PTAB Revises Standard Operating Procedures

We will address the PTAB’s updated Standard Operating Procedures in greater depth in a future issue of this newsletter. Meanwhile, we want our readers to be aware of two important revisions to the PTAB Standard Operating Procedures as follows:

• Revised SOP1 – Assignment of Judges
  • Explains panel assignment and reassignment practices
  • Explains process for expanding panels, with the approval of the director
• Revised SOP2 – Precedential and Informative Decisions
  • Creates Precedential Order Panel
  • Will rehear matters in PTAB trials and appeals deemed to be of exceptional importance
  • Will assist the director in determining when to designate a decision precedential or informative–expect more precedential decisions
  • Expected to replace the practice of expanded panel rehearing