An inter partes review (IPR) is a procedure in the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) whereby a U.S. patent can be challenged in the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). Although a patent can be challenged in federal district court, an IPR is an expedited and less costly procedure than federal court litigation. An IPR is like a mini-trial, as the Board must make a decision within one year. Thus, an IPR is a useful method for a defendant in a patent litigation lawsuit to invalidate the patent in issue.
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