Quote: “This court has recognized, and the parties do not dispute, that the decision to grant a patent is a matter involving public rights — specifically, the

Quote: “This court has recognized, and the parties do not dispute, that the decision to grant a patent is a matter involving public rights — specifically, the grant of a public franchise,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the majority. “Inter partes review is simply a reconsideration of that grant.” This is a healthy reminder that patent rights are government granted monopolies that have to be enforced through government policing power.