The Board determined that “[i]nstitution of an inter partes review under these circumstances would not be consistent with ‘an objective of the AIA ... to provide an effective and efficient alternative to district court litigation.’” Id. (citing Gen.
“[T]he Board’s cases addressing earlier trial dates as a basis for denial under NHK have sought to balance considerations such as system efficiency, fairness, and patent quality.” Apple Inc. v. Fintiv Inc., IPR2020-00019, Paper 11 at 5 (PTAB Mar. 20, 2020) (designated precedential).
We are also guided by the Director’s Memorandum, Interim Procedure for Discretionary Denials in AIA Post-Grant Proceedings with Parallel District Court Litigation, issued June 21, 2022 (“Guidance Memo”),3 which provides several clarifications concerning the application of the Fintiv factors.
Fintiv, Paper 11 at 11 (“If the evidence shows that the petitioner filed the petition expeditiously, such as promptly after becoming aware of the claims being asserted, this fact has weighed against exercising the authority to deny institution under NHK.”).
“Conversely, if the petition includes materially different grounds, arguments, and/or evidence than those presented in the district court, this fact has tended to weigh against exercising discretion to deny institution under NHK.” Id. at 12–13.