Man Machine appealed from an ex parte reexamination decision wherein the Patent Trial and Appeal Board ("Board") upheld an examiner's rejection of seven claims on anticipation and obviousness grounds. The Federal Circuit reversed the Board's anticipation findings, concluding that the Board's claim construction was overly broad and contrary to the Federal Circuit's requirement that the USPTO apply the Broadest Reasonable Interpretation in interpreting the claims of an unexpired patent. More specifically, the Federal Circuit concluded that the Board's broad construction improperly encompassed configurations expressly disclaimed in the specification. The Federal Circuit did, however, uphold PTAB's findings of obviousness for four of the claims on appeal, and remanded for further proceedings with respect to the other three claims.
To view the Court's Opinion, please click here.
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