Definition
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) is an administrative tribunal within the USPTO that decides appeals from examiners and conducts proceedings challenging granted patents.
Why It Matters Legally
The PTAB offers a faster, cheaper venue than federal court for challenging patents, which has reshaped patent strategy. Many infringement defendants now attack patents at the PTAB in parallel with litigation.
Example Use Case
A company accused of infringement petitions the PTAB for inter partes review, seeking to cancel the patent’s claims before the court case proceeds.
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Related Terms
Inter Partes Review, Post-Grant Review, Patent Appeal, Patent Validity, Patent Litigation