EDWIN L. REYNOLDS, ACTING COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS, APPELLANT,
v.
ELIE P. AGHNIDES, APPELLEE
PER CURIAM:
Appellee, alleging unlawful denial of his patent application by the Patent Office, petitioned the District Court, under 35 U.S.C. § 145, to authorize issuance of the patent by the Commissioner. Although finding that “some doubt exists as to the utility” of appellee’s claimed invention, the trial court, citing Application of Nurkiewicz, 338 F. 2d 1020, 1022, 52 C.C.P.A. 848,- (1964), as its authority, resolved the doubt in favor of the applicant and ordered the Commissioner to grant the patent. Aghnides v. Reynolds, D.D.C., 241 F. Supp. 280 (1965).
In so doing the trial court erred. Whatever may be the rule in patent review proceedings before the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, in trials de novo under 35 U.S.C. § 145 in the District Court, “doubt [as to patentability] is to be resolved,” not in favor of the applicant, but “in favor of the correctness of administrative * * * action.” General Motors Corporation v. Coe, 74 App.D.C. 189, 190, 120 F. 2d 736, 737, cert. denied, 314 U.S. 688, 62 S.Ct. 302, 86 L.Ed. 550 (1941).
See also Stieg v. Commissioner of Patents, 122 U.S.App.D.C. -, 353 F. 2d 899 (1965) (per curiam); Zenith Radio Corporation v. Ladd, 114 U.S.App.D.C. 54, 57, 310 F. 2d 859, 862 (1962); Schafer v. Watson, 109 U.S.App.D.C. 360, 288 F. 2d 144 (1961) (per curiam); Esso Standard Oil Company v. Sun Oil Company, 97 U.S.App.D.C. 154, 157, 229 F. 2d 37, 40, cert. denied, 351 U.S. 973, 76 S.Ct. 1027, 100 L.Ed. 1491 (1956).
Reversed.
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Cal. Research Corp. v. Ladd, 356 F.2d 813 (D.C. Cir. 1966)
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Brown v. The United States, 396 F.2d 989 (Ct. Cl. 1968)
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Hays v. Brenner, 357 F.2d 287 (D.C. Cir. 1966)
Previewing 3 of 6 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Esso Standard OIL Co. v. SUN OIL Co., 229 F.2d 37 (D.C. Cir. 1956)
- Zenith Radio Corp. v. Ladd, 310 F.2d 859 (D.C. Cir. 1962)
- Lee v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 351 U.S. 973 (U.S. 1956)
- Sun Oil Co. v. Esso Standard Oil Co., 351 U.S. 973 (U.S. 1956)
- Stieg v. Commissioner OF Patents, 353 F.2d 899 (D.C. Cir. 1965)
- Gustav Schafer v. Watson, 288 F.2d 144 (D.C. Cir. 1961)
- Gen. Motors Corp. v. Coe, 314 U.S. 688 (U.S. 1941)
- Harwick v. O'Hern, 314 U.S. 688 (U.S. 1941)
- Gen. Motors Corp. v. COE, 120 F.2d 736 (D.C. Cir. 1941)
- Application of Ignatius Nurkiewicz, 338 F.2d 1020 (C.C.P.A. 1964)