PTAB Found Four Stratasys Patents Unpatentable
The ruling challenges existing infringement damages and alters the legal landscape in the 3D printing industry.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Biotech
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The U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board has issued final written decisions finding claims across four Stratasys patents unpatentable. These findings arrive following inter partes review proceedings initiated by Shenzhen Tuozhu Technology.
Why it matters
The board’s decision complicates the legal standing of a prior $27.6 million jury verdict awarded to Stratasys for patent infringement. This development creates a significant hurdle for enforcement efforts within the competitive 3D printing sector.
The PTAB invalidated all claims in three patents—US 10,556,381, US 11,886,774, and US 10,569,466—along with 14 of 15 claims in patent US 9,168,698. These figures follow the board's separate June 2026 decision to uphold a fifth patent, US 9,421,713.
The players
Stratasys
A manufacturer of industrial 3D printers and additive manufacturing systems that relies on a broad patent portfolio.
Shenzhen Tuozhu Technology
The parent company of Bambu Lab, which challenges Stratasys patents through the patent review process.
The details
The PTAB conducts inter partes review—a trial-like proceeding used to challenge the validity of a patent—to determine if claims are unpatentable using a preponderance of the evidence standard. The board assesses whether the challenged claims fail to meet novelty or non-obviousness requirements against existing prior art. Stratasys now faces a complex legal path, as the patent office only officially cancels the claims after all appeals conclude.
Timeline
June 2026: PTAB upheld a purge tower patent and reviewed a third Stratasys patent.
Late September and early October 2026: PTAB issued final written decisions on four patents.
October 16, 2026: Deadline for post-trial motions in the first lawsuit.
March 2027: Expiration date for patent US 7,555,357.
The Tech Race
The decision marks a shift in the ongoing patent litigation between Stratasys and Bambu Lab. It directly calls into question the strength of the intellectual property claims that underpinned a $27.6 million jury award.
Users of 3D printing hardware may see shifts in the market availability of certain toolpath and printer features if these patent invalidations survive the appeals process. Companies within the additive manufacturing space should monitor these rulings as they define the legal bounds of printer operation and software efficiency.
The takeaway
The PTAB rulings expose the fragility of patent-based damage awards when subjected to administrative review. Keep a close watch on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, as any reversal of these PTAB decisions would reinstate the contested $2.8 million in potential damages.
What happens next
Stratasys has the opportunity to appeal these PTAB findings to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Meanwhile, stakeholders are watching the October 16, 2026, deadline for post-trial motions in the related Texas jury trial.
Further reading
For broader context on how patent disputes shape industry standards, see our Biotech section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 3D Printing Industry.
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