It was another really light week at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), with just 14 new patent filings (two post grant reviews [PGRs] and 12 inter partes reviews [IPRs]). The district court filings kept their usual clip with 65. Four of those IPRs were Micron’s barrage against an Acacia-backed semiconductor non-practicing entity (NPE), and two were Intel filing against a semiconductor entity, Demaray LLC. New York University filed a new complaint against ResMed; Volkswagen was hit on relatively generic wireless communications patents by Corydoras Technologies (run by Anubias Techs, LLC) on their “SOS” call help buttons in certain Audi and other top-line models. An earlier suit run by Corydoras (or Anubias, all seemingly run by prolific inventor-assertor Iwao Fujisaki, a Japanese citizen) has filed against over a dozen companies, including Amazon, BestBuy, ASUSTek, Sony, ZTE, Huawei, Lenovo, LG, Apple, and Samsung on a portfolio numbering over 150 U.S. patents.
PTAB Institutes Koss IPR Despite Western District of Texas Trial Date: The Board bucked the trend of denying petitions within seven or so months of trial, instituting IPRs against headphone patent plaintiff Koss Corporation. See IPR2021-00305.
In the same week, they discretionarily denied an IPR against long-known NPE Oyster Optic in light of a scheduled November 1 Eastern District trial date. See IPR2021-00238, Paper 10. Oyster is owned and controlled by Tequity Capital Management, TQ Gamma LLC; it is worth noting that the Eastern District of Texas, despite lockdowns, and a COVID outbreak, has been more likely to meet or come near to scheduled trial dates than the Waco division of the Western District has, to date, since Judge Albright instituted his aggressive trial schedule standing order. The patent and many related patents have seen a fair number of lawsuits and challenges to date, including IPR2018-00259, IPR2017-02173, IPR2017-01871, IPR2017- 01882, IPR2017-02146, IPR2017-01874, IPR2018-00257, IPR2018-00070, IPR2017-01870, IPR2017-01881, and IPR2018-00146. Oyster has since 2008 sued AT&T, ZTE Corp., Huawei, Nokia, NEC, BT Group, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Discovery Semiconductor, and others.
The entire dispute has been overshadowed by the earlier settlements that have extended to products not thought covered by the earlier settlements, and a tricky licensing landscape; certainly it shows no sign of stopping, and the relatively successful Oyster Optic has had enough success licensing that they show no signs of slowing down, despite the complex picture and issues facing the funded portfolio.
Acacia Cases Heat Up: Acacia-backed Unification Technologies LLC had filed against Texas-based Micron Semiconductor; Micron hit back this week with three challenges. See IPRs2021-00941, -942, 943. In a separate campaign, Acacia (as Stingray IP Solutions, LLC) moved on to round two against Amazon, Ring, Immedia Semiconductor, Legrand, and Somfy, asserting patents allegedly reading on Internet-of-Things wireless standards Wi-Fi, ZigBee, and Z-Wave protocol. See Stingray IP Solutions v. Amazon.com et al, No. 2:21-cv-00193 (E.D. Tex. Filed June 1, 2021) (asserting U.S. Patents 6,961,310, 6,958,986, 6,980,537, 7,027,426). The earlier suit against Samsung settled, but the Signify and TP-Link suits continue. In a third campaign, R2 Solutions, Acacia also added defendants Roku and iHeartMedia based on their use of open-source software related to Apache Hadoop.
|
PTAB (14)
|
Case Number |
Action |
Owner |
Petitioner |
Patent |
IPR2021-01051 |
Filed |
Cardiovalve Ltd. |
Edwards LifeSciences Corporation
Edwards LifeSciences LLC |
10702385 |
IPR2021-00941 |
Filed |
Unification Technologies LLC [Acacia Research Corp.] |
Micron Technology, Inc.
Micron Semiconductor Products, Inc.
Micron Technology Texas LLC |
8762658 |
IPR2021-01018 |
Filed |
Nabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc. [Nabors Industry Limited] |
Helemerich & Payne International Drilling Company
Helemerich & Payne Technologies, LLC
Motive Drilling Technologies, Inc. |
7802634 |
IPR2021-00988 |
Filed |
REC Solar Pte. Ltd. [REC Solar Holdings AS] |
Hanwha Solutions Corporation
Hanwha Q Cells USA, Inc. |
10749060 |
IPR2021-01027 |
Filed |
Inguran, LLC |
Genus PLC |
10542734 |
IPR2021-01031 |
Filed |
Demaray LLC [R. Ernest Demaray] |
Intel Corporation |
7381657 |
IPR2021-01030 |
Filed |
Demaray LLC [R. Ernest Demaray] |
Intel Corporation |
7544276 |
PGR2021-00089 |
Filed |
Dynaenergetics Europe Gmbh |
Schlumberger Technology Corporation |
10844696 |
IPR2021-00989 |
Filed |
REC Solar Pte. Ltd. [REC Solar Holdings AS] |
Hanwha Solutions Corporation
Hanwha Q Cells USA, Inc. |
10749060 |
IPR2021-00921 |
Filed |
Gesture Technology Partners, LLC |
Apple, Inc |
8878949 |
IPR2021-01054 |
Filed |
Ravgen, Inc. |
Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings |
7332277 |
PGR2021-00090 |
Filed |
Cambria Company LLC |
Cosentino S.A.U
C&C North America Inc. |
10981293 |
IPR2021-00942 |
Filed |
Unification Technologies LLC [Acacia Research Corp.] |
Micron Technology, Inc.
Micron Semiconductor Products, Inc.
Micron Technology Texas LLC |
9632727 |
IPR2021-00940 |
Filed |
Unification Technologies LLC [Acacia Research Corp.] |
Micron Technology, Inc.
Micron Semiconductor Products, Inc.
Micron Technology Texas LLC |
8533406 |
IPR2020-00208 |
Not Instituted – Merits |
Jiaxing Super Lighting Electric Appliance Co. Ltd. |
Maxlite, Inc. |
9807826 |
IPR2021-00212 |
Not Instituted – Merits |
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. |
Dropworks, Inc., |
9127310 |
IPR2021-00249 |
Not Instituted – Procedural |
Luminati Networks Ltd. |
TESO LT, UAB
CODE200, UAB
Metacluster LT UAB
Oxysales UAB |
10637968 |
IPR2021-00238 |
Not Instituted – Procedural |
Oyster Optics, LLC [Oyster Optics, Inc., Tequity Capital Management, TQ Gamma LLC] |
Cisco Systems, Inc. |
10205516 |
IPR2021-00305 |
Instituted |
Koss Corporation |
Apple, Inc. |
10506325 |
IPR2021-00195 |
Instituted |
Masimo Corporation |
Apple, Inc. |
10376190 |
IPR2021-00187 |
Instituted |
Omnitracs LLC [Omnitracs Holdings, LLC] |
Platform Science, Inc. |
9147335 |
IPR2021-00297 |
Instituted |
Koss Corporation |
Bose Corporation |
10368155 |
IPR2021-00302 |
Instituted |
Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC [Government of the United States of America] |
Dropworks, Inc. |
RE43365 |
IPR2021-00209 |
Instituted |
Masimo Corporation |
Apple, Inc. |
10376191 |
IPR2021-00208 |
Instituted |
Masimo Corporation |
Apple, Inc. |
10258266 |
IPR2020-01708 |
Instituted |
Monarch Networking Solutions LLC [Acacia Research Corp.] |
Unified Patents, LLC |
7756507 |
IPR2021-00274 |
Instituted |
AutoStore Technology AS |
Ocado Group PLC |
10294025 |
IPR2021-00193 |
Instituted |
Masimo Corporation |
Apple, Inc |
10299708 |
IPR2021-00230 |
Instituted |
Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. |
Satco Products, Inc. |
7646031 |
IPR2021-00218 |
Instituted |
Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC |
Dropworks, Inc., |
RE41780 |
IPR2021-00255 |
Instituted |
Koss Corporation |
Apple, Inc |
10298451 |
IPR2020-00081 |
Final Written Decision |
Hammond Development International, Inc. |
Google LLC |
10270816 |
IPR2020-00176 |
Final Written Decision |
Sonova AG [Sonova Holding AG, poss. Advanced Bionics AG] |
Med-El Elektromedizinische Geraete Gmbh |
6761681 |
IPR2020-00190 |
Final Written Decision |
Advanced Bionics AG [Sonova AG, Sonova Holding AG] |
Med-El Elektromedizinische Geraete Gmbh |
8155747 |
|
District Court (65)
|
Case Number |
Action |
Plaintiff |
Defendant |
Patent |
1:21-cv-02926 |
Filed |
Oakley, Inc. |
The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule “A” |
D847897 |
1:21-cv-00813 |
Filed |
New York University |
ResMed Co. |
9867955
9427539
6988994
9108009
10384024
9533115
9168344 |
8:21-cv-01348 |
Filed |
ConforMIS, Inc. |
Exactech, Inc. |
9186161
9295482
8460304
9326780
8623026 |
6:21-cv-00565 |
Filed |
QONDADO LLC |
Paypal, Inc. |
D857054 |
1:21-cv-00273 |
Filed |
Optinetix Inc. |
HEB Grocery Company, LP |
7349668 |
1:21-cv-00820 |
Filed |
Teladoc Health, Inc. |
Avail Medsystems, Inc. |
9160783
10887545
8849679 |
2:21-cv-00193 |
Filed |
Stingray IP Solutions, LLC [Acacia Research Corp.] |
Amazon.com Services LLC
RING LLC
eero LLC
Immedia Semiconductor LLC
Amazon.com, Inc. |
6961310
6958986
6980537
7027426 |
2:21-cv-00196 |
Filed |
Stingray IP Solutions, LLC [Acacia Research Corp.] |
Somfy SA
Somfy Activits SA |
7616961
7440572
7082117
7224678 |
2:21-cv-00198 |
Filed |
Mojack Distributors |
Shinn Fu Corporation |
9359179
8814141 |
5:21-cv-00068 |
Filed |
Push Data LLC [Equitable IP] |
Darden Concepts, Inc. d.b.a. Darden Restaurants
Olive Garden Holdings, LLC
Olive Garden of Texas, LLC |
7058395
7212811
7292844
6983139 |
5:21-cv-00069 |
Filed |
Push Data LLC [Equitable IP] |
Dollar General Corporation |
7058395
7212811
7292844
6983139 |
5:21-cv-00071 |
Filed |
Push Data LLC [Equitable IP] |
Potbelly Corporation |
7058395
7212811
7292844 |
5:21-cv-00074 |
Filed |
Push Data LLC [Equitable IP] |
The TJX Companies, Inc. |
7058395
7212811
7292844 |
5:21-cv-00075 |
Filed |
Push Data LLC [Equitable IP] |
Retail Services & Systems, Inc., d.b.a. Total Wine & More |
7058395
7292844
7212811 |
5:21-cv-00077 |
Filed |
Cathx Research Ltd. |
2G Robotics Inc. |
10116842 |
3:21-cv-01045 |
Filed |
Eddie M. Green, Jr. |
Ara Yavruyan Chain Vault, Inc. |
9940796 |
1:21-cv-22027 |
Filed |
Shenzhen Changyu Technology Co Ltd. |
Individuals, Partnerships, and Unincorporated Associations identified on Schedule A |
D878058 |
1:21-cv-02989 |
Filed |
Oakley, Inc. |
The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule “A” |
D847897 |
3:21-cv-12133 |
Filed |
Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
RiconPharma LLC
Ingenus Pharmaceuticals, LLC |
9351975
7910131
9119791
8617600
10220042
8821930
7722898
9855278
9370525 |
2:21-cv-00347 |
Filed |
Scanning Technologies Innovations [Leigh M. Rothschild, Patent Asset Management] |
Fishbowl Solutions |
10600101 |
2:21-cv-00202 |
Filed |
Stingray IP Solutions, LLC [Acacia Research Solutions] |
LEGRAND
Legrand France
Legrand SNC
Bticino SPA |
7224678
7082117
7440572
7616961 |
4:21-cv-00423 |
Filed |
Optinetix Inc. |
Whole Foods Market, Inc. |
7349668 |
1:21-cv-10943 |
Filed |
DatRec, LLC [Nacar IP, LLC] |
Medical Information Technology |
8156158 |
4:21-cv-01822 |
Filed |
Patriot Research Center, LLC dba Atlas Pressure Controls |
Cameron International Corp. |
|
6:21-cv-00569 |
Filed |
Touchstream Technologies, Inc. |
Google LLC |
8782528
8904289
8356251 |
2:21-cv-00194 |
Filed |
Stingray IP Solutions, LLC [Acacia Research Solutions] |
Amazon.com Services LLC
RING LLC
eero LLC
Immedia Semiconductor LLC
Amazon.com, Inc. |
7616961
7440572
7082117
7224678 |
2:21-cv-00197 |
Filed |
Hy-Ko Products Company LLC |
The Hillman Group, Inc. |
9687920
10421133
9656332
9682432 |
5:21-cv-00076 |
Filed |
Cathx Research Ltd |
2G Robotics Inc. |
|
6:21-cv-00552 |
Filed |
R2 Solutions LLC [Acacia Research Solutions] |
Iheartmedia, Inc. |
8190610
8341157
7698329 |
6:21-cv-00553 |
Filed |
R2 Solutions LLC [Acacia Research Solutions] |
Roku, Inc. |
8341157
7698329 |
6:21-cv-00554 |
Filed |
Onstream Media Corporation |
Buildscale, Inc. d/b/a Vidyard |
10200648
10674109
10848707
10038930
9161068
9467728
10694142 |
1:21-cv-00805 |
Filed |
Dr. Mark A. Barry |
Alphatec Spine, Inc.
Alphatec Holdings, Inc. |
7670358
9668788
9339301
9668787
8361121 |
6:21-cv-00557 |
Filed |
Applied Biokinetics LLC |
CVS Pharmacy, Inc. |
10212987
10299953 |
6:21-cv-00560 |
Filed |
Transcend Shipping Systems, LLC [Raymond Anthony Joao] |
Carrier Global Corporation |
7482920
10796268
10181109
7253731
9847029 |
6:21-cv-00562 |
Filed |
Parkervision, Inc. |
Hisense Visual Technology Co. Ltd.
Hisense Co. Ltd. |
6879817
9288100 |
2:21-cv-00199 |
Filed |
Corydoras Technologies, LLC [Anubias Technologies, LLC] |
Volkswagen |
10547725
10560561
10547724 |
6:21-cv-00566 |
Filed |
LiveHelpNow, LLC |
Freshworks, Inc.
SHI Government Solutions, Inc. dba SHI/Government Solutions, Inc. |
10419372
9584375
10951559
9178950 |
2:21-cv-04621 |
Filed |
|
Nurtriland Group, Inc. |
8142803
8178118
8637061
8734855
8178133
9125878
8377473
8178132
8163301
8470352 |
1:21-cv-00276 |
Filed |
Optinetix Inc. |
Target |
7349668 |
2:21-cv-00201 |
Filed |
Stingray IP Solutions, LLC [Acacia Solutions, LLC] |
Legrand
Legrand France
Legrand SNC
Bticino SPA |
6961310
6958986
6980537
7027426 |
3:21-cv-01281 |
Filed |
DatRec, LLC [Nacar IP, LLC] |
Infor, Inc. |
8381309 |
6:21-cv-00571 |
Filed |
Parus Holdings, Inc. |
Google LLC |
7386455
7881941
6721705 |
5:21-cv-00070 |
Filed |
Push Data LLC [Equitable IP] |
Jersey Mikes Franchise Systems Inc. |
7058395
7212811
7292844 |
5:21-cv-00073 |
Filed |
Push Data LLC [Equitable IP] |
Sonic Corporation
Inspire Brands, Inc. |
7058395
7212811
7292844 |
2:21-cv-00337 |
Filed |
Nazir Khan |
Merit Medical Systems |
|
6:21-cv-00555 |
Filed |
Applied Biokinetics LLC |
CVS Pharmacy, Inc. |
8414511
8968229 |
1:21-cv-00812 |
Filed |
Shiva Stein |
Brian R. Gamache
Cynthia M. Egnotovich
Andrew Langham
Janice L. Fields
Joan K. Chow
et al. |
|
3:21-cv-11989 |
Filed |
Signify North America Corp. |
Stingray IP Solutions, LLC [Acacia Research Corp.] |
7440572
7616961
7082117
6958986
7224678
6961310
7027426 |
2:21-cv-00192 |
Filed |
Mojack Distributors |
Harbor Freight Tools |
9359179
8814141 |
2:21-cv-00195 |
Filed |
Stingray IP Solutions, LLC [Acacia Research Corp.] |
Somfy SA
Somfy Activits SA |
6961310
6958986
6980537
7027426 |
5:21-cv-00072 |
Filed |
Push Data LLC [Equitable IP] |
Sherwin-Williams Company |
7058395
7292844
7212811 |
1:21-cv-00806 |
Filed |
Dr. Mark A. Barry |
SeaSpine Orthopedics Corp.
SeaSpine Holdings Corp.
SeaSpine, Inc. |
7670358
9668788
9339301
9668787
8361121 |
1:21-cv-00810 |
Filed |
GiftYa, LLC |
Payouts Network Inc. |
8756157
8676704
10489776
10121127
8751392
8285643
9881299 |
6:21-cv-00556 |
Filed |
Applied Biokinetics LLC |
CVS Pharmacy, Inc. |
8834398
8814818
8216162 |
2:21-cv-04596 |
Filed |
Socit des Produits Nestl S.A. |
K-fee System GmbH
Krüger GmbH & Co. KG
Krüger Kaffee Holding GmbH |
8733230
8863648 |
2:21-cv-00967 |
Filed |
Cozy Comfort Company LLC |
The Hoodex Limited
Challenge Warehousing Incorporated |
D859788
D905380 |
8:21-cv-01346 |
Filed |
ConforMIS, Inc. |
Bodycad Laboratories, Inc.
Bodycad USA Corp.
Exactech, Inc. |
8974539
9180015
7799077
9387079
8638998
8077950 |
1:21-cv-02291 |
Filed |
Nazir Khan
Iftikhar Khan |
Hemosphere
CryoLife, Inc. |
8747344 |
1:21-cv-00274 |
Filed |
Optinetix Inc. |
Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. |
7349668 |
1:21-cv-00275 |
Filed |
Optinetix Inc. |
Kohl`s Inc. |
7349668 |
0:21-cv-61174 |
Filed |
Zhujitop Hardware Tools Co., Ltd. |
The Individuals, Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A |
10875158 |
4:21-cv-00638 |
Filed |
Geographic Location Innovations, LLC [Leigh Rothschild, Patent Asset Management] |
Weekends Only, Inc. |
7917285 |
6:21-cv-00568 |
Filed |
DatRec, LLC [Nacar IP] |
PINGBOARD, INC. |
8381309 |
6:21-cv-00570 |
Filed |
Parus Holdings, Inc. |
Microsoft |
6721705 |
|
|
Jonathan Stroud
Jonathan Stroud is General Counsel at Unified Patents, LLC, where he manages a growing team of talented, diverse attorneys and oversees a docket of administrative challenges, appeals, licensing, pooling, and
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Join the Discussion
2 comments so far.
Pro Say
June 9, 2021 07:21 pm+1 Josh. As usual.
AIA: The America Invalidates Act.
Truth in Advertising:
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/media-resources/truth-advertising
Fraud perpetrated on inventors.
Josh Malone
June 9, 2021 03:06 pmHow does USPTO reconsidering the Koss patent on behalf of Apple fit into the purpose of AIA? Apple is not a small business, and Koss is not a patent troll. Apple needs a faster, cheaper way to invalidate patents of their agile competitor that beat them to market? Circumventing due process is good why? This is not going to be faster or cheaper for anyone. All it will do is help Apple coerce Koss into giving up their rights for much less than market value. Because Apple isn’t rich enough?
This case clearly illustrates that the AIA was nothing but corporate welfare for Silicon Valley tech giants.