42.2    Definitions.

The following definitions apply to this part:

    • Affidavit means affidavit or declaration under § 1.68  of this chapter. A transcript of an ex parte deposition or a declaration under 28 U.S.C. 1746 may be used as an affidavit.
    • Board means the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Board means a panel of the Board, or a member or employee acting with the authority of the Board, including:
      • (1) For petition decisions and interlocutory decisions, a Board member or employee acting with the authority of the Board.
      • (2) For final written decisions under 35 U.S.C. 135(d), 318(a), and 328(a), a panel of the Board.
    • Business day means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday within the District of Columbia.
    • Confidential information means trade secret or other confidential research, development, or commercial information.
    • Final means final for the purpose of judicial review to the extent available. A decision is final only if it disposes of all necessary issues with regard to the party seeking judicial review, and does not indicate that further action is required.
    • Hearing means consideration of the trial.
    • Involved means an application, patent, or claim that is the subject of the proceeding.
    • Judgment means a final written decision by the Board, or a termination of a proceeding.
    • Motion means a request for relief other than by petition.
    • Office means the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
    • Panel means at least three members of the Board.
    • Party means at least the petitioner and the patent owner and, in a derivation proceeding, any applicant or assignee of the involved application.
    • Petition is a request that a trial be instituted.
    • Petitioner means the party filing a petition requesting that a trial be instituted.
    • Preliminary Proceeding begins with the filing of a petition for instituting a trial and ends with a written decision as to whether a trial will be instituted.
    • Proceeding means a trial or preliminary proceeding.
    • Rehearing means reconsideration.
    • Trial means a contested case instituted by the Board based upon a petition. A trial begins with a written decision notifying the petitioner and patent owner of the institution of the trial. The term trial specifically includes a derivation proceeding under 35 U.S.C. 135; an inter partes review under Chapter 31  of title 35, United States Code; a post-grant review under Chapter 32  of title 35, United States Code; and a transitional business-method review under section 18 of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. Patent interferences are administered under part 41  and not under part 42 of this title, and therefore are not trials.

[Added, 77 FR 48612, Aug. 14, 2012, effective Sept. 16, 2012]