According to the ’306 patent, “[c]haracteristic flavor and fragrance components in meat are mostly produced during the cooking process by chemical reactions molecules (precursors) including amino acids,
“Rather, obviousness requires the additional showing that a person of ordinary skill at the time of the invention would have selected and combined those prior art elements in the normal course of research and development to yield the claimed invention.” Id. (citing KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 421 (2007)).
On the other hand, an obviousness analysis “need not seek out precise teachings directed to the specific subject matter of the challenged claim, for a court can take account of the inferences and creative steps that a person of ordinary skill in the art would employ.” Id. at 418; accord In re Translogic Tech., Inc., 504 F.3d 1249, 1259 (Fed. Cir. 2007).
Petitioner also argues that a person of ordinary skill in the art would have been “generally motivated by Rovaart itself to use techniques and ingredients that enhance the meaty flavor of Rovaart’s food products,” and would have “recognize[d] that one way to do so would be to include other ‘natural’ ‘suitable flavouring agents’ in the products.” Pet. 50–51 (citing Ex. 1003 ¶¶ 336–337).
We reach a similar result with regard to Petitioner’s argument that a person of ordinary skill in the art would be “generally motivated by Rovaart itself to use techniques and ingredients that enhance the meaty flavor of Rovaart’s food products.” Pet. 50–51.