The Federal Circuit’s docket is burgeoning with Patent Office appeals.  Three years ago there were 118 appeals from the USPTO pending before the Federal Circuit.  Today there are 578.  The bulk of this increase is due to appeals from the post grant procedures created by the AIA.

According to a recent post on the AIPLA website, the Federal Circuit has decided 128 appeals of IPRs and CBMRs.  Seven (5%) of these were dismissed, 101 (79%) of these were complete affirmances.  In only 20 (21%) of these did the Federal Circuit reverse any aspect of the Board’s decision.

The PTAB, at least according to the Federal Circuit, seems to be getting it right.