U.S. Golf Manufacturers Council Submits Amicus Brief on Inter Partes Review

On October 26, 2017, the U.S. Golf Manufacturers Council (USGMC) filed an amicus curiae brief in the Supreme Court in support of the respondents in Oil States Energy Services v. Greene’s Energy Group, arguing that the inter partes review proceedings through which the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office cancels invalid patents plays a vital and successful role in ensuring patent quality. The USGMC, represented by Peter Brann, David Swetnam–Burland, and Stacy Stitham, represents a heavily patented industry, which relies on the Patent Office to monitor the validity of the patents it issues. The brief argues that the inter partes review proceedings have been particularly effective and efficient in allowing the Patent Office to check its work, and eliminate patents that were wrongly issued, and so play a key role in the U.S. patent system.

A copy of the brief is available here. Oral argument is scheduled for November 27, 2017.