803 Final Decision
After an oral hearing has been held in a Board inter partes proceeding, the case is set down for final decision. If no oral hearing is requested, the case is set down for final decision after the due date for filing the last reply brief.
A panel of at least three judges renders the final decision. [ Note 1.] See TBMP § 802.04. When there has been an oral hearing in a case, the final decision normally is rendered by the panel before which the oral hearing was held. If one of the three judges before whom an oral hearing was held is unable to participate in the final decision, another judge may be substituted at final decision for the missing judge. TBMP § 802.04.
The Board may use an augmented panel at final decision. For information concerning the use of an augmented panel, see TBMP § 540. For further information concerning the constitution of Board panels, see In re Alappat, 33 F.3d 1526, 31 USPQ2d 1545, 1547-51 (Fed. Cir. 1994) (en banc).
Every judge assigned to decide the case does not read the evidentiary record in a case. Rather, one judge is assigned to read the testimony and examine the other evidence of record, discuss the case with the other judges, and then draft a decision and supporting opinion. The draft is circulated to the other judges for their approval. A judge who does not agree with the decision may write a dissent. [ Note 2.] A judge who agrees with the decision, but disagrees with the reasoning expressed in the opinion supporting the decision, or wishes to express additional reasons, may write a concurring opinion.
When the judges rendering the decision have completed a final decision, a copy is mailed to every party to the proceeding. All final decisions are posted on the USPTO website and available for public viewing via TTABVUE and the USPTO e-FOIA database. Both databases may be accessed by proceeding number and other criteria. A link to the USPTO e-FOIA databases is available on the Board’s webpage under "Board Decisions" at http://efoia.uspto.gov/Foia/TTABReadingRoom.jsp. For information regarding access to files, see TBMP § 120.
Trademark Act § 21, 15 U.S.C. § 1071, and 37 CFR § 2.145 govern any appeal from a final decision of the Board. See TBMP Chapter 900 regarding appeals.
NOTES:
1. See Trademark Act § 17, 15 U.S.C. § 1067.
2. See, e.g., In re Lebanese Arak Corp., 94 USPQ2d 1215 (TTAB 2010) (two judges in augmented panel wrote dissent).