Fintiv Rule

The Fintiv Rule is a guideline used by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to decide whether to temporarily halt or delay reviewing a patent application. It considers whether there is already a related court case about the same patent issues. If a court case is ongoing, the USPTO may pause its review to avoid conflicting decisions, especially if the court is actively addressing the matter. This helps manage resources and ensures consistency between patent rulings in court and patent office review, balancing efficiency with fair examination.