In Nantkwest, Inc. v. Matal, [2016-1794](August 31, 2017) the Federal Circuit sua sponte granted rehearing en banc of the panel decision discussed here on the issue of whether 35 U.S.C. § 145’s “[a]ll the expenses of the proceedings” provision authorizes an award of the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s attorneys’ fees?

Not part of this review is its most unfair aspect — that a successful applicant still must pay the USPTO’s “expenses” (whatever that means).