[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 27
(Thursday, February 9, 2012)][Proposed Rules][Pages 6868-6879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2012-2523][[Page 6867]] Vol. 77 Thursday, No. 27 February 9, 2012 Part II
Department of Commerce Patent and Trademark Office
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37 CFR Parts 42 and 90
Practice Guide for Proposed Trial Rules and Rules of Practice for Trials Before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and Judicial Review of Patent Trial and Appeal Board Decisions; Proposed Rules
To see the complete text of this comment request, access
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-02-09/pdf/2012-2523.pdf#page=1
SUMMARY: The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act establishes several new trial proceedings to be conducted by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (Board) including inter partes review, post-grant review, the transitional program for covered business method patents, and derivation proceedings. The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act also requires the United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office or USPTO) to promulgate rules specific to each proceeding. In separate rulemakings elsewhere in this issue and in the February 10, 2012, issue of the Federal Register, the Office proposes rules relating to Board trial practice for the new proceedings. The Office publishes in this document a practice guide for the proposed trial rules to advise the public on the general framework of the proposed regulations, including the structure and times for taking action in each of the new
proceedings.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 9, 2012 to ensure consideration.