noll, bernhart

custom search

REVERSED
Tech Center 1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
1643 Ex Parte Heywood et al 13637211 - (D) GRIMES 103 MCDONNELL BOEHNEN HULBERT & BERGHOFF LLP ROARK, JESSICA HOPE

Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1797 Ex Parte Giovanoli et al 14113937 - (D) McGEE 103 ROTHWELL, FIGG, ERNST & MANBECK, P.C. HYUN, PAUL SANG HWA

see also In re Noll, 545 F.2d 141, 148 (CCPA 1976) (holding that a "programmed machine is structurally different from a machine without that program."); see also In re Bernhart, 417 F.2d 1395, 1399-1400 (CCPA 1969) ("[I]f a machine is programmed in a certain new and unobvious way, it is physically different from the machine without that program; its memory elements are differently arranged. The fact that these physical changes are invisible to the eye should not tempt us to conclude that the machine has not been changed.").

Noll, In re, 545 F.2d 141, 191 USPQ 721 (CCPA 1976) 2163 , 2181 , 2184

Bernhart, In re, 417 F.2d 1395, 163 USPQ 611 (CCPA 1969) 2173.05(j)

Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2117 Ex Parte Zhang 14054999 - (D) NAPPI 103 MCHALE & SLAVIN, P.A. VON BUHR, MARIAN

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2812 Ex Parte Suematsu et al 14458507 - (D) Per Curiam 101 THE WEBB LAW FIRM, P.C. SEVEN, EVREN

2838 Ex Parte KATO 13727215 - (D) GAUDETTE 103 Studebaker & Brackett PC MATA, SARA M

2853 Ex Parte Beech et al 15213980 - (D) CASHION 103 HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON, P.C. TRAN, HUAN HUU

2868 Ex Parte Ausserlechner 14453144 - (D) McMANUS 101 Eschweiler & Potashnik, LLC. ALLGOOD, ALESA M

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3688 Ex Parte Mason 11371267 - (D) HUME 101/103 Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP Adobe Systems, Inc. 58083 RETTA, YEHDEGA

3681 Ex Parte Gillin 12831486 - (D) SHIANG 101 SCHWEGMAN LUNDBERG & WOESSNER, P.A. LI, SUN M

AFFIRMED-IN-PART
Tech Center 2600 Communications
2627 Ex Parte Curtis 13831517 - (D) BAIN 103 103 41.50 112(2) Slayden Grubert Beard PLLC GUPTA, PARUL H

AFFIRMED
Tech Center 1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
1619 Ex Parte Murty et al 14454145 - (D) VALEK 103 KING & SCHICKLI, PLLC ALAWADI, SARAH

1623 Ex Parte Frohberg et al 13585675 - (D) FREDMAN 103 41.50 103 ARENT FOX LLP MAIER, LEIGH C

1631 Ex Parte Lin 12992363 - (D) LEBOVITZ 103 101/103 41.50 103 Greenberg Taurig LLP RIGGS IL LARRY D

1637 Ex Parte Hendrickson 13488997 - (D) PRATS 103 New England Biolabs, Inc. OYEYEMI, OLAYINKAA

1642 Ex Parte OBRIEN et al 14107751 - (D) LEBOVITZ 103 MCTAVISH PATENT FIRM REDDIG, PETER J

1648 Ex Parte Elhay et al 14117516 - (D) COTTA 103 Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (WA) BLUMEL, BENJAMIN P

1653 Ex Parte Kravitz et al 13545473 - (D) COTTA 103 OLIFF PLC LANDAU, SHARMILA GOLLAMUDI

Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1715 Ex Parte Stoffel et al 14717473 - (D) REN 103 LKGLOBAL (Axalta) RODRIGUEZ, MICHAEL P

1737 Ex Parte Orlik et al 14443949 - (D) KENNEDY 102/103 HP Inc. VAJDA, PETER L

1784 Ex Parte IWAYAMA et al 14684206 - (D) SMITH 103 MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP KRUPICKA, ADAM C

Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2483 Ex Parte Subramaniam et al 14483400 - (D) ARPIN 103 Bejin Bieneman PLC MAHMUD, FARRAN

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2859 Ex Parte Taylor et al 14478473 - (D) HASTINGS 102/103 BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C./FGTL FANTU, YALKEW

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3600 Ex Parte Pradeep et al 12410380 - (D) MOHANTY 101 Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC (Nielsen) BOSWELL, BETH V

3622 Ex Parte Hu et al 13181307 - (D) MOORE 112(1)/103 101 Facebook/Fenwick MUNSON, PATRICIA H

3622 Ex Parte Winters et al 13181347 - (D) MOORE 101/103 Facebook/Fenwick MUNSON, PATRICIA H

3623 Ex Parte Brennan 13965824 - (D) MEYERS 101/103 STERRETT, JONATHAN G STERRETT, JONATHAN G

3624 Ex Parte Henne et al 13372386 - (D) CRAWFORD 101 Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. KONERU, SUJAY

3626 Ex Parte Gross et al 13812993 - (D) CHUNG 112(4) 101 PHILIPS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & STANDARDS TIEDEMAN, JASON S

3628 Ex Parte Meyer et al 14460786 - (D) BAYAT 103 101 Taylor English Duma LLP JOSEPH, TONY A S

3631 Ex Parte Patton et al 13814817 - (D) GUIJT 103 HONEYWELL/ALSTON-SCANNING & MOBILITY GUAN, GUANG H

3684 Ex Parte Tedjamulia et al 13184001 - (D) BAIN 101/103 Terrile, Cannatti & Chambers, LLP - Dell CASEY, ALEXIS M

3689 Ex Parte Lewis 11868611 - (D) BARRY dissenting-in-part BENOIT 101/103 ARMSTRONG TEASDALE LLP MCATEE,PATRICK

3693 Ex Parte Newman et al 13553186 - (D) SHIANG 101 Chipperson Law Group, P.C. BARTLEY, KENNETH

3693 Ex Parte Stone 12817806 - (D) SAADAT 101 LEYDIG VOIT & MAYER, LTD MAGUIRE, LINDSAY M

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3761 Ex Parte ABE et al 14764028 - (D) HOELTER 103 EGL/Panasonic ISKRA, JOSEPH W

3724 Ex Parte Endres et al 12350181 - (D) WARNER 112(1)/112(2)/103 Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP SWINNEY, JENNIFER B

3754 Ex Parte Roberts et al 14132763 - (D) WOOD 103 ITW c/o MCANDREWS HELD & MALLOY PANCHOLI, VISHAL J

REHEARING

DENIED
Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3662 Ex Parte Thompson et al 13942894 - (D) REIMERS 103 BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C./FGTL SMITH, ISAAC G

3685 Ex Parte Faith et al 12953368 - (D) HOWARD 103 KILPATRICK TOWNSEND & STOCKTONLLP/VISA NILFOROUSH, MOHAMMAD A

3686 Ex Parte Rosenberg 12102992 - (D) KIM 101 RONALD B GOLDSTEIN NGUYEN, HIEP VAN

3691 Ex Parte Adcock et al 11416913 - (D) KIM 101 IP GROUP OF DLA PIPER LLP (US) LICKTEIG, BLANE A

REEXAMINATION

DENIED
Tech Center 1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
1617 NANO PRECISION MEDICAL Requester and Appellant v. DELPOR, INC. Patent Owner and Respondent Ex Parte 7955614 et al 11/530,729 95002099 - (R) GUEST Dissenting-in-part FREDMAN 102/103 McDermott Will & Emery LLP THIRD-PARTY REQUESTER: KILPATRICK, TOWNSEND & STOCKTON LLP JASTRZAB, KRISANNE MARIE original AZPURU, CARLOS A

noll, bernhart

custom search

AFFIRMED-IN-PART
Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3617 Ex Parte George 13709516 - (D) CRAIG 102/103 102/103 41.50 103 Lewis Kohn & Walker LLP AVILA, STEPHEN P

3644 Ex Parte FROLOV et al 13856879 - (D) GREENHUT 103 103 41.50 103 MOSER TABOADA DIXON, KEITH L

Our reviewing court has held that a “programmed machine is structurally different from a machine without that program.” In re Noll, 545 F.2d 141, 149 (CCPA 1976); see also In re Bernhart, 417 F.2d 1395, 1399—1400 (CCPA 1969) (“[I]f a machine is programmed in a certain new and unobvious way, it is physically different from the machine without that program; its memory elements are differently arranged. The fact that these physical changes are invisible to the eye should not tempt us to conclude that the machine has not been changed.”). 

Noll, In re, 545 F.2d 141, 191 USPQ 721 (CCPA 1976) 2163 , 2181 , 2184

Bernhart, In re, 417 F.2d 1395, 163 USPQ 611 (CCPA 1969) 2173.05(j)

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3725 Ex Parte Thomas 13164025 - (D) McCARTHY 102 102/103 Schramm-Personal-ACT YUSUF, MOHAMMAD I

AFFIRMED
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1742 Ex Parte Steeman 13256327 - (D) FRANKLIN 103 NIXON & VANDERHYE, PC WOLLSCHLAGER, JEFFREY MICHAEL

1763 Ex Parte SASAKI 13618368 - (D) DELMENDO 103 OBLON, MCCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, L.L.P. USELDING, JOHN E

1768 Ex Parte Allen 14193353 - (D) FRANKLIN 103 Covestro LLC CHANG, JOSEPHINE L

1788 Ex Parte Dudley et al 13817739 - (D) RANGE 103 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY MANGOHIG, THOMAS A

Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2128 Ex Parte Cohen et al 13919323 - (D) DANG 103 Cuenot, Forsythe & Kim, LLC ALHIJA, SAIF A

Tech Center 2600 Communications
2625 Ex Parte Kerr et al 12495483 - (D) SAADAT 103 Treyz Law Group BODDIE, WILLIAM

2686 Ex Parte Treacy 14788891 - (D) HUME 103 Andrus Intellectual Property Law, LLP HAILE, BENYAM

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3744 Ex Parte HEINE 13649650 - (D) CAPP 103 Muncy, Geissler, Olds & Lowe, P.C. THOMPSON, JASON N

3771 Ex Parte Busch 13068965 - (D) GREENHUT 103 TAYLOR IP, P.C. MILLER, CHRISTOPHER E

REHEARING

DENIED
Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3695 Ex Parte Lutnick et al 13912453 - (D) FETTING 101 CANTOR FITZGERALD, L.P. SUBRAMANIAN, NARAYANSWAMY

REEXAMINATION

REVERSED
3305 Ex parte KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V. and PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION Appellant, Patent Owner Ex Parte 5,749,905 et al 08/103,837 90013454 - (D) 90/013,603 - (D) SONG 102/103 PHILIPS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & STANDARDS FLANAGAN, BEVERLY MEINDL

gulack, bernhart, lowry, xiao

custom search

REVERSED 
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1792 Ex Parte Burgess et al 11272764 - (D) HASTINGS 103 GENERAL MILLS, INC. LEFF, STEVEN N

AFFIRMED
Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2475 Ex Parte Szczesniak et al 11199938 - (D) DESHPANDE 103 HICKMAN PALERMO TRUONG BECKER BINGHAM WONG LLP PREVAL, LIONEL

Tech Center 2600 Communications
2645 Ex Parte Pasqualino et al 12034327 - (D) BOUDREAU 103 Foley & Lardner LLP/ Broadcom Corporation MEHRA, INDERP

2691 Ex Parte Lagnado 11249594 - (D) DIXON 103 HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY JOHNSON, ALLISON WALTHALL

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2826 Ex Parte Sundstrom 11424019 - (D) KATZ 103 HONEYWELL/FOGG SANDVIK, BENJAMIN P

2859 Ex Parte Ghabra et al 12415164 - (D) GARRIS 103 BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C. / LEAR CORPORATION TORRESRUIZ, JOHALI ALEJANDRA

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3624 Ex Parte Kogan et al 11320028 - (D) FETTING 103 CRGO LAW STEVEN M. GREENBERG ROTARU, OCTAVIAN

In a non-precedential decision, our reviewing court reminded us of the applicability of the precedential In re Gulack, 703 F.2d 1381 (Fed. Cir. 1983), In re Bernhart, 417 F.2d 1395 (CCPA 1969), and In re Lowry, 32 F.3d 1579 (Fed. Cir. 1994) decisions. We have held that patent applicants cannot rely on printed matter to distinguish a claim unless “there exists [a] new and unobvious functional relationship between the printed matter and the substrate.” In re Gulack, 703 F.2d 1381, 1386 ([Fed. Cir. 1983]) . . . .
. . . .
. . . [T]he Board did not create a new “mental distinctions” rule in denying patentable weight . . . . On the contrary, the Board simply expressed the above-described functional relationship standard in an alternative formulation—consistent with our precedents—when it concluded that any given position label’s function . . . is a distinction “discernable only to the human mind.” . . . ; [see] In re Lowry, 32 F.3d 1579, 1583 ([Fed. Cir. 1994]) (describing printed matter as “useful and intelligible only to the human mind”) (quoting In re Bernhart, . . . 417 F.2d 1395, 1399 (CCPA 1969)).

In re Xiao, 462 Fed. Appx. 947, 950–52 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (non-precedential). Thus, non-functional descriptive material, being useful and intelligible only to the human mind, is given no patentable weight. 

gulack, bernhart, lowry, xiao, king, ngai

the blogger search function has been broken for months, google knows this, to search for names (ie examiner's name or a company) use custom search (google cse) below.  to search for cases use tabs above

custom search

REVERSED
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1732 Ex Parte Gadkaree et al 12599896 - (D) DELMENDO 103 CORNING INCORPORATED SAHA, BIJAY S

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2893 Ex Parte Ha et al 11307382 - (D) FRANKLIN 103 ISHIMARU & ASSOCIATES LLP ULLAH, ELIAS

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3774 Ex Parte Ryan et al 12070387 - (D) PER CURIAM 102/103 Medtronic CardioVascular WOZNICKI, JACQUELINE

AFFIRMED-IN-PART
Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2447 Ex Parte Potekhin et al 10144561 - (D) KOHUT 112(1)/103 101 WONG, CABELLO, LUTSCH, RUTHERFORD & BRUCCULERI, L.L.P. TANG, KAREN C

Tech Center 2600 Communications
2637 Ex Parte Xu et al 11707812 - (D) WINSOR 102/103 112(2)/obviousness-type double patenting GAZDZINSKI & ASSOCIATES, PC LEUNG, WAI LUN

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2856 Ex Parte Yamashita et al 12217899 - (D) GARRIS 102 102 HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C. DUNLAP, JONATHAN M

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3687 Ex Parte Fitzpatrick 11213577 - (D) FETTING 103 102 MACCORD MASON PLLC IWARERE, OLUSEYE

Finally, while claim 1 does recite “transaction data that represents a single client expenditure with a merchant in exchange for a plurality of products,” the manner or degree of representation is unspecified, and there is no recital of a sale, only an expenditure in exchange for products. Thus, this limitation is aspirational instead of functional or structural, and is perceptible only in the mind of the beholder.

In a non-precedential decision, our reviewing court reminded us of the applicability of the precedential In re Gulack, 703 F.2d 1381 (Fed. Cir.1983), In re Bernhart, 417 F.2d 1395 (CCPA 1969) and In re Lowry, 32 F.3d 1579 (Fed. Cir. 1994) decisions. We have held that patent applicants cannot rely on printed matter to distinguish a claim unless “there exists [a] new and unobvious functional relationship between the printed matter and the substrate.” In re Lowry, 32 F.3d 1579, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1994) (citing In re Gulack, 703 F.2d 1381, 1386 (Fed.Cir.1983)

[T]he Board did not create a new “mental distinctions” rule in denying patentable weight . . . . On the contrary, the Board simply expressed the above-described functional relationship standard in an alternative formulation—consistent with our precedents—when it concluded that any given position label’s function . . . is a distinction “discernable only to the human mind.”. . . . see In re Lowry, 32 F.3d 1579, 1583 (Fed.Cir.1994) (describing printed matter as “useful and intelligible only to the human mind”) (quoting In re Bernhart, 417 F.2d 1395, 1399 (CCPA 1969)).

In re Xiao, 2011-1195 WL 4821929, at *3-4 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (Non-precedential). Thus non-functional descriptive material, being useful and intelligible only to the human mind, is given no patentable weight. “The rationale behind this line of cases is preventing the indefinite patenting of known products by the simple inclusion of novel, yet functionally unrelated limitations.” King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Eon Labs, Inc., 616 F.3d 1267, 1279 (Fed Cir 2010). See also In re Ngai, 367 F.3d 1336, 1338 (Fed. Cir. 2004). (The relevant inquiry here is whether the additional instructional limitation has a “new and unobvious functional relationship” with the method, that is, whether the limitation in no way depends on the method, and the method does not depend on the limitation).

Gulack, In re, 703 F.2d 1381, 217 USPQ 401 (Fed. Cir. 1983) , 2112.01
DONNER 7: 153, 175 8: 1000

Lowry, In re, 32 F.3d 1579, 32 USPQ2d 1031 (Fed. Cir. 1994)
DONNER 6: 179; 8: 395, 1924

King Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Eon Labs Inc., 616 F.3d 1267, 95 USPQ2d 1833 (Fed. Cir. 2010) 2111.05

Ngai, In re, 367 F.3d 1336, 70 USPQ2d 1862 (Fed. Cir. 2004) , 2112.01
DONNER 7: 153, 175 8: 1000

AFFIRMED
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1768 Ex Parte Shiping 11862389 - (D) McKELVEY 103 CANTOR COLBURN LLP NERANGIS, VICKEY M

1784 Ex Parte Zhai et al 10912576 - (D) KALAN 103 STEPTOE & JOHNSON LLP SAMPLE, DAVID R

Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2186 Ex Parte Klein et al 11781374 - (D) HUME 102/103 DICKE, BILLIG & CZAJA TSAI, SHENG JEN

Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2477 Ex Parte Pantalone et al 11469680 - (D) STRAUSS 103 HARRITY & HARRITY, LLP ZHOU, YONG

Tech Center 2600 Communications
2645 Ex Parte Kraufvelin 11436772 - (D) BUI 103 Ditthavong Mori & Steiner, P.C. TORRES, MARCOS L

REEXAMINATION

AFFIRMED
Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3761 THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY Requester, Respondent v. PLAYTEX PRODUCTS, INC. Patent Owner, Appellant 95001654 6,890,324 09/894,042 MARTIN 305/102/103 OHLANDT, GREELEY, RUGGIERO & PERLE, L.L.P. WILLIAMS, CATHERINE SERKE original KIDWELL, MICHELE M

lowry, bernhart, king

custom search

REVERSED 
Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2155 Ex Parte Delvat 11480415 - (D) FISHMAN 103 SAP / FINNEGAN, HENDERSON LLP BUI, THUY T

2183 Ex Parte GSCHWIND 11762137 - (D) MANTIS MERCADER 103 TUTUNJIAN & BITETTO, P.C. TREAT, WILLIAM M

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2814 Ex Parte Kamins et al 11584148 - (D) HOUSEL 102/103 HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY PHAM, LONG

2899 Ex Parte Ruelke et al 11082156 - (D) NAGUMO 102 GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC. c/o Amerson Law Firm, PLLC SNOW, COLLEEN ERIN

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3643 Ex Parte Yamamoto et al 11814689 - (D) GREEN 101/103 OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT, L.L.P. POON, PETER M

3657 Ex Parte Russell 11837892 - (D) SMEGAL 102/103 LORD CORPORATION WILLIAMS, THOMAS J

AFFIRMED
Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2168 Ex Parte MCCLANAHAN et al 11952548 - (D) STEPHENS 102/103 Conley Rose, P.C. KIM,CHONG R

Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2453 Ex Parte Jung et al 12055204 - (D) COURTENAY 101/112(1)/102/obviousness-type double patenting IBM AUSTIN IPLAW (DG) C/O DELIZIO GILLIAM, PLLC KYLE, TAMARA TESLOVICH

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2856 Ex Parte Lesieur 11904835 - (D) HASTINGS 103 M. CARMEN & ASSOCIATES, PLLC KOLB, NATHANIEL J

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3624 Ex Parte Shastry 11964232 - (D) LORIN 103 Haynes & Boone, LLP FIELDS,BENJAMIN S
AFFIRMED 3626 Ex Parte Gombar 11083438 - (D) KIM 101/103 KELLY & KELLEY, LLP RAPILLO, KRISTINE K

3679 Ex Parte Laible et al 12085642 - (D) HOFFMANN 102/103 BSH HOME APPLIANCES CORPORATION FERGUSON, MICHAEL P

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3714 Ex Parte Liccardo 11466476 - (D) BAHR 103 Graham Curtin, P.A. GARNER, WERNER G

Citing In re Lowry, 32 F.3d 1579, 1583 (Fed. Cir. 1994), Appellant argues that the principle of non-functional descriptive material (i.e., printed matter) is not applicable to the present case because, in the present application, “whatever can be considered printed matter is generated and processed by a computer.” App. Br. 13-14. However, Lowry does not, as Appellant suggests, stand for the proposition that the “printed matter” cases have no application in situations involving computer systems and data stored on a memory. In the Lowry case, the Federal Circuit determined that Lowry’s data structures, a plurality of attribute data objects (ADOs), were not analogous to printed matter because they perform a function and “provide increased efficiency in computer operations.” Lowry, 32 F.3d at 1580, 1584. In determining that the data structures were not analogous to printed matter, the court noted that “Lowry’s ADOs do not represent merely underlying data in a database.” Id. at 1583; see also id. (“Indeed, Lowry does not seek to patent the Attributive data model in the abstract. Nor does he seek to patent the content of information resident in a database. Rather, Lowry's data structures impose a physical organization on the data.”). In the claims before us, the recited rendering of each of the characters “in a uniform representative of a different manual labor trade” is merely the display of underlying graphics data stored in a memory. This uniform data does not functionally affect the operation of the memory or the processor. As noted by the Examiner, the graphics that “decorate the characters” are “purely cosmetic” and do not change the underlying fighting game at all. Ans. 14. Stated differently, this graphics data is “useful and intelligible only to the human mind,” and thus cannot impart patentability to Appellant’s claimed gaming method. Lowry, 32 F.3d at 1583 (quoting In re Bernhart, 417 F.2d 1395, 1399 (CCPA 1969)); see also King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Eon Labs, Inc., 616 F.3d 1267, 1279 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (confirming that the rationale underlying the printed matter cases extends to method claims as well).

Lowry, In re, 32 F.3d 1579, 32 USPQ2d 1031 (Fed. Cir. 1994) 2111.05
DONNER 6: 282, 283, 345-48, 687, 695, 696, 698-700, 708, 771
HARMON 2: 15, 61; 4: 205

Bernhart, In re, 417 F.2d 1395, 163 USPQ 611 (CCPA 1969) 2173.05(j)
DONNER 2: 469; 6: 282, 346, 392, 698; 10: 1139

King Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Eon Labs Inc., 616 F.3d 1267, 95 USPQ2d 1833 (Fed. Cir. 2010) 2111.05

3724 Ex Parte Roefer et al 11986901 - (D) JUNG 103 Michael J. Bendel, Esq. FLORES SANCHEZ, OMAR

gulack, bernhart, lowry, xiao

custom search

REVERSED
Tech Center 1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
1613 Ex Parte Rimpler et al 10344884 - (D) FRANKLIN 103 HARNESS, DICKEY, & PIERCE, P.L.C BASQUILL, SEAN M

1655 Ex Parte Morazzoni et al 10587468 - (D) GRIMES 103 YOUNG & THOMPSON MI, QIUWEN

Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering 
1729 Ex Parte Cartwright et al 11562645 - (D) COLAIANNI 103 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION MILLER IP GROUP, PLC EGGERDING, ALIX ECHELMEYER

1774 Ex Parte Freeman et al 11893230 - (D) OWENS 103 SQUIRE SANDERS (US) LLP CLEVELAND, TIMOTHY C

Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2178 Ex Parte Kashi 11224160 - (D) PRATS 103 Cohen, Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane STORK, KYLER

Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2453 Ex Parte BOUCHAT et al 11943395 - (D) CLEMENTS 103 HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C. VOSTAL, ONDREJ C

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3622 Ex Parte Ogren 10857299 - (D) FETTING 102/103 37 C.F.R. § 41.50(b) 103 Dryja Patents SORKOWITZ, DANIEL M

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3744 Ex Parte Raab 11587410 - (D) HOFFMANN 103 BSH HOME APPLIANCES CORPORATION ALI, MOHAMMAD M

3769 Ex Parte Dai et al 11332824 - (D) SNEDDEN 103 AMO / Kilpatrick Townsend and Stockton LLP SHAY, DAVID M

AFFIRMED-IN-PART
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering 
1732 Ex Parte Martin 12260162 - (D) PAK 103 obviousnesstype double patenting MCCARTER & ENGLISH, LLP BRUNSMAN, DAVID M

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3657 Ex Parte Bauman et al 11386280 - (D) STAICOVICI 103 103 CARLSON, GASKEY & OLDS, P.C. BURCH, MELODY M

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3742 Ex Parte Albrecht et al 11276042 - (D) McCARTHY 103 103 37 C.F.R. § 41.50(b) 103 FLETCHER YODER (ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.) JENNISON,BRIAN W

AFFIRMED 
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering 
1765 Ex Parte Ziegler et al 12053822 - (D) KIMLIN 102/103 PPG INDUSTRIES INC BUTTNER, DAVID J

1765 Ex Parte Gallucci 11744354 - (D) McKELVEY 103 SABIC Innovative Plastics BUTTNER, DAVID J

1767 Ex Parte DAI-ICHI F R Co., LTD. 11398585 McKELVEY 103 MILLEN, WHITE, ZELANO & BRANIGAN, P.C. GODENSCHWAGER, PETER F

1776 Ex Parte Kolesinski et al 11895209 - (D) TIMM 103 Gaetano D. Maccarone THERKORN, ERNEST G

Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2433 Ex Parte Brown et al 11751284 - (D) CLEMENTS 103 IBM CORP (YA) C/O YEE & ASSOCIATES PC GOODCHILD, WILLIAM J

Tech Center 2600 Communications
2667 Ex Parte Gaukroger 10561495 - (D) WINSOR 102/103 RENNER OTTO BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP RUSH, ERIC

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3629 Ex Parte Bhan et al 10734811 - (D) FETTING 112(2) 103 WILMERHALE/BOSTON OUELLETTE, JONATHAN P

3684 Ex Parte Graff 10885569 - (D) FETTING 112(2) 103/obviousness-type double patenting PETER K. TRZYNA, ESQ. MEINECKE DIAZ, SUSANNA M

In a recent non-precedential decision, our reviewing court reminded us of the applicability of the precedential In re Gulack, 703 F.2d 1381 (Fed. Cir. 1983), In re Bernhart, 417 F.2d 1395 (CCPA 1969) and In re Lowry, 32 F.3d 1579 (Fed. Cir. 1994) decisions.

We have held that patent applicants cannot rely on printed matter to distinguish a claim unless “there exists [a] new and unobvious functional relationship between the printed matter and the substrate.” In re Gulack, 703 F.2d 1381, 1386 (Fed.Cir.1983). . . .
. . . .
. . . [T]he Board did not create a new “mental distinctions” rule in denying patentable weight . . . . On the contrary, the Board simply expressed the above-described functional relationship standard in an alternative formulation—consistent with our precedents—when it concluded that any given position label’s function . . . is a distinction “discernable only to the human mind.” . . . ; see In re Lowry, 32 F.3d 1579, 1583 (Fed.Cir.1994) (describing printed matter as “useful and intelligible only to the human mind”) (quoting In re Bernhart, . . . 417 F.2d 1395, 1399 (CCPA 1969)).

In re Xiao, 2011-1195 WL 4821929, at *3-4 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (Non precedential).

Gulack, In re, 703 F.2d 1381, 217 USPQ 401 (Fed. Cir. 1983) , 2112.01
DONNER 6: 280, 281, 340-44, 355-57; 7: 763-65
HARMON 2: 15, 46; 3: 21; 4: 199; 6: 74

Bernhart, In re, 417 F.2d 1395, 163 USPQ 611 (CCPA 1969) 2173.05(j)
DONNER 13: 162

Lowry, In re, 32 F.3d 1579, 32 USPQ2d 1031 (Fed. Cir. 1994) 2111.05
DONNER 6: 282, 283, 345-48, 687, 695, 696, 698-700, 708, 771
HARMON 2: 15, 61; 4: 205

3684 Ex Parte Zellner et al 10750695 - (D) SMEGAL 103 AT&T Legal Department - CC NGUYEN, NGA B

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3726 Ex Parte Di Serio 10180878 - (D) TARTAL 103 HESLIN ROTHENBERG FARLEY & MESITI PC OMGBA, ESSAMA