[Patentpractice] Question about appeal brief

Suzannah K. Sundby suzannah at canadylortz.com
Mon Mar 17 10:46:16 UTC 2025


I guess I’ve always been too scared to follow the rules that way… I mean, if one must argue each claim separately to avoid standing or falling together, seems to me that part of that is also itemizing the claimed subject matter separately as well.

After all, it’s pretty easy to do with dependent claims, especially dependent claims are substantially in their originally presented form.

Suzannah K. Sundby<http://www.linkedin.com/in/ssundby/> | Partner
canady + lortz LLP<http://www.canadylortz.com/>
1050 30th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
T: 202.486.8020
F: 202.540.8020
suzannah at canadylortz.com<mailto:suzannah at canadylortz.com>
www.canadylortz.com<http://www.canadylortz.com/>
Confidentiality Notice:  This message is being sent by or on behalf of a lawyer.  It is intended exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed.  This communication may contain information that is proprietary, privileged or confidential, or otherwise legally exempt from disclosure.  If you are not the named addressee, you may not read, print, retain, copy, or disseminate this message or any part.  If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail and delete all copies of the message.

From: David Boundy <DavidBoundyEsq at gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 6:36 AM
To: Suzannah K. Sundby <suzannah at canadylortz.com>
Cc: For patent practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <patentpractice at oppedahl-lists.com>; David Boundy <DavidBoundyEsq at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Patentpractice] Question about appeal brief

The question, at least as I interpreted it, was about the Summary.

Yes, you have to separately argue the dependent claim, and you have to state that you're separately arguing it.   But you don't have to do the "specification by page and line number, and figure references" for dependent claims, except 112(f) limitations.

On Mon, Mar 17, 2025 at 5:52 AM Suzannah K. Sundby <suzannah at canadylortz.com<mailto:suzannah at canadylortz.com>> wrote:
Wait, I thought even if a dependent claim (including non-112(f) claims) one must separately argue each claim, i.e., recite in the summary of the claimed subject matter, or else the claim stands or falls with the others (i.e., the claim it depends on)…

Suzannah K. Sundby<http://www.linkedin.com/in/ssundby/> | Partner
canady + lortz LLP<http://www.canadylortz.com/>
1050 30th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
T: 202.486.8020
F: 202.540.8020
suzannah at canadylortz.com<mailto:suzannah at canadylortz.com>
www.canadylortz.com<http://www.canadylortz.com/>
Confidentiality Notice:  This message is being sent by or on behalf of a lawyer.  It is intended exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed.  This communication may contain information that is proprietary, privileged or confidential, or otherwise legally exempt from disclosure.  If you are not the named addressee, you may not read, print, retain, copy, or disseminate this message or any part.  If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail and delete all copies of the message.

From: Patentpractice <patentpractice-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com<mailto:patentpractice-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com>> On Behalf Of David Boundy via Patentpractice
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2025 10:56 PM
To: For patent practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <patentpractice at oppedahl-lists.com<mailto:patentpractice at oppedahl-lists.com>>
Cc: David Boundy <DavidBoundyEsq at gmail.com<mailto:DavidBoundyEsq at gmail.com>>
Subject: Re: [Patentpractice] Question about appeal brief

Only if the dependent claim has a 112(f) limitation.

On Sun, Mar 16, 2025 at 6:22 PM Patent Lawyer via Patentpractice <patentpractice at oppedahl-lists.com<mailto:patentpractice at oppedahl-lists.com>> wrote:
In an appeal brief: if I separately argue a dependent claim, must I summarize that dependent claim in the “SUMMARY OF CLAIMED SUBJECT MATTER”?
Or does 37 CFR 41.37(c)(1)(iii<https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-37/part-41/section-41.37#p-41.37(c)(1)(iii)>) [reproduced below] only require summary of the dependent claims that use MPF or Step-plus-function language?

Summary of claimed subject matter. A concise explanation of the subject matter defined in each of the rejected independent claims, which shall refer to the specification in the Record by page and line number or by paragraph number, and to the drawing, if any, by reference characters. For each rejected independent claim, and for each dependent claim argued separately under the provisions of paragraph (c)(1)(iv)<https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-37/section-41.37#p-41.37(c)(1)(iv)> of this section, if the claim contains a means plus function or step plus function recitation as permitted by 35 U.S.C. 112(f)<https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/35/112>, then the concise explanation must identify the structure, material, or acts described in the specification in the Record as corresponding to each claimed function with reference to the specification in the Record by page and line number or by paragraph number, and to the drawing, if any, by reference characters.


--
Patentpractice mailing list
Patentpractice at oppedahl-lists.com<mailto:Patentpractice at oppedahl-lists.com>
http://oppedahl-lists.com/mailman/listinfo/patentpractice_oppedahl-lists.com


--

[https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4wRMgBgcdZCqTw68Gg6ihENvW6_y8dGBqYvnJwiaIyu6LO5a7IJ-cljKsueIE5uxXbT6s9MN5hE2lGU]      [Cambridge Technology Law LLC]
<https://www.iam-media.com/strategy300/individuals/david-boundy>

Listed as one of the world's 300 leading intellectual property strategists<https://www.iam-media.com/strategy300/individuals/david-boundy>

Articles at http://ssrn.com/author=2936470<http://ssrn.com/author=2936470>
<https://www.keynect.us/requestCardAccess/USA500DBOUN?>

Click here to add me to your contacts.<https://www.keynect.us/requestCardAccess/USA500DBOUN?>

David Boundy<https://www.iam-media.com/strategy300/individuals/david-boundy>
DBoundy at cambridgetechlaw.com<mailto:dboundy at cambridgetechlaw.com> / +1 646.472.9737<tel:%2B1%206464729737>

Cambridge Technology Law LLC
686 Massachusetts Avenue #201, Cambridge  MA  02139
http://www.CambridgeTechLaw.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/DavidBoundy
mailing address
PO Box 590638
Newton MA   02459

This communication is a confidential attorney-client communication intended only for the person named above or an authorized representative.  Any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited, whether by the author or recipients.  Any legal, business or tax information contained in this communication, including attachments and enclosures, is not intended as a thorough, in-depth analysis of specific issues, nor a substitute for a formal opinion, nor is it sufficient to avoid legal or other adverse consequences to the recipient. Unless you are the addressee (or authorized to receive for the addressee), you may not copy, use, disclose or distribute this communication or attribute to the Firm any information contained in this communication. If you have received this communication in error, please advise the sender by replying to this message or by telephone, and then promptly delete it.


--

[https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4wRMgBgcdZCqTw68Gg6ihENvW6_y8dGBqYvnJwiaIyu6LO5a7IJ-cljKsueIE5uxXbT6s9MN5hE2lGU]
<https://www.iam-media.com/strategy300/individuals/david-boundy>

David Boundy | Partner | Potomac Law Group, PLLC

P.O. Box 590638, Newton, MA  02459

Tel (646) 472-9737 | Fax: (202) 318-7707

dboundy at potomaclaw.com<mailto:dboundy at potomaclaw.com> | www.potomaclaw.com<http://www.potomaclaw.com>

Articles at http://ssrn.com/author=2936470<http://ssrn.com/author=2936470>
<https://www.keynect.us/requestCardAccess/USA500DBOUN?>

Click here to add me to your contacts.<https://www.keynect.us/requestCardAccess/USA500DBOUN?>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://oppedahl-lists.com/pipermail/patentpractice_oppedahl-lists.com/attachments/20250317/b4a300fc/attachment.html>


More information about the Patentpractice mailing list