# MPEP § 1720: Dissemination of Court and Patent Trial and Appeal Board Decisions

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1720

## Section

- **Citation:** MPEP § 1720
- **Heading:** Dissemination of Court and Patent Trial and Appeal Board Decisions
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO MPEP / Chapter 1700 - Miscellaneous / MPEP § 1720

## Text

I.
COURT DECISIONS
The Office of the Solicitor forwards to the Office of the Commissioner
for Patents copies of all recent court decisions in patent cases where a precedential
opinion is issued. The Office of the Commissioner for Patents will routinely forward
these opinions to TC Directors, the Office of Patent Training, and the Director of the
Office of Patent Quality Assurance.
TC Directors, in turn, are to make copies available to supervisors and
other individuals as the TC Director determines to be appropriate. TC Directors are
encouraged to discuss the contents of the opinions in their staff meetings, particularly
where such meetings are being held to reinforce examination quality.
II.
PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD DECISIONS
A decision rendered by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (Board) is
returned to the examiner. The examiner takes action consistent with the decision
rendered by the Board unless rehearing of the Board decision is requested
(
MPEP §
1214.03
). The TC Director may circulate and discuss the
decision among some or all of the supervisors in the TC, and the supervisors, in turn,
may circulate the decision among the examiners in their art units, depending on the
subject matter or issues in the decisions.
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## Nearby sections

- [MPEP § 1701 Office Personnel Not To Express Opinion on Validity, Patentability, Expiration Date, or Enforceability of Patent](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1701.md)
- [MPEP § 1701.01 Office Personnel Not To Testify](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1701.01.md)
- [MPEP § 1702 Restrictions on Current and Former Office Employees Regarding Patent Matters](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1702.md)
- [MPEP § 1703 The Official Gazette](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1703.md)
- [MPEP § 1704 Application Records and Reports](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1704.md)
- [MPEP § 1705 Examiner Docket, Time, and Activity Recordation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1705.md)
- [MPEP § 1720 Dissemination of Court and Patent Trial and Appeal Board Decisions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1720.md)
- [MPEP § 1721 Treatment of Court and Patent Trial and Appeal Board Decisions Affecting Patent and Trademark Office Policy and Practice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1721.md)
- [MPEP § 1730 Information Sources](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1730.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1720. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.