SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Align Technology, Inc. ( ALGN) announced today that on August 22, 2018 the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (âFederal Circuitâ) vacated the Patent Trial and Appeal Boardâs (âPTABâ) decision invalidating certain claims of Alignâs patent no. 6,699,037, entitled âMethod and System for Incrementally Moving Teethâ (the â037 Patent). Although Align is not currently asserting this patent in any litigation against ClearCorrect, ClearCorrect challenged the validity of the patent in an inter partes review procedure and the resulting PTAB decision had invalidated four of the patentâs claims as obvious. The Federal Circuit disagreed and set aside the obviousness determination because â[n]either the Boardâs decision nor ClearCorrectâs brief on appeal reveals substantial evidence in support of those findings.â The Federal Circuit remanded the matter to the PTAB for further proceedings consistent with its opinion.
âWe are gratified that the Federal Circuit vacated the PTABâs decision. With the Federal Circuitâs guidance, we expect the â037 Patent will be upheld by the PTAB on remand as patentable, joining the numerous other findings of patentability in favor of Align and against ClearCorrectâs challenges to this and other patents in the Align portfolio,â said Roger E. George, Align Technology senior vice president and chief legal and regulatory officer. âAlign will continue to vigorously defend its patents against challenges and enforce them against infringers where appropriate.â
About Align Technology, Inc.
Align Technology designs and manufactures the InvisalignÂŽ system, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, and iTeroÂŽ intraoral scanners and services. Alignâs products help dental professionals achieve the clinical results they expect and deliver effective, cutting-edge dental options to their patients. Visit www.aligntech.com for more information.
For additional information about the Invisalign system or to find an Invisalign doctor in your area, please visit www.invisalign.com. For additional information about iTero digital scanning system, please visit www.itero.com.
Align Technology
Madelyn Homick
(408) 470-1180
[email protected]
Ethos Communication:
Shannon Mangum Henderson
(678) 261-7803
[email protected]