What is the role of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)?

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) serves a critical function within the patent system, specifically focusing on adjudicating disputes, reviewing the validity of patents, and handling appeals from decisions made by patent examiners at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). When a party challenges a patent's validity, the PTAB conducts trials, known as inter partes reviews or post-grant reviews, providing a mechanism for resolving these disputes in a more efficient and less costly manner than traditional court litigation.

This role is essential for ensuring that only valid patents are enforced, promoting a fair competition environment and protecting the interests of innovators. The PTAB's ability to review and reverse patent examiner decisions also contributes to the review process's integrity and transparency, allowing appellants a forum to contest the outcomes of their patent applications.

In contrast, the other options encompass areas not covered by the PTAB's functions. Granting patents is primarily the role of patent examiners during the examination process. Facilitating patent litigation falls under the purview of the federal courts, where actual legal disputes involving patents are litigated. Providing educational resources on patent law is generally outside the direct mandate of the PTAB, which focuses instead on legal adjudication.