MPEP § 311 — Filing of Notice of Arbitration Awards (Annotated Rules)

§311 Filing of Notice of Arbitration Awards

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2025-12-31

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 311, including statutory authority, regulatory rules, examiner guidance, and practice notes. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Filing of Notice of Arbitration Awards

This section addresses Filing of Notice of Arbitration Awards. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.335.

Key Rules

Topic

PTAB Jurisdiction

8 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-311-ca2e938f98b830dd47e73f7a]
Patentee Must Notify Director of Arbitration Award
Note:
The patentee, assignee, or licensee must notify the Director in writing when an arbitration award is made, including details about the parties and the patent involved.

(d) When an award is made by an arbitrator, the patentee, his assignee or licensee shall give notice thereof in writing to the Director. There shall be a separate notice prepared for each patent involved in such proceeding. Such notice shall set forth the names and addresses of the parties, the name of the inventor, and the name of the patent owner, shall designate the number of the patent, and shall contain a copy of the award. If an award is modified by a court, the party requesting such modification shall give notice of such modification to the Director. The Director shall, upon receipt of either notice, enter the same in the record of the prosecution of such patent. If the required notice is not filed with the Director, any party to the proceeding may provide such notice to the Director.

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case Procedures
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-311-0b5adcd320e5dd00d2db4974]
Separate Notice Required for Each Patent Award
Note:
A separate notice must be prepared for each patent involved in arbitration, containing specific details and a copy of the award. If an award is modified by court, the party requesting modification must notify the Director.

(d) When an award is made by an arbitrator, the patentee, his assignee or licensee shall give notice thereof in writing to the Director. There shall be a separate notice prepared for each patent involved in such proceeding. Such notice shall set forth the names and addresses of the parties, the name of the inventor, and the name of the patent owner, shall designate the number of the patent, and shall contain a copy of the award. If an award is modified by a court, the party requesting such modification shall give notice of such modification to the Director. The Director shall, upon receipt of either notice, enter the same in the record of the prosecution of such patent. If the required notice is not filed with the Director, any party to the proceeding may provide such notice to the Director.

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case Procedures
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-311-7c4048f3d792ab76061172b1]
Director Must Record Arbitration Notice
Note:
The Director is required to record any notice of arbitration award or court modification in the patent prosecution records.

(d) When an award is made by an arbitrator, the patentee, his assignee or licensee shall give notice thereof in writing to the Director. There shall be a separate notice prepared for each patent involved in such proceeding. Such notice shall set forth the names and addresses of the parties, the name of the inventor, and the name of the patent owner, shall designate the number of the patent, and shall contain a copy of the award. If an award is modified by a court, the party requesting such modification shall give notice of such modification to the Director. The Director shall, upon receipt of either notice, enter the same in the record of the prosecution of such patent. If the required notice is not filed with the Director, any party to the proceeding may provide such notice to the Director.

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case Procedures
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-311-08b03bb9ec13bbffcecc751c]
Notice Requirement for Modified Arbitration Awards
Note:
Parties must file a notice with the Patent and Trademark Office when an arbitration award is modified by a court, including details about the patents involved.

(b) If an award by an arbitrator pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 294 is modified by a court, the party requesting the modification must file in the Patent and Trademark Office, a notice of the modification for placement in the file of each patent to which the modification applies. The notice must set forth the patent number, the names of the inventor and patent owner, and the names and addresses of the parties to the arbitration. The notice must also include a copy of the court’s order modifying the award.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.335PTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case Procedures
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-311-16d301df8dc0cc84c923e520]
Patent Notice Must Include Specific Information
Note:
The notice must include the patent number, inventor and owner names, and arbitration parties' details when modifying an award.

(b) If an award by an arbitrator pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 294 is modified by a court, the party requesting the modification must file in the Patent and Trademark Office, a notice of the modification for placement in the file of each patent to which the modification applies. The notice must set forth the patent number, the names of the inventor and patent owner, and the names and addresses of the parties to the arbitration. The notice must also include a copy of the court’s order modifying the award.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.335PTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case Procedures
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-311-36b8cf68c0272698140e83b4]
Copy of Court’s Order Modifying Award Must Be Filed
Note:
The party requesting a modification must file a notice with the Patent and Trademark Office, including a copy of the court’s order modifying the arbitration award.

(b) If an award by an arbitrator pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 294 is modified by a court, the party requesting the modification must file in the Patent and Trademark Office, a notice of the modification for placement in the file of each patent to which the modification applies. The notice must set forth the patent number, the names of the inventor and patent owner, and the names and addresses of the parties to the arbitration. The notice must also include a copy of the court’s order modifying the award.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.335PTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case Procedures
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-311-0415d3f1e4880e8c6193a5ce]
Arbitration Award Unenforceable Until Notices Filed
Note:
An arbitrator's award under 35 U.S.C. 294 is unenforceable until required notices are filed with the Patent and Trademark Office.

(c) Any award by an arbitrator pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 294 shall be unenforceable until any notices required by paragraph (a) or (b) of this section are filed in the Patent and Trademark Office. If any required notice is not filed by the party designated in paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, any party to the arbitration proceeding may file such a notice.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.335PTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case Procedures
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-311-782f5da60971ec4b7da95fc5]
Party May File Required Notice If Not Filed By Designated Party
Note:
If the designated party fails to file a required notice, any other party in the arbitration proceeding can file it on their behalf.

(c) Any award by an arbitrator pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 294 shall be unenforceable until any notices required by paragraph (a) or (b) of this section are filed in the Patent and Trademark Office. If any required notice is not filed by the party designated in paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, any party to the arbitration proceeding may file such a notice.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.335PTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case Procedures
Topic

Estoppel After Judgment

3 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-311-a7799461f462590cc334b782]
Arbitration of Disputes Governed by Title 9
Note:
Disputes, awards, and confirmation of awards in arbitration must follow title 9 unless inconsistent with this section.

(b) Arbitration of such disputes, awards by arbitrators, and confirmation of awards shall be governed by title 9, to the extent such title is not inconsistent with this section. In any such arbitration proceeding, the defenses provided for under section 282 shall be considered by the arbitrator if raised by any party to the proceeding.

Jump to MPEP SourceEstoppel After JudgmentPTAB Contested Case Procedures
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-311-494254c5641bff95d79e5c19]
Defenses Must Be Considered If Raised in Arbitration
Note:
Arbitrators must consider defenses under section 282 if raised by any party during arbitration proceedings.

(b) Arbitration of such disputes, awards by arbitrators, and confirmation of awards shall be governed by title 9, to the extent such title is not inconsistent with this section. In any such arbitration proceeding, the defenses provided for under section 282 shall be considered by the arbitrator if raised by any party to the proceeding.

Jump to MPEP SourceEstoppel After JudgmentPTAB Contested Case Procedures
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-311-f82580558439338560d44ccc]
Modification of Arbitration Award Upon Invalid Patent
Note:
Parties may modify an arbitration award if a patent is found invalid, subject to court approval.

(c) An award by an arbitrator shall be final and binding between the parties to the arbitration but shall have no force or effect on any other person. The parties to an arbitration may agree that in the event a patent which is the subject matter of an award is subsequently determined to be invalid or unenforceable in a judgment rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction from which no appeal can or has been taken, such award may be modified by any court of competent jurisdiction upon application by any party to the arbitration. Any such modification shall govern the rights and obligations between such parties from the date of such modification.

Jump to MPEP SourceEstoppel After JudgmentPTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case Procedures
Topic

PTAB Contested Case Procedures

1 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-311-f7967d078f483d7c24a70fa7]
Alternative Notice Submission for Arbitration Awards
Note:
If the required notice is not filed with the Director, any party may submit such notice directly to the Director.

(d) When an award is made by an arbitrator, the patentee, his assignee or licensee shall give notice thereof in writing to the Director. There shall be a separate notice prepared for each patent involved in such proceeding. Such notice shall set forth the names and addresses of the parties, the name of the inventor, and the name of the patent owner, shall designate the number of the patent, and shall contain a copy of the award. If an award is modified by a court, the party requesting such modification shall give notice of such modification to the Director. The Director shall, upon receipt of either notice, enter the same in the record of the prosecution of such patent. If the required notice is not filed with the Director, any party to the proceeding may provide such notice to the Director.

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB Contested Case ProceduresPTAB Jurisdiction

Citations

Primary topicCitation
PTAB Jurisdiction35 U.S.C. § 294

Source Text from USPTO’s MPEP

This is an exact copy of the MPEP from the USPTO. It is here for your reference to see the section in context.

BlueIron Last Updated: 2025-12-31