2026 so far
Decisions issued January 1, 2026 to November 4, 2026
- 59%
- affirmed
- 8%
- affirmed in part
- 32%
- reversed
- 3,286
- merits decisions
(PTAB)How the Board rules
Ex parte appeal outcomes at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, counted from the USPTO's own records: the last 30 days first, then this year against last year. Every table shows the dates it covers. Updated each weekday.
The last 30 days
Decisions issued October 5, 2026 to November 4, 2026
54%of 268 merits decisions affirmed the examiner in full
38%reversed the examiner in full
8%affirmed in part
AffirmedAffirmed in partReversed
Last 30 days, by rejection type
Decisions issued October 5, 2026 to November 4, 2026
A decision counts under every statute it addressed, so the rows overlap.
| Rejection | Decisions | Outcome | Reversed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 U.S.C. 101 | 55 | 15% | |
| 35 U.S.C. 102 | 48 | 46% | |
| 35 U.S.C. 103 | 176 | 41% | |
| 35 U.S.C. 112 | 50 | 38% |
Last 30 days, by technology center
Decisions issued October 5, 2026 to November 4, 2026
Where the appealed application was examined.
| Technology center | Decisions | Outcome | Reversed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3600Transportation, e-commerce, construction | 55 | 25% | |
| 1700Chemical and materials engineering | 48 | 44% | |
| 1600Biotechnology and organic chemistry | 45 | 22% | |
| 3700Mechanical engineering and medical devices | 40 | 55% | |
| 2100Computer architecture and software | 24 | 46% | |
| 2600Communications | 19 | 47% | |
| 2400Networking and security | 17 | 47% | |
| 2800Semiconductors and electrical | 17 | 47% | |
| 3900Designs and reexamination | 3 | 0% |
How the Board rules this year
2026 so far against the same weeks of 2025, so the two periods cover the same stretch of the calendar.
2025, same period
Decisions issued January 1, 2025 to November 4, 2025
- 59%
- affirmed
- 10%
- affirmed in part
- 31%
- reversed
- 4,739
- merits decisions
- −31%
- merits decisions issued, 2026 against the same period of 2025 (3,286 against 4,739)
- no change
- affirmed in full
- −2 pts
- affirmed in part
- +1 pt
- reversed in full
2025 full year, for reference: 5,674 merits decisions, 59% affirmed, 9% affirmed in part, 31% reversed (January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025). A point is one percentage point.
This year against last, by rejection type
Decisions issued January 1, 2026 to November 4, 2026
Decisions issued January 1, 2025 to November 4, 2025
The share of decisions that reversed the examiner in full on each statute. A decision counts under every statute it addressed.
| Rejection | 2026 decisions | 2026 reversed | 2025 same period | Change | 2025 full year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 U.S.C. 101 | 743 | 15% | 12% | +3 pts | 13% |
| 35 U.S.C. 102 | 443 | 33% | 36% | −3 pts | 36% |
| 35 U.S.C. 103 | 2,222 | 33% | 32% | +1 pt | 32% |
| 35 U.S.C. 112 | 691 | 25% | 26% | −1 pt | 26% |
This year against last, by technology center
Decisions issued January 1, 2026 to November 4, 2026
Decisions issued January 1, 2025 to November 4, 2025
Technology centers with at least 10 merits decisions this year.
| Technology center | 2026 decisions | 2026 reversed | 2025 same period | Change | 2025 full year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3600Transportation, e-commerce, construction | 668 | 23% | 22% | +1 pt | 23% |
| 3700Mechanical engineering and medical devices | 593 | 40% | 31% | +9 pts | 30% |
| 1700Chemical and materials engineering | 573 | 38% | 34% | +4 pts | 33% |
| 2100Computer architecture and software | 357 | 35% | 34% | +1 pt | 37% |
| 1600Biotechnology and organic chemistry | 351 | 21% | 27% | −6 pts | 27% |
| 2800Semiconductors and electrical | 269 | 31% | 38% | −7 pts | 38% |
| 2400Networking and security | 228 | 36% | 34% | +2 pts | 35% |
| 2600Communications | 193 | 37% | 40% | −3 pts | 41% |
| 3900Designs and reexamination | 54 | 26% | 32% | −6 pts | 35% |
AIA trials in the same window
Decisions issued October 5, 2026 to November 4, 2026
Inter partes review and post-grant review decisions, by the latest decision in each proceeding.
- 58
- Final written decisions
- 26
- Trials instituted
- 6
- Institution denied on the merits
- 8
- Discretionary denials
Recent reversals
Decisions issued October 5, 2026 to November 4, 2026
The newest decisions in which the Board reversed the examiner in full.
- November 4, 2026Reversed
Appeal 2026002736, US20230218622A1
Technology center 1600, art unit 1627. Issues: not listed.
- November 4, 2026Reversed
Appeal 2026001864, US20220317252A1
Technology center 3600, art unit 3645. Issues: 35 U.S.C. 102, 35 U.S.C. 103.
- November 3, 2026Reversed
Appeal 2026001746, US20130263870A1
Technology center 1700, art unit 1747. Issues: 35 U.S.C. 103.
- November 3, 2026Reversed
Appeal 2026001744, US20230058111A1
Technology center 2400, art unit 2487. Issues: 35 U.S.C. 112, 35 U.S.C. 103.
- November 2, 2026Reversed
Appeal 2026002234, US20230083286A1
Technology center 1700, art unit 1752. Issues: 35 U.S.C. 103.
- November 2, 2026Reversed
Appeal 2026002189, US20240099461A1
Technology center 3600, art unit 3637. Issues: 35 U.S.C. 103.
- November 2, 2026Reversed
Appeal 2026001989, US20210386440A1
Technology center 3700, art unit 3783. Issues: 35 U.S.C. 103.
- November 2, 2026Reversed
Appeal 2026001994, US20250113810A1
Technology center 3600, art unit 3647. Issues: 35 U.S.C. 102, 35 U.S.C. 103.
- October 30, 2026Reversed
Appeal 2026002294, US20240362412A1
Technology center 2600, art unit 2655. Issues: 35 U.S.C. 112, 35 U.S.C. 102, 35 U.S.C. 103.
- October 30, 2026Reversed
Appeal 2026002283, US20220116744A1
Technology center 2600, art unit 2631. Issues: not listed.
- October 30, 2026Reversed
Appeal 2026002269, US20230262067A1
Technology center 2400, art unit 2436. Issues: 35 U.S.C. 103.
- October 30, 2026Reversed
Appeal 2026002136, US20240117022A1
Technology center 1600, art unit 1646. Issues: 35 U.S.C. 103.
Source: USPTO Open Data Portal PTAB decision records. Counts exclude rehearing decisions and remands. Information, not legal advice.