This month marks five years since the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the “USPTO”) began examining patent applications under the America Invents Act (“AIA”) first-inventor-to-file system, rather than the predecessor first-to-invent system it replaced. Although this shift in legal systems more closely aligned the USPTO with its global counterparts, the U.S. system still differs in one very important way: the applicant of a patent application still must be an inventor. To enforce this requirement, the AIA created a new administrative proceeding called a “derivation proceeding” to “ensure that the first person to file the application is actually a true inventor.”1 Despite the fact that this dispute proceeding has been available for five years, it is by far the most underutilized of the AIA proceedings, and therefore also the most esoteric of the AIA proceedings.2 This article provides an overview of derivation and derivation proceedings and concludes with practice points to assist practitioners, patent applicants, and inventors with these otherwise inscrutable AIA concepts.

Derivation vs. Invention

In layman’s terms, derivation is when someone obtains an invention from a true inventor, rather than actually inventing it herself, and then files a patent application claiming the invention as her own. A derivation proceeding is a contest between two inventors (or inventive entities) to determine which is entitled to a patent on the invention.3 Although derivation can occur in a number of ways, a common fact pattern includes an inventor disclosing her invention to a third party (e.g., a manufacturer) for a specific purpose (e.g., in order to procure and/or test a prototype) and the third party thereafter filing a patent application claiming the disclosed invention as her own.4

Initiating a Derivation Proceeding

Per 35 U.S.C. § 135, a derivation proceeding is initiated by the filing of a petition.5 A petition to institute a derivation proceeding must show that petitioner has at least one claim that is (1) the same or substantially the same as the respondent’s claimed invention; and (2) the same or substantially the same as the invention disclosed to the respondent.6 The petition must further (1) identify an application or patent for which the petitioner seeks a derivation proceeding (i.e., an application or patent of alleged deriver); and (2) set forth a basis for finding that the claimed invention was derived from an inventor named in petitioner’s application and that the inventor from whom the invention was derived did not authorize the filing of the earlier application claiming such invention.7 Additionally, for each of respondent’s claims to the derived invention, the petition must (1) show why the claimed invention is the same or substantially the same as the invention disclosed to the respondent; and (2) identify how the claim is to be construed.8

Notably, in order to have standing to file a petition, both the petitioner and the alleged deriver must have filed a patent application claiming the invention disclosed to the respondent.9 The petition must identify the alleged deriver’s at-issue patent application (or patent), demonstrate that the petitioner did not authorize the filing of the at-issue patent application (or patent), and further demonstrate derivation of the disclosed invention.10 To prove derivation, petitioner must establish prior conception of the claimed subject matter and communication of that conception to an alleged deriver.11 Conception, as established by the Federal Circuit, is the formation in the mind of the inventor of a definite and permanent idea of the complete and operative invention, as it is therefore to be applied in practice.12

A petition under 35 U.S.C § 135 is time-barred unless filed within one year from the first publication date of a claim to an invention that is the same or substantially the same as the allegedly derived invention.13 The triggering date can be either the publication date of a patent application or the publication date of a patent.14 A petition will not be accorded a filing date until the USPTO receives the $400 derivation petition fee.15

Available Relief in a Derivation Proceeding

If a derivation proceeding is instituted, the PTAB will determine the true inventor of a claimed invention at issue in the petition.16 The PTAB may correct the inventorship of any patent application or patent at issue if it deems appropriate.17 Additionally, if the proceeding reaches the final decision stage and the inventor of the earlier filed application is found to have derived the claimed invention from the true inventor, the PTAB will, in the case of a patent application, finally reject pending claims of the application or, in the case of an issued patent, cancel claims during the final decision stage.18

Generally, petitioners request specific relief in their derivation petitions. In addition to the relief outlined above, petitioners have requested the voiding of assignments or that an alleged deriver’s patent not be considered prior art against petitioner’s application.19 Some also include catch-all language, seeking all other relief that the PTAB deems appropriate and “as is necessary to the perfection and enjoyment of petitioner’s rights to its inventions.”20

The PTAB also has authority to resolve patentability issues that arise in the course of a derivation proceeding.21 As an example, the PTAB may need to resolve an issue of claim indefiniteness before derivation can be substantively addressed on the merits.22 As another example, the PTAB may need to resolve anticipation and/or obviousness issues before substantively addressing derivation. Patentability issues may be introduced in the derivation petition.23

PTAB Standards for Instituting a Derivation Proceeding

The Director may institute a derivation proceeding whenever the Director determines that a derivation petition demonstrates that the standards for instituting a derivation proceeding are met.24 The standard, as stated in 37 C.F.R. § 42.405(c), is whether the petition demonstrates substantial evidence that, if unrebutted, would support the assertion of derivation.25 As stated above, a showing of conception and communication of conception is required to prove derivation.26 The evidence must include at least one affidavit supporting the petitioner’s claim that the derived invention was communicated to the alleged deriver and that the petitioner did not give the alleged deriver authorization to file a patent application claiming the derived invention.27 The showing of conception and communication must be corroborated by evidence.28 In assessing the sufficiency of corroboration, a rule of reason applies.29

The practice rules give the PTAB discretion to defer or stay an institution decision in particular situations. As an example, the PTAB may defer an institution decision for up to three months after a patent is issued from an earlier application that includes a claim that is subject to a petition.30 As another example, the PTAB may defer action on a petition for a derivation proceeding or stay the proceeding after it has been instituted until the termination of an ex parte reexamination proceeding, an inter partes proceeding, and/or a post grant review that involves the patent of the earlier applicant.31 As yet another example, the PTAB may defer a decision on institution until at least one of petitioner’s claims is otherwise in condition for allowance.32 The PTAB’s actions on derivation petitions filed thus far signal a preference to defer an institution decision based on the prosecution of petitioner’s application.33

Institution Outcomes Thus Far

Even though the PTAB has deferred institution decisions in a number of cases, the PTAB has nevertheless issued several institution decisions.34 The results have been uniformly negative for the petitioners. In every decided case thus far (7 in total), the PTAB has refused to institute the derivation proceeding because the petitioner failed to meet either the petition requirements or its evidentiary burden under 37 C.F.R. § 42.405.35 Notably, the PTAB failed to find sufficient evidence of derivation in half of the cases in which the PTAB rendered an institution decision. Indeed, in three proceedings involving Catapult Innovations Pty Ltd. and adidas AG, the PTAB found that petitioner failed to show prior conception of the claimed subject matter and communication of that conception to respondent,36 but instead showed merely prior possession and communication of the prior possession, which cannot support a finding of derivation.37

In other cases, the PTAB denied institution because petitioners failed to meet the petition requirements.38 As stated above, 37 C.F.R. 42.405 requires that the petition show (1) that the challenged claims are drawn to the same or substantially the same invention as the invention Petitioner disclosed to Respondent; (2) that the Petitioner has at least one claim that is the same or substantially the same as the Respondent’s claimed invention; and (3) that Petitioner has at least one claim that is the same or substantially the same as the invention Petitioner disclosed to the Respondent.39 The PTAB has graphically depicted the “substantially the same” inquiries between the petitioner’s claim (“P”), the respondent’s claimed invention (“R”), and the invention disclosed to the respondent (“D”) using the below diagram:40

  • As explained by the PTAB, the above illustration shows the relationship of P and D and R with each other and the directions of the arrows connecting each of P and D and R indicate whether the associated “substantially the same” analysis is one-way or two-way, and if one-way, in which direction.41 For example, the one-way arrow between D and R indicates the inquiry that R be “substantially the same as” D. In other words, this inquiry asks whether the invention claimed by respondent is substantially the same as the invention disclosed to the respondent. As another example, the two-way arrow between R and P represent inquiries asking (1) whether respondent’s claimed invention is “substantially the same as” petitioner’s claimed invention; and (2) whether petitioner’s claimed invention is “substantially the same” as respondent’s claimed invention.

Brockman v. Bainter is one example of a case in which the PTAB denied institution because the petitioner failed to meet the requirements of all of the “substantially the same” inquiries. Specifically, the PTAB found that the challenged claims (i.e., respondent’s claimed invetion) were not drawn to the same or substantially the same invention as the invention disclosed to respondent by petitioner because the respondent’s claims included components that were not conceived of by the petitioner or communicated to the respondent — that is, R was not “substantially the same” as D.42 Additionally, the PTAB found that Petitioner’s application did not include at least one claim that was the same as or substantially the same as the respondent’s claimed invention because petitioner’s claims did not include features recited in respondent’s claims — that is, P was not “substantially the same” as R.43

Given the PTAB’s unwillingness to institute any derivation proceedings to date, petitioners must scrupulously observe the petition requirements, paying careful attention to the “substantially the same” inquiries, and must marshal their evidence to present a strong showing of conception and communication of that conception in order to meet its burden of showing derivation. Conversely, respondents should critically evaluate these same aspects of the petition and look for opportunities to analogize to the many PTAB decisions finding petitioners’ showings to be insufficient on these points.

Practice Points for Petitioners

  • A petitioner does not have standing to file a petition to institute a derivative proceeding unless the petitioner is a patent applicant. The USPTO has clarified that copying an alleged deriver’s application is acceptable so long as the application is revised to accurately reflect what the inventor invented.44 
  • A petition is time-barred one-year after the first publication of a claim that is the same as or substantially similar to the allegedly derived invention.
  • The petition may address patentability issues with the claims of the earlier-filed application.
  • The petition must satisfy the three “substantially the same as” inquiries: (1) petitioner’s application includes a claim that is substantially the same as respondent’s claimed invention; (2) a claim of petitioner’s application is substantially the same as an invention disclosed to respondent; and (3) a claim of respondent’s application is substantially the same as an invention disclosed to respondent by petitioner.
  • The petition must also demonstrate that derivation (conception + communication of conception) occurred and that the petitioner did not authorize the filing of the alleged deriver’s application claiming the derived invention • Both conception and communication of conception must be corroborated by sufficient evidence.

Practice Points for Respondents 

  • Attack standing of a petitioner if petitioner did not identify a patent application of which he is a named inventor in the petition. 
  • Assert that a petition is time-barred if at least one the challenged claims has been published, or is patentably indistinct from a claim that has been published, for one year or more.
  • Attack the sufficiency of petitioner’s arguments as to each of the “substantially the same as” inquiries.
  • Consider whether the petitioner provides sufficient evidence of derivation, including corroboration evidence of conception and communication of conception.
  • Query whether petitioner authorized the filing of respondent’s application claiming the derived invention.
  • Challenge the claim construction proposed by petitioner.