Policies, procedures, rules, guides, tools and manuals related to proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. More recent information can be found on the latest developments page.AppealsEx parte appealsRules for ex parte appealsRequest for oral argumentsPrecedential casesTrialsClaim construction final ruleAIA trial proceedingsRules for AIA trialsUmbrella rulesInter partes reviewPost-grant reviewCovered business method reviewDerivationNotice regarding options for amendments through reissues or reexaminations Trial Practice GuideTrial practice guide (August 2012)Trial practice guide August 2018 UpdateTrial practice guide July 2019 UpdateConsolidated trial practice guide November 2019Precedential cases Reexams and interferencesRules of inter partes reexaminationAppealsRules for contested casesRules for interferencesNotice regarding options for amendments through reissues or reexaminationsPrecedential cases Standard operating proceduresSOP 1 (rev. 15): Assignment of judges to panels (Sep. 20, 2018)SOP 2 (rev. 10): Precedential opinion panel to decide issues of exceptional importance involving policy or procedure (Sep. 20, 2018)SOP 9 (rev. 1): Procedure for decisions remanded from the federal circuitGuidance MemorandumMotions to amend (MTA) memorandum (Nov. 21, 2017)SAS impact memorandum (April 26, 2018) Notice regarding options for amendments through reissues or reexaminations (April 19, 2019)Applicant admitted prior art (AAPA) memorandum (Aug. 18, 2020)Trial Practice GuideTrial practice guide (August 2012)Trial practice guide August 2018 UpdateTrial practice guide July 2019 UpdateConsolidated trial practice guide November 2019 Statutes, rules, and referencesStatutes and rulesClaim construction final ruleStatutory provisionsTrial rulesAmendments to the rulesComments to proposed rulesU.S. Supreme CourtU.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC)Title 35 of the United States Code37 CFRFederal Rules of EvidenceUSPTO referencesBoard-related Official Gazette noticesManual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP)USPTO Rules of Professional ConductEthics guidanceRulemakingRequest for comments on discretion to institute AIA trials (Oct. 20, 2020)Comments on proposed rules on AIA trial institution and responsive briefing (June 29, 2020)Notice of proposed rulemaking on AIA trial institution and responsive briefing (May 27, 2020)Comments on proposed rules to allocate the burden of persuasion on motions to amend (Dec. 31, 2019)Notice of proposed rulemaking on allocation of burdens for motion to amend (Oct. 21, 2019)Comments on request for comments on motion to amend practice (Jan. 3, 2019)Comments on changes to the claim construction standard used in AIA trial proceedings (Aug. 28, 2019)Request for comments on motion to amend practice and procedures in trial proceedings under the America Invents Act before PTAB (Oct. 29, 2018)FAQsGeneral PTAB FAQsAIA FAQsFrequently asked questions about SAS implications (June 5, 2018)PTAB E2E FAQsPTAB operational FAQs (May 29, 2020)