Motions to Amend at the PTAB — Does Anyone Have the Burden (And Will That Change)?

By Andrew Williams — Last year, the Federal Circuit decided the Aqua Products, Inc. v. Matal case en banc in what could be considered the epitome of a fractured decision. After 148 pages and five separate opinions, the only agreed-to result could be summed up in two conclusions: (1) that the PTO had not adopted a rule regarding the burden of persuasion, and that (2) because there was nothing that was entitled to deference, "the PTO may not place that burden on the patentee." Nevertheless, Judge Rayne's concurrence-in-part, at Part III, articulated a rule regarding the burden of production, even…Original Article