What is the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)?

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) is the current name for the judicial body within the USPTO that handles patent appeals. According to MPEP 1201:

“Throughout this chapter, ‘Board’ is used to refer the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and its predecessor organizations, the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences and the separate Board of Appeals and Board of Interferences.”

The PTAB is responsible for hearing and deciding on appeals related to patent examination decisions, particularly those concerning the denial of patent claims due to prior art or other patentability issues.

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Tags: ex parte appeals, patent trial and appeal board, Ptab, uspto appeals