What court cases have addressed intervening rights in reexamination?

Several important court cases have addressed intervening rights in the context of reexamination. The MPEP 2693 cites the following cases:

• Fortel Corp. v. Phone-Mate, Inc., 825 F.2d 1577, 3 USPQ2d 1771 (Fed. Cir. 1987)
• Kaufman Co., Inc. v. Lantech, Inc., 807 F.2d 970, 1 USPQ2d 1202 (Fed. Cir. 1986)
• Tennant Co. v. Hako Minuteman, Inc., 4 USPQ2d 1167 (N.D. Ill. 1987)
• Key Mfg. Group, Inc. v. Microdot, Inc., 679 F.Supp. 648, 4 USPQ2d 1687 (E.D. Mich. 1987)

These cases have helped establish and clarify the principles of intervening rights as they apply to reexamination proceedings, including inter partes reexamination.

To learn more:

• intervening rights
• reexamination
• court cases
• patent law precedents