Threshold Issue [Patents] Law and Legal Definition
According to 37 CFR 41.201 [Title 37 -- Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights; Chapter I -- United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce; Subchapter A – General; Part 41 -- Practice Before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences; Subpart E -- Patent Interferences], the term threshold issue means “an issue that, if resolved in favor of the movant, would deprive the opponent of standing in the interference. Threshold issues may include:
(1) No interference-in-fact, and
(2) In the case of an involved application claim first made after the publication of the movant's application or issuance of the movant's patent:
(i) Repose under 35 U.S.C. 135(b) in view of the movant's patent or published application, or
(ii) Unpatentability for lack of written description under 35 U.S.C. 112(1) of an involved application claim where the applicant suggested, or could have suggested, an interference under § 41.202(a).”
