Interim Patent Office Director Denies Wave of Review Requests

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s interim director denied five requests for review of administrative tribunal findings on patent validity, the second wave of denials since the U.S. Supreme Court gave the director power to overturn board decisions.

Commissioner for Patents Drew Hirshfeld, who is performing the duties of the director until President Joe Biden permanently fills the seat, denied requests for review Friday in several challenges Medtronic Inc. brought against Teleflex Innovations S.A.R.L. as well as a case involving Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and Cellect LLC.

Medtronic failed to convince the Patent Trial and Appeal Board that several of ...