This week saw 26 Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) filings (all inter partes reviews [IPRs]) and just 28 new district court complaints—and notably and unusually, no new IP Edge filings. Most of the filings were related to three entities, the now-sprawling Bell Semiconductor campaign added a slew of new defendants, and Cedar Lane and Buffalo Patents, both campaigns comprised entirely of old Intellectual Ventures (IV) patents (both almost certainly transferred under IV’s late-stage low-cost time-limited backend deal structure). There was one (non-Fintiv) denial at the Board and a few IV patents were challenged directly by Honda; some pharmaceutical challenges were filed, but otherwise, it was a relatively quiet week in new filings, particularly in the district court (it’s the first week in as long as I can remember when there didn’t appear to be a single IP Edge filing, which certainly contributes to the lull).
Director Vidal Grants Second Sua Sponte Review of Ordered Re-Institution Decision – The top-level story is probably the VLSI/Intel PTAB drama continuing to metastasize as it relates to OpenSky and Director Vidal’s review procedure. First, Director Vidal ruled on sanctions and behavior related to OpenSky in one of the two IPR/patent disputes relevant to the earlier $2.1 billion judgment, and in that precedential order, remanded to the panel under the “compelling merits” standard, a relatively new standard at institution under discretion put in place by the current administration that allows the judges to disregard reasons for discretionary denial if they find the merits compelling. The Board panel then responded, finding that there were compelling merits, and confirming their institution (it’s worth noting that this retroactive application of the Vidal-era standard is, as far as I am aware, unique to this case). Then, just three days later, the Director again granted sua sponte Director review of that decision to institute under the compelling merits standard. By the time this runs there will probably be further developments in this or the second patent, but suffice it to say, it’s complicated.
Board Denies IPR Under 325(d) Discretion – Perhaps notable only because discretionary denials have grown somewhat rare, the Board in Miltenyi Biomedicine Gmbh v. Trustees of University of Pennsylvania & Novartis, IPR2022-00853, declined institution. Other IPRs were instituted against other related patents; I’m focusing on this one because of the discretionary denial. The case relates to cancer treatments with T-cells modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor, and then, generally, injected into a patient. In this way, the body’s immune system can be redirected to target specific cancer cells, in theory. The Board, after a detailed analysis of the claim construction and merits arguments, analyzed these arguments under Advanced Bionics, and ultimately found that the prosecution was robust. They were not persuaded that, while some of the prior art and arguments were raised during prosecution in the information disclosure statement, that was enough to merit denial; the Board noted during the step two analysis that the primary reference was part of repeated rejections of related patents, and surmised the examiner was clearly aware of the reference’s relevance, digging in to the related prosecution and ultimately concluding that there was no material error in prosecution.
PTAB (26)
Case Number | Action | Owner | Petitioner | Patent |
IPR2023-00025 | Filed | Myport, Inc. | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 10721066 |
IPR2022-01577 | Filed | FUJIFILM Sonosite, Inc [Fujifilm Holdings Corporation] | Butterfly Network, Inc | 6901157 |
IPR2023-00044 | Filed | Imberatek LLC [Ideahub, Inc.] | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung Electronics America, Inc. Samsung Austin Semiconductor, LLC |
8222723 |
IPR2022-01605 | Filed | Raven Sun Creative Inc. | Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc | 9266028 |
IPR2023-00029 | Filed | Pedersen, Peter Henrik | Unified Patent, LLC | 6965920 |
IPR2023-00041 | Filed | Weiman, Mark | Life Spine, Inc. | 8845732 |
IPR2022-01593 | Filed | United Services Automobile Association | Truist Bank | 9818090 |
IPR2023-00032 | Filed | Intellectual Ventures II LLC [Intellectual Ventures LLC] | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | 8953641 |
IPR2023-00031 | Filed | Intellectual Ventures II LLC [Intellectual Ventures LLC] | American Honda Motor Co., Inc. | 9291475 |
IPR2022-01601 | Filed | Globus Medical, Inc. | Life Spine, Inc. | 10925752 |
IPR2023-00023 | Filed | Myport, Inc. | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 9832017 |
IPR2022-01599 | Filed | Weiman, Mark null | Life Spine, Inc. | 8845732 |
IPR2022-01602 | Filed | Globus Medical, Inc. | Life Spine, Inc. | 9956087 |
IPR2023-00016 | Filed | Bausch Health Ireland Limited [Bausch Health Cos., Inc.] | MSN Laboratories Private Ltd. | 7041786 |
IPR2023-00051 | Filed | Saphire Hospitality, Inc. | Eastpoint Sports Ltd., LLC | 9504892 |
IPR2023-00024 | Filed | Myport, Inc. | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 10237067 |
IPR2023-00050 | Filed | De Luca, Giampiero [Giampiero D.E. Luca] | TWi Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 8377903 |
IPR2023-00049 | Filed | De Luca, Giampiero [Giampiero D.E. Luca] | TWi Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 7713947 |
IPR2022-01449 | Filed | SB IP Holdings LLC [Skybell Technologies, Inc.] | Vivint Inc | 7193644 |
IPR2023-00027 | Filed | Gan Limited | Entain Corporate Services, Ltd. MGM Resorts International Bet MGM, LLC |
8821296 |
IPR2022-01600 | Filed | Weiman | Life Spine, Inc. | 10973649 |
IPR2022-01603 | Filed | Weiman | Life Spine, Inc. | 9402739 |
IPR2023-00030 | Filed | Fortinet, Inc. | Netskope, Inc. | 10826941 |
IPR2023-00052 | Filed | Sampath, Deepak | Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Inc. | 11110087 |
IPR2023-00039 | Filed | Shribman, Derry | Code200, UAB | 10484510 |
IPR2023-00038 | Filed | Shribman, Derry | Code200, UAB | 10257319 |
IPR2022-00746 | Not Instituted – Merits | Guardant Health, Inc. | Twinstrand Biosciences, Inc. | 10801063 |
IPR2022-00587 | Not Instituted – Merits | Fedex Corporate Services, Inc. [FedEx Corporation] | Qualcomm Inc. | 9974042 |
IPR2022-00747 | Not Instituted – Merits | Guardant Health, Inc. | Twinstrand Biosciences, Inc. | 10889858 |
IPR2022-00561 | Not Instituted – Merits | Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB | Apple Inc | 10306669 |
IPR2022-00816 | Not Instituted – Merits | University of Washington Through Its Center For Commercialization | Guardant Health, Inc. | 10760127 |
IPR2022-00607 | Not Instituted – Merits | Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB | Apple Inc | 10517133 |
IPR2022-00758 | Not Instituted – Merits | Throughputer Inc [Throughputer Inc.] | Microsoft Corporation | 10430242 |
IPR2022-00853 | Not Instituted – Procedural | The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania [University of Pennsylvania] | Miltenyi Biomedicine Gmbh Miltenyi Biotec, Inc. |
9464140 |
IPR2022-00462 | Instituted | Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson [Mobitex Technology AB] | Apple Inc | 9832726 |
IPR2022-00626 | Instituted | Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson [Mobitex Technology AB] | Apple Inc | 9319211 |
IPR2022-00709 | Instituted | Intellectual Ventures II LLC [Intellectual Ventures LLC] | Toyota Motor Corporation | 9602608 |
IPR2022-00584 | Instituted | Fedex Corporate Services, Inc. [FedEx Corporation] | Qualcomm Inc. | 7623033 |
IPR2022-00466 | Instituted | Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson [Mobitex Technology AB] | Apple Inc | 10491348 |
IPR2022-00708 | Instituted | Intellectual Ventures II LLC [Intellectual Ventures LLC] | Toyota Motor Corporation | 9291475 |
IPR2022-00774 | Instituted | DNA Genotek Inc. [Orasure Technologies Incorporated] | Spectrum Solutions LLC | 10000795 |
IPR2022-00741 | Instituted | Rex Computing, Inc. | Cerebras Systems Inc., | 10355975 |
IPR2022-00855 | Instituted | The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania [Columbia University] | Miltenyi Biomedicine Gmbh Miltenyi Biotec, Inc. |
9540445 |
IPR2022-00852 | Instituted | The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania [Columbia University]v | Miltenyi Biomedicine Gmbh Miltenyi Biotec, Inc. |
9518123 |
IPR2022-00817 | Instituted | University of Washington Through Its Center For Commercialization | Guardant Health, Inc. | 10760127 |
IPR2021-00672 | Final Written Decision | Nabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc. [Nabors Industries Limited] | Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Company Helmerich & Payne Technologies, LLC Motive Drilling Technologies, Inc. |
7860593 |
IPR2021-00762 | Final Written Decision | Dali Wireless Inc. [Dali Systems Co., Ltd.] | Corning Optical Communications, LLC | 9826508 |
IPR2021-00713 | Final Written Decision | Flexiworld Technologies, Inc. | Roku, Inc. | 10740066 |
PGR2019-00056 | Final Written Decision | Willis Electric Company, Limited | Everstar Merchandise Co. Ltd | 10222037 |
IPR2018-01661 | Final Written Decision | VLSI Technology LLC [SoftBank Group Corp.] | Intel Corporation | 8020014 |
IPR2021-00813 | Final Written Decision | Cupp Computing AS | Trend Micro, Inc. | 10621344 |
IPR2021-01127 | Final Written Decision | WiTricity Corporation | Momentum Dynamics Corporation | 9306635 |
IPR2021-00698 | Final Written Decision | WSOU Investments, LLC [WSOU Holdings, LLC] | ZTE Corporation ZTE USA Inc ZTE (TX), Inc |
7203505 |
IPR2018-01312 | Final Written Decision | VLSI Technology LLC [SoftBank Group Corp.] | Intel Corporation | 8020014 |
IPR2021-00699 | Final Written Decision | WSOU Investments, LLC [WSOU Holdings, LLC] | ZTE Corporation ZTE (TX), Inc ZTE USA Inc |
7742534 |
IPR2021-00696 | Final Written Decision | WSOU Investments, LLC [WSOU Holdings, LLC] | ZTE Corporation ZTE USA Inc ZTE (TX), Inc |
8179960 |
District Court (28)
Case Number | Action | Plaintiff | Defendant | Patent |
6:22-cv-01072 | Filed | Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. [IV selloff] | Wonwoo Engineering Co Ltd | 6972790B2 8537242B2 6473527B1 |
1:22-cv-01332 | Filed | Buffalo Patents LLC [IV selloff] | Discord Inc | 6839417B2 |
2:22-cv-00397 | Filed | Cedar Lane Technologies Inc [IV selloff] | Luminator Technology Group Inc | 6972790B2 8537242B2 6473527B1 |
6:22-cv-01076 | Filed | Cedar Lane Technologies Inc [IV selloff] | Parrot Inc | 6473527B1 6972790B2 8537242B2 |
1:22-cv-01344 | Filed | Gracenote Inc The Nielsen Us LLC |
Acrcloud Ltd | 8065700B2 7623823B2 7783889B2 7904503B2 |
0:22-cv-61899 | Filed | Silipint Partners LLC | Siesta LLC | 8469225B2 |
3:22-cv-05962 | Filed | Esignature Software LLC | Adobe Inc | 8065527B2 |
1:22-cv-11723 | Filed | Bell Semiconductor LLC [Hilco Inc. (d/b/a Hilco Global)] | Skyworks Solutions | 7396760B2 |
1:22-cv-11718 | Filed | Bell Semiconductor LLC [Hilco Inc. (d/b/a Hilco Global)] | Analog Devices Inc | 7396760B2 |
1:22-cv-11719 | Filed | Bell Semiconductor LLC [Hilco Inc. (d/b/a Hilco Global)] | Macom Technology Solutions Inc | 7396760B2 |
1:22-cv-05574 | Filed | Nuwave LLC | The Individuals Corporations Limited Liability Companies Partnerships And Unincorporated Associations Identified On The Attached Schedule A | D0851444S |
1:22-cv-11722 | Filed | Bell Semiconductor LLC [Hilco Inc. (d/b/a Hilco Global)] | Silicon Labs | 7396760B2 |
4:22-cv-11721 | Filed | Bell Semiconductor LLC [Hilco Inc. (d/b/a Hilco Global)] | Marvell Technology Group | 7396760B2 |
1:22-cv-01334 | Filed | Buffalo Patents LLC [IV selloff] | Ringcentral Inc | 6839417B2 |
1:22-cv-01333 | Filed | Buffalo Patents LLC [IV selloff] | Logmein Inc Goto Group Inc Goto Technologies Usa Inc |
6839417B2 |
6:22-cv-01077 | Filed | Cedar Lane Technologies Inc [IV selloff] | Pixart Imaging Inc | 6473527B1 6972790B2 8537242B2 |
6:22-cv-01074 | Filed | Cedar Lane Technologies Inc [IV selloff] | Konica Minolta Inc | 6473527B1 6972790B2 8537242B2 |
6:22-cv-01069 | Filed | Cloud Systems Holdco Ip LLC [Dynamic IP Deals, LLC (d/b/a DynaIP)] | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Smartthings Inc |
7975051B2 |
1:22-cv-05578 | Filed | Nuwave LLC | Individuals Corporations Limited Liabilites Partnerships And Unincorporated Associations Identified On Schedule A Hereto The | 10556208B2 D851444S D834878S |
1:22-cv-01335 | Filed | Buffalo Patents LLC [IV selloff, poss. Dimension Fund Advisors] | Spotify Technology Sa Spotify Ab Spotify Usa Inc |
6839417B2 |
1:22-cv-00588 | Filed | Stryker Sales LLC [Stryker Corporation] Stryker Corporation And Stryker Sales LLC [Stryker Corporation] Stryker Corporation |
Ferno-washington Inc And Ferno Group Inc | 10058464B2 RE44884 D0794205S D0833623S 7398571B2 7725968B2 8056950B2 D0875950S |
6:22-cv-01070 | Filed | Cloud Systems Holdco Ip LLC [Dynamic IP Deals, LLC] | Vivion Inc | 7975051B2 |
2:22-cv-00394 | Filed | General Access Solutions Ltd | Verizon Online LLC Verizon Services Corp Verizon Corporate Services Group Inc Verizon Business Network Services LLC Verizon Business Global LLC et al. |
7230931B2 9426794B2 |
1:22-cv-06030 | Filed | Nexus Pharmaceuticals Inc | Par Sterile Products LLC Par Pharmaceutical Inc Nevakar Inc Nevakar Injectables Inc Endo International PLC et al. |
11464752B2 |
2:22-cv-07407 | Filed | Solo Brands LLC | The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified In Schedule A | D0914858S D0923163S |
1:22-cv-01348 | Filed | Merck Sharp Dohme LLC | Laurus Generics Inc Laurus Labs Ltd |
7326708B2 |
6:22-cv-01075 | Filed | Kioba Processing LLC [IP Investments Group LLC] | The Charles Schwab Corporation Charles Schwab Bank |
8442915B2 6931382B2 6917902B2 7107078B2 |
1:22-cv-01345 | Filed | The Nielsen Company [MOOD Media Corporation] | Tvision Insights Inc | 11470243B2Â |
Image Source: Deposit Photos
Image ID: 45517555
Author nito103
Join the Discussion
3 comments so far.
Night Writer
October 21, 2022 05:19 pmThanks for this.
Anon
October 21, 2022 01:19 pmMr. Malone,
You alight upon one of the flaws of the AIA as written by Congress in view of takings law.
The act of grant (even under Oil States), creates a basket of personal property rights that includes both the existence and a level of presumption of validity.
At the institution decision point (well before any NEW adjudication on the merits), that stick in the bundle of property rights is administratively taken with NO compensation.
Josh Malone
October 21, 2022 08:10 amThe new compelling evidence standard states — “Compelling, meritorious challenges are those in which the evidence, if umebutted in trial, would plainly lead to a conclusion that one or more claims are unpatentable by a preponderance of the evidence.”
Under 103, that sweeps in every issued patent. It is being interpreted by the PTAB the same as “reasonable likelihood” and “substantial new question”, in which claimed inventions in already granted patents are presumed to be obvious combinations of their individual elements. These standards are subjective and vulnerable to hindsight skepticism (especially where the presiding APJ gets substantial compensation by ruling in favor of institution
). There must be much higher threshold for institution — a higher reliance in the patent right — in order for inventors to risk time and capital developing new technologies.