United States: Federal Circuit PTAB Appeal Statistics – March 1, 2017

Through March 1, 2017, the Federal Circuit decided 172 PTAB appeals from IPRs and CBMs.  The Federal Circuit affirmed the PTAB on every issue in 132 (76.74%) cases, and reversed or vacated the PTAB on every issue in 15 (8.72%) cases.  A mixed outcome on appeal, where at least one issue was affirmed and at least one issue was vacated or reversed, occurred in 16 (9.30%) cases.

The court dismissed 9 (5.23%) cases without rendering a decision on the merits.  Dismissals may occur, for example, where the Federal Circuit determines that it does not have jurisdiction to hear a case, such as in an appeal from a PTAB institution decision.  As the Supreme Court established in Cuozzo Speed Techs., LLC v. Lee, the Federal Circuit is barred from considering appeals from at least certain aspects of institution decisions under 35 U.S.C. § 314(d).  Dismissals may also result from settlements among the parties to the appeal, or where the court determines that a prior decision renders a case moot.

An important tool that helps the Federal Circuit manage its significant docket of PTAB appeals is the Rule 36 affirmance, whereby the court affirms the PTAB without rendering a full, written opinion.  Of the 172 PTAB appeals it has considered thus far, the Federal Circuit has issued Rule 36 affirmances in 90 (52.33%) cases.  The court issued written opinions, including affirmances, reversals, dismissals, and mixed decisions, in 82 (47.67%) cases.

Breaking down the numbers further, in its appeals from IPRs, the Federal Circuit affirmed the PTAB on every issue in 121 (78.57%) cases, reversed or vacated the PTAB on every issue in 13 (8.44%) cases, issued a mixed outcome in 14 (9.09%) cases, and dismissed 6 (3.90%) cases.

In CBM appeals, the Federal Circuit affirmed the PTAB on every issue in 11 (61.11%) cases, issued a mixed outcome in 2 (11.11%) cases, dismissed 3 (16.67%) cases, and reversed or vacated the PTAB on every issue in 2 (11.11%) cases.

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