CFR Subpart D

CFR Subpart D
in effect

37 C.F.R. § 41.100 Definitions.

In addition to the definitions in § 41.2, the following definitions apply to proceedings under this subpart: Business day means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday within the District of Columbia. Involved means the Board has declared the patent application, patent, or claim so described to be a subject of the contested case.

37 C.F.R. § 41.101 Notice of proceeding.

(a) Notice of a contested case will be sent to every party to the proceeding. The entry of the notice initiates the proceeding. (b) When the Board is unable to provide actual notice of a contested case on a party through the correspondence address of record for the party, the Board may authorize other modes of notice, including: (1) Sending notice to another address associated with the party, or (2) Publishing the notice in the Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

37 C.F.R. § 41.102 Completion of examination.

Before a contested case is initiated, except as the Board may otherwise authorize, for each involved application and patent: (a) Examination or reexamination must be completed, and (b) There must be at least one claim that: (1) Is patentable but for a judgment in the contested case, and (2) Would be involved in the contested case.

37 C.F.R. § 41.103 Jurisdiction over involved files.

The Board acquires jurisdiction over any involved file when the Board initiates a contested case. Other proceedings for the involved file within the Office are suspended except as the Board may order.

37 C.F.R. § 41.104 Conduct of contested case.

(a) The Board may determine a proper course of conduct in a proceeding for any situation not specifically covered by this part and may enter non-final orders to administer the proceeding. (b) An administrative patent judge may waive or suspend in a proceeding the application of any rule in this subpart, subject to such conditions as the administrative patent judge may impose. (c) Times set in this subpart are defaults. In the event of a conflict between a time set by rule and a time set by order, the time set by order is controlling. Action due on a day other than a business day may be completed on the next business day unless the Board expressly states otherwise.

37 C.F.R. § 41.106 Filing and service.

(a) General format requirements. (1) The paper used for filings must be durable and white. A party must choose to file on either A4-sized paper or 8 1/2 inch × 11 inch paper except in the case of exhibits that require a larger size in order to preserve details of the original. A party may not switch between paper sizes in a single proceeding. Only one side of the paper may be used. (2) In papers, including affidavits, created for the proceeding: (i) Markings must be in black ink or must otherwise provide an equivalently permanent, dark, high-contrast image on the paper. The quality of printing must be equivalent to the quality produced by a laser printer. Either a proportional or monospaced font may be used, but the proportional font must be 12-point or larger and a monospaced font must not contain more than 4 characters per centimeter (10 characters per inch). Case names must be underlined or italicized. (ii) Double spacing must be used except in headings, tables of contents, tables of authorities, indices, signature blocks, and certificates of service. Block quotations may be single-spaced and must be indented. Margins must be at least 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) on all sides. (b) Papers other than exhibits—(1) Cover sheet. (i) The cover sheet must include the caption the Board specifies for the proceeding, a header indicating the party and contact information for the party, and a title indicating the sequence and subject of the paper. For example, “JONES MOTION 2, For benefit of an earlier application”. (ii) If the Board specifies a color other than white for the cover sheet, the cover sheet must be that color. (2) Papers must have two 0.5 cm ( 1/4 inch) holes with centers 1 cm ( 1/2 inch) from the top of the page and 7 cm (2 3/4 inch) apart, centered horizontally on the page. (3) Incorporation by reference; combined papers. Arguments must not be incorporated by reference from one paper into another paper. Combined motions, oppositions, replies, or other combined papers are not permitted. (4) Exhibits. Additional requirements for exhibits appear in § 41.154(c). (c) Working copy. Every paper filed must be accompanied by a working copy marked “APJ Copy”. (d) Specific filing forms—(1) Filing by mail. A paper filed using the Priority Mail Express® service of the United States Postal Service will be deemed to be filed as of “date accepted” on the Priority Mail Express® mailing label; otherwise, mail will be deemed to be filed as of the stamped date of receipt at the Board. (2) Other modes of filing. The Board may authorize other modes of filing, including electronic filing and hand filing, and may set conditions for the use of such other modes. (e) Service. (1) Papers filed with the Board, if not previously served, must be served simultaneously on every opposing party except as the Board expressly directs. (2) If a party is represented by counsel, service must be on counsel. (3) Service must be by Priority Mail Express® or by means at least as fast and reliable as Priority Mail Express®. Electronic service is not permitted without Board authorization. (4) The date of service does not count in computing the time for responding. (f) Certificate of service. (1) Papers other than exhibits must include a certificate of service as a separate page at the end of each paper that must be served on an opposing party. (2) Exhibits must be accompanied by a certificate of service, but a single certificate may accompany any group of exhibits submitted together. (3) A certificate of service must state: (i) The date and manner of service, (ii) The name and address of every person served, and (iii) For exhibits filed as a group, the name and number of each exhibit served. (4) A certificate made by a person other than a registered practitioner must be in the form of an affidavit.

37 C.F.R. § 41.108 Lead counsel.

(a) A party may be represented by counsel. The Board may require a party to appoint a lead counsel. If counsel is not of record in a party's involved application or patent, then a power of attorney for that counsel for the party's involved application or patent must be filed with the notice required in paragraph (b) of this section. (b) Within 14 days of the initiation of each contested case, each party must file a separate notice identifying its counsel, if any, and providing contact information for each counsel identified or, if the party has no counsel, then for the party. Contact information must, at a minimum, include: (1) A mailing address; (2) An address for courier delivery when the mailing address is not available for such delivery (for example, when the mailing address is a Post Office box); (3) A telephone number; (4) A facsimile number; and (5) An electronic mail address. (c) A party must promptly notify the Board of any change in the contact information required in paragraph (b) of this section.

37 C.F.R. § 41.109 Access to and copies of Office records.

(a) Request for access or copies. Any request from a party for access to or copies of Office records directly related to a contested case must be filed with the Board. The request must precisely identify the records and in the case of copies include the appropriate fee set under § 1.19(b) of this title. (b) Authorization of access and copies. Access and copies will ordinarily only be authorized for the following records: (1) The application file for an involved patent; (2) An involved application; and (3) An application for which a party has been accorded benefit under subpart E of this part. (c) Missing or incomplete copies. If a party does not receive a complete copy of a record within 21 days of the authorization, the party must promptly notify the Board.

37 C.F.R. § 41.110 Filing claim information.

(a) Clean copy of claims. Within 14 days of the initiation of the proceeding, each party must file a clean copy of its involved claims and, if a biotechnology material sequence is a limitation, a clean copy of the sequence. (b) Annotated copy of claims. Within 28 days of the initiation of the proceeding, each party must: (1) For each involved claim having a limitation that is illustrated in a drawing or biotechnology material sequence, file an annotated copy of the claim indicating in bold face between braces ({ }) where each limitation is shown in the drawing or sequence. (2) For each involved claim that contains a means-plus-function or step-plus-function limitation in the form permitted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f), file an annotated copy of the claim indicating in bold face between braces ({ }) the specific portions of the specification that describe the structure, material, or acts corresponding to each claimed function. (c) Any motion to add or amend a claim must include: (1) A clean copy of the claim, (2) A claim chart showing where the disclosure of the patent or application provides written description of the subject matter of the claim, and (3) Where applicable, a copy of the claims annotated according to paragraph (b) of this section.

37 C.F.R. § 41.120 Notice of basis for relief.

(a) The Board may require a party to provide a notice stating the relief it requests and the basis for its entitlement to relief. The Board may provide for the notice to be maintained in confidence for a limited time. (b) Effect. If a notice under paragraph (a) of this section is required, a party will be limited to filing substantive motions consistent with the notice. Ambiguities in the notice will be construed against the party. A notice is not evidence except as an admission by a party-opponent. (c) Correction. A party may move to correct its notice. The motion should be filed promptly after the party becomes aware of the basis for the correction. A correction filed after the time set for filing notices will only be entered if entry would serve the interests of justice.

37 C.F.R. § 41.121 Motions.

(a) Types of motions—(1) Substantive motions. Consistent with the notice of requested relief, if any, and to the extent the Board authorizes, a party may file a motion: (i) To redefine the scope of the contested case, (ii) To change benefit accorded for the contested subject matter, or (iii) For judgment in the contested case. (2) Responsive motions. The Board may authorize a party to file a motion to amend or add a claim, to change inventorship, or otherwise to cure a defect raised in a notice of requested relief or in a substantive motion. (3) Miscellaneous motions. Any request for relief other than a substantive or responsive motion must be filed as a miscellaneous motion. (b) Burden of proof. The party filing the motion has the burden of proof to establish that it is entitled to the requested relief. (c) Content of motions; oppositions and replies. (1) Each motion must be filed as a separate paper and must include: (i) A statement of the precise relief requested, (ii) A statement of material facts (see paragraph (d) of this section), and (iii) A full statement of the reasons for the relief requested, including a detailed explanation of the significance of the evidence and the governing law, rules, and precedent. (2) Compliance with rules. Where a rule in part 1 of this title ordinarily governs the relief sought, the motion must make any showings required under that rule in addition to any showings required in this part. (3) The Board may order additional showings or explanations as a condition for filing a motion. (d) Statement of material facts. (1) Each material fact shall be set forth as a separate numbered sentence with specific citations to the portions of the record that support the fact. (2) The Board may require that the statement of material facts be submitted as a separate paper. (e) Claim charts. Claim charts must be used in support of any paper requiring the comparison of a claim to something else, such as another claim, prior art, or a specification. Claim charts must accompany the paper as an appendix. Claim charts are not a substitute for appropriate argument and explanation in the paper. (f) The Board may order briefing on any issue that could be raised by motion.

37 C.F.R. § 41.122 Oppositions and replies.

(a) Oppositions and replies must comply with the content requirements for motions and must include a statement identifying material facts in dispute. Any material fact not specifically denied shall be considered admitted. (b) All arguments for the relief requested in a motion must be made in the motion. A reply may only respond to arguments raised in the corresponding opposition.

37 C.F.R. § 41.123 Default filing times.

(a) A motion, other than a miscellaneous motion, may only be filed according to a schedule the Board sets. The default times for acting are: (1) An opposition is due 30 days after service of the motion. (2) A reply is due 30 days after service of the opposition. (3) A responsive motion is due 30 days after the service of the motion. (b) Miscellaneous motions. (1) If no time for filing a specific miscellaneous motion is provided in this part or in a Board order: (i) The opposing party must be consulted prior to filing the miscellaneous motion, and (ii) If an opposing party plans to oppose the miscellaneous motion, the movant may not file the motion without Board authorization. Such authorization should ordinarily be obtained through a telephone conference including the Board and every other party to the proceeding. Delay in seeking relief may justify a denial of the motion. (2) An opposition may not be filed without authorization. The default times for acting are: (i) An opposition to a miscellaneous motion is due five business days after service of the motion. (ii) A reply to a miscellaneous motion opposition is due three business days after service of the opposition. (c) Exhibits. Each exhibit must be filed and served with the first paper in which it is cited except as the Board may otherwise order.

37 C.F.R. § 41.124 Oral argument.

(a) Request for oral argument. A party may request an oral argument on an issue raised in a paper within five business days of the filing of the paper. The request must be filed as a separate paper and must specify the issues to be considered. (b) Copies for panel. If an oral argument is set for a panel, the movant on any issue to be argued must provide three working copies of the motion, the opposition, and the reply. Each party is responsible for providing three working copies of its exhibits relating to the motion. (c) Length of argument. If a request for oral argument is granted, each party will have a total of 20 minutes to present its arguments, including any time for rebuttal. (d) Demonstrative exhibits must be served at least five business days before the oral argument and filed no later than the time of the oral argument. (e) Transcription. The Board encourages the use of a transcription service at oral arguments but, if such a service is to be used, the Board must be notified in advance to ensure adequate facilities are available and a transcript must be filed with the Board promptly after the oral argument.

37 C.F.R. § 41.125 Decision on motions.

(a) Order of consideration. The Board may take up motions for decisions in any order, may grant, deny, or dismiss any motion, and may take such other action appropriate to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of the proceeding. A decision on a motion may include deferral of action on an issue until a later point in the proceeding. (b) Interlocutory decisions. A decision on motions without a judgment is not final for the purposes of judicial review. A panel decision on an issue will govern further proceedings in the contested case. (c) Rehearing—(1) Time for request. A request for rehearing of a decision on a motion must be filed within fourteen days of the decision. (2) No tolling. The filing of a request for rehearing does not toll times for taking action. (3) Burden on rehearing. The burden of showing a decision should be modified lies with the party attacking the decision. The request must specifically identify: (i) All matters the party believes to have been misapprehended or overlooked, and (ii) The place where the matter was previously addressed in a motion, opposition, or reply. (4) Opposition; reply. Neither an opposition nor a reply to a request for rehearing may be filed without Board authorization. (5) Panel rehearing. If a decision is not a panel decision, the party requesting rehearing may request that a panel rehear the decision. A panel rehearing a procedural decision will review the decision for an abuse of discretion.

37 C.F.R. § 41.126 Arbitration.

(a) Parties to a contested case may resort to binding arbitration to determine any issue in a contested case. The Office is not a party to the arbitration. The Board is not bound and may independently determine questions of patentability, jurisdiction, and Office practice. (b) The Board will not authorize arbitration unless: (1) It is to be conducted according to Title 9 of the United States Code. (2) The parties notify the Board in writing of their intention to arbitrate. (3) The agreement to arbitrate: (i) Is in writing, (ii) Specifies the issues to be arbitrated, (iii) Names the arbitrator, or provides a date not more than 30 days after the execution of the agreement for the selection of the arbitrator, and (iv) Provides that the arbitrator's award shall be binding on the parties and that judgment thereon can be entered by the Board. (4) A copy of the agreement is filed within 20 days after its execution. (5) The arbitration is completed within the time the Board sets. (c) The parties are solely responsible for the selection of the arbitrator and the conduct of proceedings before the arbitrator. (d) Issues not disposed of by the arbitration will be resolved in accordance with the procedures established in this subpart. (e) The Board will not consider the arbitration award unless it: (1) Is binding on the parties, (2) Is in writing, (3) States in a clear and definite manner each issue arbitrated and the disposition of each issue, and (4) Is filed within 20 days of the date of the award. (f) Once the award is filed, the parties to the award may not take actions inconsistent with the award. If the award is dispositive of the contested subject matter for a party, the Board may enter judgment as to that party.

37 C.F.R. § 41.127 Judgment.

(a) Effect within Office—(1) Estoppel. A judgment disposes of all issues that were, or by motion could have properly been, raised and decided. A losing party who could have properly moved for relief on an issue, but did not so move, may not take action in the Office after the judgment that is inconsistent with that party's failure to move, except that a losing party shall not be estopped with respect to any contested subject matter for which that party was awarded a favorable judgment. (2) Final disposal of claim. Adverse judgment against a claim is a final action of the Office requiring no further action by the Office to dispose of the claim permanently. (b) Request for adverse judgment. A party may at any time in the proceeding request judgment against itself. Actions construed to be a request for adverse judgment include: (1) Abandonment of an involved application such that the party no longer has an application or patent involved in the proceeding, (2) Cancellation or disclaiming of a claim such that the party no longer has a claim involved in the proceeding, (3) Concession of priority or unpatentability of the contested subject matter, and (4) Abandonment of the contest. (c) Recommendation. The judgment may include a recommendation for further action by the examiner or by the Director. If the Board recommends rejection of a claim of an involved application, the examiner must enter and maintain the recommended rejection unless an amendment or showing of facts not previously of record is filed which, in the opinion of the examiner, overcomes the recommended rejection. (d) Rehearing. A party dissatisfied with the judgment may file a request for rehearing within 30 days of the entry of the judgment. The request must specifically identify all matters the party believes to have been misapprehended or overlooked, and the place where the matter was previously addressed in a motion, opposition, or reply.

37 C.F.R. § 41.128 Sanctions.

(a) The Board may impose a sanction against a party for misconduct, including: (1) Failure to comply with an applicable rule or order in the proceeding; (2) Advancing a misleading or frivolous request for relief or argument; or (3) Engaging in dilatory tactics. (b) Sanctions include entry of: (1) An order holding certain facts to have been established in the proceeding; (2) An order expunging, or precluding a party from filing, a paper; (3) An order precluding a party from presenting or contesting a particular issue; (4) An order precluding a party from requesting, obtaining, or opposing discovery; (5) An order excluding evidence; (6) An order awarding compensatory expenses, including attorney fees; (7) An order requiring terminal disclaimer of patent term; or (8) Judgment in the contested case.

37 C.F.R. § 41.150 Discovery.

(a) Limited discovery. A party is not entitled to discovery except as authorized in this subpart. The parties may agree to discovery among themselves at any time. (b) Automatic discovery. (1) Within 21 days of a request by an opposing party, a party must: (i) Serve a legible copy of every requested patent, patent application, literature reference, and test standard mentioned in the specification of the party's involved patent or application, or application upon which the party will rely for benefit, and, if the requested material is in a language other than English, a translation, if available, and (ii) File with the Board a notice (without copies of the requested materials) of service of the requested materials. (2) Unless previously served, or the Board orders otherwise, any exhibit cited in a motion or in testimony must be served with the citing motion or testimony. (c) Additional discovery. (1) A party may request additional discovery. The requesting party must show that such additional discovery is in the interests of justice. The Board may specify conditions for such additional discovery. (2) When appropriate, a party may obtain production of documents and things during cross examination of an opponent's witness or during testimony authorized under § 41.156.

37 C.F.R. § 41.151 Admissibility.

Evidence that is not taken, sought, or filed in accordance with this subpart shall not be admissible.

37 C.F.R. § 41.152 Applicability of the Federal Rules of Evidence.

(a) Generally. Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, the Federal Rules of Evidence shall apply to contested cases. (b) Exclusions. Those portions of the Federal Rules of Evidence relating to criminal proceedings, juries, and other matters not relevant to proceedings under this subpart shall not apply. (c) Modifications in terminology. Unless otherwise clear from context, the following terms of the Federal Rules of Evidence shall be construed as indicated: Appellate court means United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or a United States district court when judicial review is under 35 U.S.C. 146. Civil action, civil proceeding, action, and trial mean contested case. Courts of the United States, U.S. Magistrate, court, trial court, and trier of fact mean Board. Hearing means: (i) In Federal Rule of Evidence 703, the time when the expert testifies. (ii) In Federal Rule of Evidence 804(a)(5), the time for taking testimony. Judge means the Board. Judicial notice means official notice. Trial or hearing means, in Federal Rule of Evidence 807, the time for taking testimony. (d) The Board, in determining foreign law, may consider any relevant material or source, including testimony, whether or not submitted by a party or admissible under the Federal Rules of Evidence.

37 C.F.R. § 41.153 Records of the Office.

Certification is not necessary as a condition to admissibility when the evidence to be submitted is a record of the Office to which all parties have access.

37 C.F.R. § 41.154 Form of evidence.

(a) Evidence consists of affidavits, transcripts of depositions, documents, and things. All evidence must be submitted in the form of an exhibit. (b) Translation required. When a party relies on a document or is required to produce a document in a language other than English, a translation of the document into English and an affidavit attesting to the accuracy of the translation must be filed with the document. (c) An exhibit must conform with the requirements for papers in § 41.106 of this subpart and the requirements of this paragraph. (1) Each exhibit must have an exhibit label with a unique number in a range assigned by the Board, the names of the parties, and the proceeding number in the following format: (2) When the exhibit is a paper: (i) Each page must be uniquely numbered in sequence, and (ii) The exhibit label must be affixed to the lower right corner of the first page of the exhibit without obscuring information on the first page or, if obscuring is unavoidable, affixed to a duplicate first page. (d) Exhibit list. Each party must maintain an exhibit list with the exhibit number and a brief description of each exhibit. If the exhibit is not filed, the exhibit list should note that fact. The Board may require the filing of a current exhibit list prior to acting on a motion.

37 C.F.R. § 41.155 Objection; motion to exclude; motion in limine.

(a) Deposition. Objections to deposition evidence must be made during the deposition. Evidence to cure the objection must be provided during the deposition unless the parties to the deposition stipulate otherwise on the deposition record. (b) Other than deposition. For evidence other than deposition evidence: (1) Objection. Any objection must be served within five business days of service of evidence, other than deposition evidence, to which the objection is directed. (2) Supplemental evidence. The party relying on evidence for which an objection is timely served may respond to the objection by serving supplemental evidence within ten business days of service of the objection. (c) Motion to exclude. A miscellaneous motion to exclude evidence must be filed to preserve any objection. The motion must identify the objections in the record in order and must explain the objections. (d) Motion in limine. A party may file a miscellaneous motion in limine for a ruling on the admissibility of evidence.

37 C.F.R. § 41.156 Compelling testimony and production.

(a) Authorization required. A party seeking to compel testimony or production of documents or things must file a miscellaneous motion for authorization. The miscellaneous motion must describe the general relevance of the testimony, document, or thing and must: (1) In the case of testimony, identify the witness by name or title, and (2) In the case of a document or thing, the general nature of the document or thing. (b) Outside the United States. For testimony or production sought outside the United States, the motion must also: (1) In the case of testimony. (i) Identify the foreign country and explain why the party believes the witness can be compelled to testify in the foreign country, including a description of the procedures that will be used to compel the testimony in the foreign country and an estimate of the time it is expected to take to obtain the testimony; and (ii) Demonstrate that the party has made reasonable efforts to secure the agreement of the witness to testify in the United States but has been unsuccessful in obtaining the agreement, even though the party has offered to pay the expenses of the witness to travel to and testify in the United States. (2) In the case of production of a document or thing. (i) Identify the foreign country and explain why the party believes production of the document or thing can be compelled in the foreign country, including a description of the procedures that will be used to compel production of the document or thing in the foreign country and an estimate of the time it is expected to take to obtain production of the document or thing; and (ii) Demonstrate that the party has made reasonable efforts to obtain the agreement of the individual or entity having possession, custody, or control of the document to produce the document or thing in the United States but has been unsuccessful in obtaining that agreement, even though the party has offered to pay the expenses of producing the document or thing in the United States.

37 C.F.R. § 41.157 Taking testimony.

(a) Form. Direct testimony must be submitted in the form of an affidavit except when the testimony is compelled under 35 U.S.C. 24, in which case it may be in the form of a deposition transcript. (b) Time and location. (1) Uncompelled direct testimony may be taken at any time; otherwise, testimony may only be taken during such time period as the Board may authorize. (2) Other testimony. (i) Except as the Board otherwise orders, authorized testimony may be taken at any reasonable time and location within the United States before any disinterested official authorized to administer oaths at that location. (ii) Testimony outside the United States may only be taken as the Board specifically directs. (c) Notice of deposition. (1) Prior to the taking of testimony, all parties to the proceeding must agree on the time and place for taking testimony. If the parties cannot agree, the party seeking the testimony must initiate a conference with the Board to set a time and place. (2) Cross-examination should ordinarily take place after any supplemental evidence relating to the direct testimony has been filed and more than a week before the filing date for any paper in which the cross-examination testimony is expected to be used. A party requesting cross-examination testimony of more than one witness may choose the order in which the witnesses are to be cross-examined. (3) In the case of direct testimony, at least three business days prior to the conference in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the party seeking the direct testimony must serve: (i) A list and copy of each document under the party's control and on which the party intends to rely, and (ii) A list of, and proffer of reasonable access to, any thing other than a document under the party's control and on which the party intends to rely. (4) Notice of the deposition must be filed at least two business days before a deposition. The notice limits the scope of the testimony and must list: (i) The time and place of the deposition, (ii) The name and address of the witness, (iii) A list of the exhibits to be relied upon during the deposition, and (iv) A general description of the scope and nature of the testimony to be elicited. (5) Motion to quash. Objection to a defect in the notice is waived unless a miscellaneous motion to quash is promptly filed. (d) Deposition in a foreign language. If an interpreter will be used during the deposition, the party calling the witness must initiate a conference with the Board at least five business days before the deposition. (e) Manner of taking testimony. (1) Each witness before giving a deposition shall be duly sworn according to law by the officer before whom the deposition is to be taken. The officer must be authorized to take testimony under 35 U.S.C. 23. (2) The testimony shall be taken in answer to interrogatories with any questions and answers recorded in their regular order by the officer, or by some other disinterested person in the presence of the officer, unless the presence of the officer is waived on the record by agreement of all parties. (3) Any exhibits relied upon must be numbered according to the numbering scheme assigned for the contested case and must, if not previously served, be served at the deposition. (4) All objections made at the time of the deposition to the qualifications of the officer taking the deposition, the manner of taking it, the evidence presented, the conduct of any party, and any other objection to the proceeding shall be noted on the record by the officer. Evidence objected to shall be taken subject to a ruling on the objection. (5) When the testimony has been transcribed, the witness shall read and sign (in the form of an affidavit) a transcript of the deposition unless: (i) The parties otherwise agree in writing, (ii) The parties waive reading and signature by the witness on the record at the deposition, or (iii) The witness refuses to read or sign the transcript of the deposition. (6) The officer shall prepare a certified transcript by attaching to the transcript of the deposition a certificate in the form of an affidavit signed and sealed by the officer. Unless the parties waive any of the following requirements, in which case the certificate shall so state, the certificate must state: (i) The witness was duly sworn by the officer before commencement of testimony by the witness; (ii) The transcript is a true record of the testimony given by the witness; (iii) The name of the person who recorded the testimony and, if the officer did not record it, whether the testimony was recorded in the presence of the officer; (iv) The presence or absence of any opponent; (v) The place where the deposition was taken and the day and hour when the deposition began and ended; (vi) The officer has no disqualifying interest, personal or financial, in a party; and (vii) If a witness refuses to read or sign the transcript, the circumstances under which the witness refused. (7) The officer must promptly provide a copy of the transcript to all parties. The proponent of the testimony must file the original as an exhibit. (8) Any objection to the content, form, or manner of taking the deposition, including the qualifications of the officer, is waived unless made on the record during the deposition and preserved in a timely filed miscellaneous motion to exclude. (f) Costs. Except as the Board may order or the parties may agree in writing, the proponent of the testimony shall bear all costs associated with the testimony, including the reasonable costs associated with making the witness available for the cross-examination.

37 C.F.R. § 41.158 Expert testimony; tests and data.

(a) Expert testimony that does not disclose the underlying facts or data on which the opinion is based is entitled to little or no weight. Testimony on United States patent law will not be admitted. (b) If a party relies on a technical test or data from such a test, the party must provide an affidavit explaining: (1) Why the test or data is being used, (2) How the test was performed and the data was generated, (3) How the data is used to determine a value, (4) How the test is regarded in the relevant art, and (5) Any other information necessary for the Board to evaluate the test and data.

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