GE Can’t Appeal Decision Upholding Competitor’s Patent (1)

General Electric Co.‘s status as a patent owner’s competitor wasn’t sufficient to establish standing to appeal a Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision.

GE’s argument that it suffered competitive injury was too speculative to support its appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said July 10. The court dismissed the appeal and upheld the PTAB’s finding that certain claims of United Technologies Corp. ‘s aircraft engine technology patent were valid as they weren’t covered by prior inventions.

Anyone can file a patent challenge, known as inter partes review, at the PTAB under patent law. But that ...