istock-579240306_urbanbuzz
23 June 2017Patents

PTAB denies review of Gillette patent

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board has declined to review a razor blade patent owned by Gillette, following a petition for inter partes review (IPR) by Dorco, another razor blade manufacturer.

The decision, which was handed down on Wednesday, June 21, said that the issues which the board was asked to review had previously been considered when the patent application was examined.

Dorco filed the petition in December last year, challenging US patent number 6,684,513, as a response to Gillette suing it for patent infringement.

Gillette filed a preliminary response in April, stating that Dorco did “not show a reasonable likelihood of prevailing with respect to at least one of the challenged  claims.”

According to Gillette, Dorco’s analysis was “conclusory with no evidentiary basis,” and was based on “improper hindsight”.

The PTAB said in its decision: “Petitioners’ interests in being heard during an inter partes review are outweighed by the board’s interests in conserving the resources of the office and granting patent owner repose on issues and prior art that have been considered previously.”

It added: “The petition is denied, and no trial or IPR is instituted on any asserted ground.”

Did you enjoy reading this story?  Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories like this sent straight to your inbox

Today’s top stories:

Photographer sues Time for unauthorised use of photo

Encrypted messaging and technology continues to assist IP crimes, says report

AG comes out in favour of Louboutin ahead of CJEU TM case

Jones Day adds two partners to IP practice

Already registered?

Login to your account

To request a FREE 2-week trial subscription, please signup.
NOTE - this can take up to 48hrs to be approved.

Two Weeks Free Trial

For multi-user price options, or to check if your company has an existing subscription that we can add you to for FREE, please email Adrian Tapping at atapping@newtonmedia.co.uk