The U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) has denied Afinia’s requests for inter partes review of three important FDM® technology patents directed to liquefier structure, temperature control, and tool paths for constructing part perimeters.
Inter partes review is a proceeding in which the PTAB reviews the validity of claims in a patent. In denying Afinia’s requests, the PTAB reasoned that Afinia “has not demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of prevailing,” with respect to any of the challenged claims, in the Stratasys patents.
“We are very pleased with the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s decision,” said Soonhee Jang, Stratasys Vice President and Chief IP Counsel. “These dismissals are evidence of the strength of our patent portfolio.”
Stratasys has filed a lawsuit against Afinia back in November 2013, initially claiming that the company had infringed on four of Stratasys’ patents related to FDM technology. The actual trial is set for December 2015.
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