When is a competitor required to respond to a patent infringement claim in federal court?

In patent infringement claims filed in federal court, the competitor is required to respond in a specific time frame established by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. When a patent infringement case is initiated, the first step is the filing of a complaint, which the defendant (the competitor) must respond to.

The correct timeframe for responding to a patent infringement claim is typically within 30 days after the initial planning conference, which is a meeting that occurs shortly after the case is filed to discuss case management matters. This response requirement is in line with the complex nature of patent cases, which often involve detailed factual and legal issues.

The other options do not align with the correct requirements: responding immediately upon receiving the complaint is not realistic as it does not allow for preparation time; 14 days after the filing date is shorter than what federal rules stipulate for most responses; and waiting until after the discovery phase is complete is not appropriate, as defendants are expected to respond well before the completion of discovery. Thus, responding 30 days post-initial planning conference is standard practice in federal patent litigation.