.01, 2106.02, 2107.01 

Gottschalk v. Benson, 409 U.S. 63, 175 USPQ 673 (1972). . . . .2106, 2106.01, 2106.02 

2400 Networking, Mulitplexing, Cable, and Security 

Ex Parte Hellerstein et al 09731937 BLANKENSHIP 103(a) Mason & Lewis, LLP EXAMINER NGUYEN, THANH T 

AFFIRMED-IN-PART 

2100 Computer Architecture and Software 

Ex Parte McMullin 10607127 DANG 103(a) HESLIN ROTHENBERG FARLEY & MESITI P.C. EXAMINER CAMPBELL, JOSHUA D