swinehart

custom search

REVERSED
Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3657 Ex Parte HIRANO 13728085 - (D) STEPHENS 103 NIXON & VANDERHYE, PC NGUYEN, XU AN LAN T

3665 Ex Parte Hannah et al 13907502 - (D) HOELTER 103 KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP MAWARI, REDHWAN K

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3711 Ex Parte Darlington et al 14142345 - (D) BROWNE 112(2)/102/103 REISING ETHINGTON P.C. KLAYMAN, AMIR ARIE

Noting that “the Examiner is attempting to impose a requirement that a dependent claim must recite ‘structure’ in addition to any functional limitations,” Appellants argue that “patent claims may define an invention functionally, i.e., by what it does.” Appeal Br. 7. Appellants are correct. We are unaware of any requirement that a dependent claim further define the structure of the claim from which it depends. Rather, “[t]here is nothing inherently wrong with defining some part of an invention in functional terms.” MPEP § 2173.05(g). Functional language does not, in and of itself, render a claim improper. In re Swinehart , 439 F. 2d 210, 212 (CCPA 1971).

Swinehart, In re, 439 F.2d 210, 169 USPQ 226 (CCPA 1971) 2114 , 2161.01 , 2173.01 , 2173.05(g) , 2183

AFFIRMED-IN-PART
Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3742 Ex Parte MAUS et al 13548607 - (D) HILL 102/103 112(2) LERNER GREENBERG STEMER LLP ROSS, DANA

AFFIRMED
Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2486 Ex Parte VLADIMIRSKY et al 12898969 - (D) MacDONALD 103 STERNE, KESSLER, GOLDSTEIN & FOX P.L.L.C. ANDERSON II, JAMES M

Tech Center 2600 Communications
2688 Ex Parte Tsoukatos et al 13961116 - (D) REPKO 103 HolzerlPLaw, P.C. EVANS, JEFFERSON A

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2894 Ex Parte Nandakumar et al 12817829 - (D) PRAISS 103 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED LIGAI, MARIA

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3618 Ex Parte Lehti et al 13768301 - (D) SMEGAL 103 BrooksGroup VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT

3628 Ex Parte THURLOW et al 12027792 - (D) HUME 101/103 Travelport VETTER, DANIEL

REHEARING

DENIED
Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3746 Ex Parte Arnold et al 11946653 - (R) KORNICZKY 102 HONEYWELL,/PANGRLE BOBISH, CHRISTOPHER S

packard, swinehart

custom search

REVERSED
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1788 Ex Parte Inoue et al 11577705 - (D) NAGUMO 103 KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP PATEL, RONAK C

Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2452 Ex Parte Brown 12609990 - (D) CRAWFORD 102/103 HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY HUSSAIN, TAUQIR

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2848 Ex Parte KATO et al 12366707 - (D) SMITH 103 BAKER BOTTS L.L.P. FERGUSON, DION

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3645 Ex Parte Manin et al 10586847 - (D) WARNER 103 Patent Portfolio Builders, PLLC MURPHY, DANIEL L

3688 Ex Parte Aarnio et al 11967608 - (D) CRAWFORD 102 SUGHRUE MION, PLLC STIBLEY, MICHAEL R

AFFIRMED–IN–PART
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1761 Ex Parte Bardman et al 12313714 - (D) DERRICK 102/103 103 Ronald Bakule - The Dow Chemical Company DELCOTTO, GREGORY R

Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2183 Ex Parte Xu et al 11733978 - (D) BEAMER 103 103 LARSON NEWMAN, LLP CALDWELL, ANDREW T

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2815 Ex Parte Khan et al 12480304 - (D) TIMM 103 103 DORITY & MANNING, P.A. JACKSON JR, JEROME

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3781 Ex Parte Silver 12729049 - (D) MAYBERRY 112(2)/102 112(1)/103 MCDONNELL BOEHNEN HULBERT & BERGHOFF LLP WEAVER, SUE A

We find Appellant’s argument persuasive. In determining whether a claim is definite under 35 U.S.C. § 112, second paragraph, “[t]he USPTO, in examining an application, is obliged to test the claims for reasonable precision . . . .” In re Packard, 751 F.3d 1307, 1313 (Fed. Cir. 2014). We find that claim 1 satisfies this standard.  ...

The claim does not omit structure that provides for the recited function but instead the functional language further characterizes the structure of claim 1. See, e.g., In re Swinehart, 439 F.2d 210, 212 (CCPA 1971) (“[T]here is nothing intrinsically wrong with [defining something by what it does rather than what it is] in drafting patent claims.”).

Swinehart, In re, 439 F.2d 210, 169 USPQ 226 (CCPA 1971) 2114 , 2161.01 , 2173.01 , 2173.05(g) , 2183

AFFIRMED
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1747 Ex Parte ESSÉN et al 12892436 - (D) FRANKLIN 103 KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP MAYES, DIONNE WALLS

1772 Ex Parte Merrill 12177740 - (D) SMITH 103 FINA TECHNOLOGY INC BULLOCK, IN SUK C

1774 Ex Parte Olivier et al 12383152 - (D) NAGUMO 103 WOOD, PHILLIPS, KATZ, CLARK & MORTIMER DUONG, THANH P

1781 Ex Parte Mulholland 12600284 - (D) KRATZ 103 DORITY & MANNING, P.A. GUGLIOTTA, NICOLE T

1793 Ex Parte Harvey et al 11348898 - (D) SMITH dissenting PAK 103 Weintraub Genshlea Chediak GEORGE, PATRICIA ANN

Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2465 Ex Parte Perraud et al 12063422 - (D) PYONIN 103 LARSON NEWMAN, LLP WYLLIE, CHRISTOPHER T

2492 Ex Parte Stayton et al 12235429 - (D) KAISER 102 Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP SHEPPERD, ERIC W

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2891 Ex Parte Yoo et al 11819568 - (D) TIMM 103 SUGHRUE MION, PLLC WARD, ERIC A

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3654 Ex Parte Aulanko et al 10969095 - (D) CAPP Concurring-in-Part and Dissenting-in-part STAICOVICI 112(a) HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C. KRUER, STEFAN

3685 Ex Parte Menadue et al 12138183 - (D) CRAWFORD 112(2) 103 LAW OFFICES (San Jose) NILFOROUSH, MOHAMMAD A

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3745 Ex Parte Scott 12018994 - (D) HILL 102/103 Ditthavong & Steiner, P.C. VERDIER, CHRISTOPHER M

3746 Ex Parte Key et al 11004259 - (D) SCANLON 112(1)/103 WESTMAN CHAMPLIN & KOEHLER, P.A. KRAMER, DEVON C

3765 Ex Parte Light et al 12619819 - (D) STEPINA 103 MILLEN, WHITE, ZELANO & BRANIGAN, P.C. SZAFRAN, BRIEANNA TARAH LARELL

3781 Ex Parte Mickelson 12058412 - (D) GUIJT 103 CRGO LAW STEVEN M. GREENBERG MATHEW, FENN C

REEXAMINATION

AFFIRMED-IN-PART
Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2432 BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC., Patent Owner and Appellant v. A10 NETWORKS, INC., Requester Ex Parte 7,774,833 et al 10/668,455 95001811 - (D) MARTIN 102/103 103 2nd Reexam Group - Novak Druce + Quigg LLP For Third Party Requester: FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRET & DUNNER LLP WOOD, WILLIAM H original HO, VIRGINIA T

AFFIRMED
Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2154 YAHOO! INC. Requester and Respondent v. AUGME TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Patent Owner and Appellant Ex Parte 7,269,636 B2 et al 10/612,480 95001734 - (D) CHEN 102/103 Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts LLP THIRD PARTY REQUESTER: MORRISON & FOERSTER, LLP YIGDALL, MICHAEL J original PATEL, ASHOKKUMAR B

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3661 BOOPSIE, INC., ZILLOW, INC., HOTPADS, INC., IDX, INC., REALPAGE, INC., PRIMEDIA, INC., CONSUMER SOURCE, INC., TRULIA, INC., and ZIP REALTY, INC., Requesters and Cross Appellants, v. SMARTER AGENT, LLC, Owner and Appellant Ex Parte 6496776 et al 09/774,120 95001437 - (D) POTHIER 102/103 COOLEY LLP FOR THIRD-PARTY REQUESTERS: Perkins Coie, LLP WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS original BEAULIEU, YONEL

3696 INTERNET PAYMENT EXCHANGE, INC. Requester v. IMAGEVISION.NET, INC. Patent Owner Ex Parte 7567925 et al 10/719,889 95002017 - (D) KOHUT 112(2)/305/103 BARNES & THORNBURG LLP (DE) CARLSON, JEFFREY D original GRAHAM, CLEMENT B

REHEARING

GRANTED
Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2432 Ex parte BROCADE COMMUNCATIONS SYSTEMS, INC. Ex Parte 7774833 et al 10/668,455 90011769 - (R) MARTIN 102 2nd Reexam Group - Novak Druce + Quigg LLP For Third Party Requester: FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRET & DUNNER LLP CAMPBELL, JOSHUA D original HO, VIRGINIA T

DENIED
Tech Center 2600 Communications
2617 BOOPSIE, INC., ZILLOW, INC., HOTPADS, INC., IDX, INC., REALPAGE, INC., PRIMEDIA, INC., CONSUMER SOURCE, INC., TRULIA, INC., and ZIP REALTY, INC., Requesters and Cross Appellants, v. SMARTER AGENT, LLC, Owner and Appellant Ex Parte 7072665 et al 09/774,119 95001436 - (R) POTHIER 103 COOLEY LLP FOR THIRD-PARTY REQUESTERS: Perkins Coie, LLP WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS original PEREZ, JULIO R

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3661 BOOPSIE, INC., ZILLOW, INC., HOTPADS, INC., IDX, INC., REALPAGE, INC., PRIMEDIA, INC., CONSUMER SOURCE, INC., TRULIA, INC., and ZIP REALTY, INC., Requesters and Cross Appellants, v. SMARTER AGENT, LLC, Owner and Appellant Ex Parte 6385541 et al 09/639,265 95001435 - (D) POTHIER 103 COOLEY LLP FOR THIRD-PARTY REQUESTERS: Perkins Coie, LLP WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS original BEAULIEU, YONEL

kemps, lear siegler, oelrich, par pharmaceutical, swinehart

custom search

REVERSED 
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1712 Ex Parte Hamilton et al 12693548 - (D) OWENS 103 CARMODY TORRANCE SANDAK & HENNESSEY LLP WIECZOREK, MICHAEL P

1716 Ex Parte Chaubey et al 12351723 - (D) OWENS 102/103 American Air Liquide, Inc. CHEN, KEATH T

1716 Ex Parte Cooperberg et al 12605027 - (D) WARREN 102/103 BUCHANAN INGERSOLL & ROONEY PC - LAM RESEARCH CORP ALEJANDRO MULERO, LUZ L

1731 Ex Parte Ramme 12138019 - (D) WARREN 103 QUARLES & BRADY LLP HIJJI, KARAM Y

1734 Ex Parte Grass 12522378 - (D) OWENS 103 OSHA LIANG L.L.P. NGUYEN, NGOC YEN M

1747 Ex Parte Westerdahl et al 11466772 - (D) WILSON 103 VENABLE LLP KRINKER, YANA B

1782 Ex Parte Sun et al 12411919 - (D) OWENS 103 FINA TECHNOLOGY INC WOOD, ELLEN SUZANNE

Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2156 Ex Parte Zha et al 12416896 - (D) KRIVAK 103 HICKMAN PALERMO TRUONG BECKER BINGHAM WONG/Yahoo! AL HASHEMI, SANA A

Tech Center 2600 Communications
2696 Ex Parte LAZARIDIS et al 11941774 - (D) FRAHM 112(1)/103 Borden Ladner Gervais LLP NGUYEN, JIMMY H

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2875 Ex Parte Krijn et al 12064636 - (D) NAGUMO 102/103 PHILIPS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & STANDARDS WARD, JOHN A

AFFIRMED-IN-PART 
Tech Center 1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
1643 Ex Parte LEWANDROWSKI et al 12428893 - (D) MILLS 103/obviousness-type double patenting 103 MILES & STOCKBRIDGE, PC SANG, HONG

However, "the motivation in the prior art to combine the references does not have to be identical to that of the applicant to establish obviousness." In re Kemps, 97 F.3d 1427, 1430 (Fed. Cir 1996)

Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1726 Ex Parte Osborne et al 12355451 - (D) OWENS 112(1) 112(1)/103 BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C./FGTL WALLS, CYNTHIA KYUNG SOO

AFFIRMED 
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1726 Ex Parte Karulkar 12715592 - (D) GARRIS 102 BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C./FGTL DOMONE, CHRISTOPHER P

1733 Ex Parte Kulkarni et al 12236631 - (D) McSHANE 112(1)/103 SIEMENS CORPORATION ZHU, WEIPING

1746 Ex Parte OWEN et al 12558662 - (D) PER CURIAM 103 McCarter & English LLP ACCOUNT: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. LEE, JAEYUN

1761 Ex Parte Corona et al 13183552 - (D) PER CURIAM 103 THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY BOYER, CHARLES I

1774 Ex Parte Smith 13424281 - (D) HASTINGS 103 Bay Area Technolgy Law Group PC SORKIN, DAVID L

Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2139 Ex Parte Itoh et al 12390589 - (D) STRAUSS 103 Russell Ng PLLC (LENOVO) BANSAL, GURTEJ

Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2434 Ex Parte Brennan et al 11194075 - (D) HUME 103 GOODWIN PROCTER LLP POWERS, WILLIAM S

Furthermore, the artisan is not compelled to blindly follow the teaching of one prior art reference over the other without the exercise of independent judgment (See Lear Siegler, Inc. v. Aeroquip Corp., 733 F.2d 881, 889 (Fed. Cir. 1984)).

2452 Ex Parte Lee et al 12050468 - (D) BUNTING 103 Go Daddy Operating Company, LLC NGUYEN, THU V

2493 Ex Parte Giuli 12366226 - (D) ARPIN 103 BROOKS KUSHMAN P.C./FGTL PATEL, HARESH N

Further, “it is elementary that the mere recitation of a newly discovered function or property, inherently possessed by things in the prior art, does not cause a claim drawn to those things to distinguish over the prior art.” In re Swinehart, 439 F.2d 210, 212–13 (CCPA 1971) (emphasis added);see also Par Pharmaceutical, Inc. v. TWI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2014-1391, 2014 WL 6782649, at *6–*7 (Fed. Cir., Dec. 3, 2014) (inherency is limited when applied to obviousness and is present only when the limitation at issue is the “natural result” of the combination of prior art elements; quoting In re Oelrich, 666 F.2d 578, 581 (CCPA 1981))

Swinehart, In re, 439 F.2d 210, 169 USPQ 226 (CCPA 1971) 2114 , 2161.01 , 2173.01 , 2173.05(g) , 2183

Oelrich, In re, 666 F.2d 578, 212 USPQ 323 (CCPA 1981) 2112

Tech Center 2600 Communications
2623 Ex Parte Gioscia et al 11849133 - (D) DIXON 103 Mahamedi Paradice LLP (QCA) XAVIER, ANTONIO J

2633 Ex Parte Jia et al 11547073 - (D) KAISER 102/103 Apple Inc. -- FKM FOTAKIS, ARISTOCRATIS

2649 Ex Parte Furuskar et al 12090129 - (D) COURTENAY 103 Carstens & Cahoon, LLP WANG, FANGHWA

2658 Ex Parte Veliu et al 11301949 - (D) DANG 103 General Motors Corporation c/o REISING ETHINGTON P.C. ORTIZ SANCHEZ, MICHAEL

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3731 Ex Parte Hampton 12217819 - (D) LaVIER 103 DANIEL S. POLLEY, P.A. SHI, KATHERINE MENGLIN

REEXAMINATION

AFFIRMED-IN-PART 
Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2182 Ex parte ROUND ROCK RESEARCH, LLC, Appellant Ex Parte 6266721 et al 08/942,160 90012327 - (D) THOMAS 102 102/103 GAZDZINSKI & ASSOCIATES, PC For Third Party Requester: BAKER BOTTS LLP CRAVER, CHARLES R original HECKLER, THOMAS M

AFFIRMED
Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2164 Ex parte SAMIR VARMA Appellant Ex Parte 6349291 et al 09/489,364 90012366 - (D) DILLON 103 Foster Pepper PLLC THIRD PARTY REQUESTER: JONES DAY SAGER, MARK ALAN original FELTEN, DANIEL S

Tech Center 2600 Communications
2617 XILINX, INC., Requester, Appellant, and Cross-Respondent v. INTELLECTUAL VENTURES MANAGEMENT, OF WHICH INTELLECTUAL VENTURES I LLC IS AN AFFILATE, Patent Owner, Respondent, and Cross-Appellant Ex Parte 7,769,374 B2 et al 09/802,861 95002004 - (D) MARTIN 112(1)/103/314(a) FOLEY & LARDNER LLP For Third Party Requester: HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP AHMED, SALMAN original LY, NGHI H

cohesive tech, schreiber, swinehart

custom search

REVERSED
Tech Center 1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
1611 Ex Parte Snyder et al 10821745 - (D) MCCOLLUM 103 DOBRUSIN & THENNISCH PC GHALI, ISIS A D

Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1716 Ex Parte Mooring et al 11015968 - (D) HASTINGS 103 MARTINE PENILLA GROUP, LLP MACARTHUR, SYLVIA

Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2857 Ex Parte Ainsworth et al 11453881 - (D) WINSOR 112(2)/103 37 C.F.R. § 41.50(b) 103 FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRETT & DUNNER LLP KUNDU, SUJOY K

Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3644 Ex Parte Canter et al 11521672 - (D) COCKS 102/103 Boeing - GATES & COOPER LLP GREEN, RICHARD R

3653 Ex Parte Nago et al 11253872 - (D) McCARTHY 103 BACHMAN & LAPOINTE, P.C. BEAUCHAINE, MARK J

For example, in Re Schreiber, 128 F.3d 1473 (Fed. Cir. 1997), the Board found that a spout useful for purposes such as dispensing oil from an oil can anticipate a claim reciting a “dispensing top for passing only several kernels of a popped popcorn at a time from an open-ended container filled with popcorn.” Id at 1475. The Court held that,

where the Patent [& Trademark] Office has reason to believe that a functional limitation asserted to be critical for establishing novelty in the claimed subject matter may, in fact, be an inherent characteristic of the prior art, it possesses the authority to require the applicant to prove that the subject matter shown to be in the prior art does not possess the characteristic relied on.

Id. at 1478 (quoting In re Swinehart, 439 F.2d 210, 212 (CCPA 1971)). Our reviewing court agreed with the Board that the Examiner had articulated a reason to believe that the prior art spout inherently possessed the dimensions necessary to perform the function of “passing only several kernels of a popped popcorn at a time from an open-ended container filled with popcorn.” Id at 1478. Alternatively, the court agreed with the Board’s fact finding that the prior art spout was “capable of functioning to dispense kernels of popped corn in the manner set forth in claim 1.” Id. On these alternative bases, our reviewing court affirmed the rejection.

Schreiber, In re, 128 F.3d 1473, 44 USPQ2d 1429 (Fed. Cir. 1997) . . 2111.02, 2112, 2114

Swinehart, In re, 439 F.2d 210, 169 USPQ 226 (CCPA 1971) . . . . . .2114, 2173.01, 2173.05(g), 2183

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3732 Ex Parte Chenvainu et al 11114987 - (D) FREDMAN 103 THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY EIDE, HEIDI MARIE

AFFIRMED
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1729 Ex Parte Zhang et al 11646203 - (D) GAUDETTE 103 CARLSON, GASKEY & OLDS, P.C. BARROW, AMANDA J

When "about" is used as part of a numeric range, "the use of the word `about,' avoids a strict numerical boundary to the specified parameter. Its range must be interpreted in its technologic and stylistic context." In determining how far beyond the claimed range the term "about" extends the claim, "[w]e must focus ... on the criticality of the [numerical limitation] to the invention." Cohesive Techs, Inc. v. Waters Corp. 543 F.3d 1351, 1368 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (Citations omitted)

1732 Ex Parte Galligan 12335903 - (D) BEST 103/double patenting BASF CORPORATION LI, JUN

1742 Ex Parte Bradford et al 11566973 - (D) OWENS 103 WOOD, HERRON & EVANS, LLP JOHNSON, CHRISTINA ANN

Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2161 Ex Parte Asmussen et al 09921057 - (D) JEFFERY 103 BANNER & WITCOFF, LTD DAYE, CHELCIE L

Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3732 Ex Parte Wen 11050050 - (D) PRATS 103 ALIGN TECHNOLOGY C/O WAGNER BLECHER LLP EIDE, HEIDI MARIE

3739 Ex Parte Friedman et al 11196831 - (D) GRIMES 103 EVELYN M. SOMMER SMITH, KAITLYN ELIZABETH  

REHEARING  

GRANTED
Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2166 Ex Parte Murthy 11388300 - (D) COURTENAY 103 ORACLE / HICKMAN PALERMO TRUONG BECKER BINGHAM WONG AHLUWALIA, NAVNEET K

swinehart

REVERSED

1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1787 Ex Parte Ellringmann et al 11/559,991 DELMENDO 112(2)/103(a) Briscoe, Kurt G. Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, PA EXAMINER HUANG, CHENG YUAN

Contrary to the Examiner’s belief, it is well settled that applicants are free to claim a product by what it does rather than by what it is in appropriate circumstances. See, e.g., In re Swinehart, 439 F.2d 210, 212 (CCPA 1971) (“transparent to infrared rays” did not render claim to be indefinite). See also MPEP § 2173.05(g) (8th ed., Rev. 6, Sept. 2007).

Swinehart, In re, 439 F.2d 210, 169 USPQ 226 (CCPA 1971) . . . . . .2114, 2173.01, 2173.05(g), 2183

AFFIRMED-IN-PART

2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2857 Ex Parte Casler et al 11/335,056 WEINBERG 103(a) 102(b) FormFactor/BSTZ Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman LLP EXAMINER BARBEE, MANUEL L

AFFIRMED

2600 Communications
2629 Ex Parte Sullivan 10/482,865 PER CURIAM 102(e) ZAGORIN O'BRIEN GRAHAM LLP EXAMINER CHOWDHURY, AFROZA Y

3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3637 Ex Parte Rosenbauer et al 10/437,548 BAHR 112(1)/112(2)/102(b)/103(a) BSH HOME APPLIANCES CORPORATION EXAMINER NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE

3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3731 Ex Parte Field et al 11/534,805 FREDMAN 103(a) C. R. Bard, Inc. Bard Biopsy Systems EXAMINER SONNETT, KATHLEEN C

3762 Ex Parte Davis et al 10/966,629 McCOLLUM 103(a) ALFRED E. MANN FOUNDATION FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH EXAMINER LAVERT, NICOLE F

3762 Ex Parte Duncan et al 10/383,551 MILLS 103(a) KILPATRICK TOWNSEND & STOCKTON LLP EXAMINER GETZOW, SCOTT M