Patent Filings Roundup: Robot Vacuum Wars, PTAB Filings Dip, Pharma Litigation Abounds

Patent filings roundup - https://depositphotos.com/65290383/stock-photo-justice-gavel.htmlThis week’s District Court patent filings were robust, with a dip in Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) filings–a big chunk of which were related to a dispute over robot vacuum cleaners. A few new (or renewed) assertion campaigns, a few small inter-company disputes, and a number of pharmaceutical disputes led the charge.

I say Robot, you say vacuum:  Call it the great robot vacuum wars of 2020: industry leader iRobot sued SharkNinja for infringement of three patents (as well as false advertising)—seeking a preliminary injunction of a competing product right before the lucrative holiday season.  iRobot contended that SharkNinja had “brazenly ripped off” their Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners with their much less expensive IQ Robot competitor product.  That bid failed, and the case continued; now SharkNinja has filed multiple inter partes reviews (IPRs) seeking to invalidate the asserted patents.

It’s worth noting that SharkNinja (formed in 2003) is no David itself; apparently owned by Euro-Pro, a 100-year old company, it markets blenders (Ninja brands) and vacuum cleaners (Shark brands), among other things, and it has supplanted Dyson as the leader of the U.S. vacuum cleaner market – though it has now set its sights on competing in the robot vacuum market.

The North remembers: Far North Patents, LLC, an NPE with no known ties to funders or aggregators, continued its earlier assertion campaign of five former-Intellectual Ventures-owned semiconductor/networking switch routing patents of December of last year against International Business Machines, Broadcom, NXP, Mitel Networks, NEC, Marvell, Sonus,  and Texas Instruments, Inc., adding ZTE, ADVA Optical Networking SE, Microchip Tech. Inc., and Analog Devices, Inc., this time moving from the Eastern to the Western District of Texas.

And Alvogen PB Research And Development, LLC and Norwich Pharmaceuticals, Inc. filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDAs) litigation on 23 patents on the medication Rifaximin, sold under the trade name Xifaxan® (the more recent 550 mg formulation; the earlier drug was approved in 2004; the formulation, 2010), approved to treat traveler’s diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome, among other indications.  Allergan and one other company have filed ANDAs; Defendants AlfaSigma SpA, manufacturer Salix Pharmaceuticals, and Bausch Health Ireland, Ltd. make and market the only currently approved FDA drug.  Bausch had earlier settled with Actavis Labs over a potential generic competitor, a settlement that included at least one patent whose term extended to 2029; they later hit Sandoz with a suit (including 14 patents, apparently regarding the earlier 200 mg formulation); and also apparently settled with Allergan, and earlier ANDA filer.  There are no approved generics and patent expiry appears a long way off

PTAB (23)
Case Number Action Owner Petitioner Patent
IPR2020-00696 Filed LBS Innovations, LLC Apple Inc. 6091956
IPR2020-00731 Filed Neodron Ltd. Dell, Inc.
Dell Products LP
Lenovo (United States) Inc.
HP, Inc.
9024790
IPR2020-00733 Filed iRobot Corporation SharkNinja Operating LLC
SharkNinja Management LLC
SharkNinja Sales Company
9550294
IPR2020-00734 Filed iRobot Corporation SharkNinja Operating LLC
SharkNinja Management LLC
SharkNinja Sales Company
9921586
IPR2020-00661 Filed Intertrust Technologies Corporation Dolby Laboratories, Inc. 8191158
IPR2020-00762 Filed Hoyt Augustus Fleming Cirrus Design Corporation RE47474
PGR2020-00044 Filed Canopy Growth Corporation GoFire, Inc., 10327479
IPR2020-00660 Filed Intertrust Technologies Corporation Dolby Laboratories, Inc. 6785815
IPR2020-00735 Filed iRobot Corporation SharkNinja Operating LLC
SharkNinja Management LLC
SharkNinja Sales Company
10045676
PGR2020-00046 Filed Gree, Inc. Supercell OY 10328347
IPR2020-00662 Filed Intertrust Technologies Corporation Dolby Laboratories, Inc. 6640304
IPR2020-00756 Filed Uniloc 2017 LLC Google LLC 9564952
IPR2020-00726 Filed BOT M8, LLC Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC 8112670
IPR2020-00757 Filed Uniloc 2017 LLC Google LLC 7012960
IPR2020-00732 Filed iRobot Corporation SharkNinja Operating LLC
SharkNinja Management LLC
SharkNinja Sales Company
9492048
IPR2020-00765 Filed Uniloc 2017 LLC Google LLC 6366908
IPR2020-00755 Filed Uniloc 2017 LLC Google LLC 6366908
PGR2020-00043 Filed Gree, Inc. Supercell OY 10328346
IPR2020-00763 Filed Early Warning Services, LLC 8887308
IPR2020-00728 Filed Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminals L.P. U.S. Venture, Inc 9207686
IPR2020-00752 Filed Henny Penny Corporation Frymaster LLC 10285539
IPR2020-00747 Filed CoolIT Systems, Inc. Asetek A/S 9057567
IPR2020-00753 Filed Lighting Science Group Corporation Signify Holding B.V.
Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc.
8506118
IPR2019-01600 Not Instituted – Merits Facebook, Inc. Blackberry Limited 8429231
IPR2020-00013 Not Instituted – Merits Ethanol Boosting Systems, LLC
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ford Motor Company 8069839
IPR2019-01647 Not Instituted – Merits Gebo Cermex USA, Inc.
Gebo Cermex Canada Inc.
Gebo Packaging Solutions France S.A.S
Alliance Industrial Corporation
Acmi USA, Inc.
Acmi S.P.A
6168005
IPR2019-01523 Not Instituted – Merits Collabo Innovations, Inc. Advance Micro Devices, Inc
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
7930575
IPR2019-01646 Not Instituted – Merits Nikola Corporation Tesla, Inc. 10077084
IPR2020-00011 Not Instituted – Procedural Ethanol Boosting Systems, LLC
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ford Motor Company 9255519
IPR2020-00012 Not Instituted – Procedural Ethanol Boosting Systems, LLC
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ford Motor Company 10138826
IPR2020-00010 Not Instituted – Procedural Ethanol Boosting Systems, LLC
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ford Motor Company 9810166
IPR2019-01584 Not Instituted – Procedural Uniloc 2017 LLC Google LLC 6519005
IPR2020-00041 Instituted Uniloc 2017 LLC Netflix, Inc.
Roku, Inc.
8407609
IPR2020-00139 Instituted Secure Wave Storage Solutions Inc.
SecureWave Storage Solutions, Inc
Kingston Technology Co., Inc. 7036020
IPR2019-01476 Instituted Monument Peak Ventures, LLC Robert Bosch LLC 7148908
IPR2019-01669 Instituted Contec, LLC. Communications Test Design, Inc. 8689071
IPR2019-00932 Instituted Secure Wave Storage Solutions Inc.
SecureWave Storage Solutions, Inc
Micron Technology, Inc.
Kingston Technology Co., Inc.
7036020
IPR2019-01475 Instituted Monument Peak Ventures, LLC Robert Bosch LLC 7035461
IPR2019-01644 Instituted Carucel Investments, L.P. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC 8718543
IPR2019-01598 Instituted Facebook, Inc. Blackberry Limited 7302698
IPR2019-01670 Instituted Contec, LLC. Communications Test Design, Inc. 8209732
IPR2019-01037 Adverse Judgment Realtime Adaptive Streaming, LLC Google LLC RE46777
IPR2019-01038 Adverse Judgment Realtime Adaptive Streaming, LLC Google LLC RE46777
IPR2018-01755 Final Written Decision Lexos Media IP, LLC Ralph Lauren Corporation 6118449
IPR2019-00926 Final Written Decision Clinicomp International., Inc. Athenahealth, Inc. 6665647
IPR2018-01475 Final Written Decision Invt SPE LLC Apple Inc.
HTC Corporation
HTC America, Inc.
ZTE Corporation
7760815
IPR2018-01634 Final Written Decision Clinicomp International., Inc. Cerner Corporation 6665647
IPR2018-01761 Final Written Decision Neapco Drivelines LLC American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. 5772520
IPR2019-00233 Final Written Decision Mark W. Kilbourne Apple Inc.
August Home, Inc.
7373795
IPR2018-01473 Final Written Decision Invt SPE LLC Apple Inc.
HTC Corporation
HTC America, Inc.
ZTE Corporation
6611676
IPR2019-01304 Settlement Guada Technologies LLC Bloomreach, Inc. 7231379
IPR2020-00213 Settlement Honeyman Cipher Solutions, LLC Unified Patents, LLC 5991399
IPR2019-00592 Settlement KOM Software Inc. NetApp, Inc.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company
6438642
IPR2019-00383 Settlement MCP IP, LLC Bowtech, Inc. 9423201
IPR2019-00386 Settlement MCP IP, LLC Bowtech, Inc. 8919333
IPR2019-00591 Settlement KOM Software Inc. NetApp, Inc.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company
6438642
IPR2019-00380 Settlement MCP IP, LLC Bowtech, Inc. 7946281
IPR2019-00382 Settlement MCP IP, LLC Bowtech, Inc. 9816775
IPR2020-00332 Settlement Bell Northern Research, LLC
Cortland Capital Market Services LLC
AS Collateral Agent
LG Electronics, Inc. 7945285
District Court (69)
Case Number Action Plaintiff Defendant Patent
2:20-cv-02713 Filed Teradyne Astronics Corp.
Astronics Test Systems, Inc.
7395479
2:20-cv-03168 Filed Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Co. Mylan
Mylan, N.V.
9138456
2:20-cv-00088 Filed RAH Color Technologies, LLC Microsoft 6995870
7312897
7729008
9404802
9516288
1:20-cv-21240 Filed Global Life Technologies Corp. Medline Industries 8999406
9463212
9943561
10307452
8:20-cv-00595 Filed Sipco D-Link Systems, Inc. 7103511
7697492
6914893
7263073
8924588
8964708
2:20-cv-03270 Filed Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V.
Organon USA, Inc.
Mylan
Mylan API US, LLC
RE44733
1:20-cv-21270 Filed Internet Media Interactive Corp. Lennar Corp. 6049835
6:20-cv-00221 Filed Far North Patents, LLC Microchip Technology 8306053
6246702
6215797
8891504
6661804
6:20-cv-00222 Filed Far North Patents, LLC ZTE 8306053
6246702
6215797
8891504
6661804
2:20-cv-00480 Filed BRIAN ROBERT BLAZER dba CARPENTER BEE SOLUTIONS BEST BEE BROTHERS, LLC
RSP, INC.
8375624
RE46421
8:20-cv-00725 Filed Blueprint IP Solutions, LLC Raymond James Financial, Inc. 8089980
6:20-cv-00244 Filed 511 TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
CADDO SYSTEMS, INC.
NXP
NXP USA, Inc.
NXP Semiconductors
8352880
7191411
7216301
7640517
7725836
10037127
4:20-cv-00234 Filed Magnacharge, LLC AT&T, Inc. 7417402
6:20-cv-00211 Filed WSOU Investments, LLC dba Brazos Licensing and Development ZTE 8451839
6:20-cv-00212 Filed NEODRON, INC. Apple 9823784
7821502
10146351
3:20-cv-02067 Filed PROVEN NETWORKS, LLC Extreme Networks, Inc. 8018852
8165024
7877786
1:20-cv-00415 Filed Novartis Lupin Limited 8101659
8796331
8877938
9388134
3:20-cv-03168 Filed Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Co. Mylan
Mylan, N.V.
9138456
4:20-cv-00051 Filed Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. Progress Solar Solutions, LLC 8733963
9428100
6:20-cv-00216 Filed WSOU Investments, LLC AKA Brazos Licensing and Development ZTE 7489929
4:20-cv-04069 Filed Durasystems Barriers Inc. Jeremias, Inc. 9976768
10024569
1:20-cv-00052 Filed Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Co. Mylan 9138456
3:20-cv-00725 Filed Lightside Technologies LLC HTC Corp. 8374253
8873640
6:20-cv-00234 Filed Jens H.S. Nygaard Formula One Management Ltd.
Red Bull Technology Ltd.
Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Scuderia Ferrari S.p.A.
Ferrari S.p.A.
et al.
7494178
4:20-cv-00255 Filed 511 TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
CADDO SYSTEMS, INC.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (AG)
Siemens Digital Industries Software, Inc.
8352880
7191411
7216301
7640517
7725836
10037127
4:20-cv-00237 Filed Magnacharge, LLC IKEA Dallas, L.P.,
IKEA North America Services, LLC
7417402
4:20-cv-00239 Filed Magnacharge, LLC Target 7417402
8:20-cv-00583 Filed A&A Global Imports, Inc. ROVE, LLC D766076
1:20-cv-00416 Filed Internet Media Interactive Corp. Shopify, Inc. 6049835
6:20-cv-00226 Filed Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp.
Essential Wifi, LLC
Texas Instruments 7280551
7545781
7400616
7242720
6:20-cv-00227 Filed Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp.
Essential Wifi, LLC
Acer America, Inc.
Acer, Inc.
7280551
7545781
7400616
7242720
4:20-cv-00338 Filed Six Hogs, LLC John Doe dba Samsonico International, Inc.
Samsonico USA LLC
8992356
4:20-cv-01070 Filed David Alexander Stewart
Shotkam, LLC
Raymond C. Ling
Tachyon, Inc.
8908045
6:20-cv-00228 Filed WSOU Investments, LLC dba Brazos Licensing and Development ZTE 8179960
1:20-cv-00431 Filed Ferring B.V.
Polypeptide Laboratories A/S
Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Ferring International Center S.A.
Fresenius Kabi
FRESENIUS KABI AG
9579359
9415085
8841081
9877999
8828938
1:20-cv-00434 Filed Mallinckrodt Hospital Products IP, Ltd.
Mallinckrodt Hospital Products, Inc.
New Pharmatop LP
Baxter International, Inc. 9610265
6992218
9399012
9987238
10383834
8:20-cv-00722 Filed Tekvoke, LLC PayG, LLC dba SkySwitch 6687343
1:20-cv-21349 Filed ILC Dover, LP
FloodBarrier, Inc.
4:20-cv-00235 Filed Magnacharge, LLC Best Buy Co., Inc. 7417402
4:20-cv-00236 Filed Magnacharge, LLC Huawei Technologies, Co., Ltd. 7417402
4:20-cv-00238 Filed Magnacharge, LLC Kohl`s, Inc. 7417402
2:20-cv-02757 Filed Claire`s Stores, Inc. Noam Krasniansky
CM National, Inc.
D667996
3:20-cv-03229 Filed Bristol-Myers Squibb Teva Pharmaceutical 7491725
0:20-cv-00801 Filed Halverson Wood Products, Inc. Classified Systems, LLC dba Hammerhead Attachments 7669618
6:20-cv-00224 Filed WSOU Investments, LLC dba Brazos Licensing and Development ZTE 7487240
1:20-cv-00423 Filed Sonohm Licensing LLC MilDef, Inc. 6651207
7106705
1:20-cv-00430 Filed AlfaSigma SpA
Salix Pharmaceuticals
BAUSCH HEALTH IRELAND, LTD.
Alvogen PB Research And Development, LLC
Norwich Pharmaceticals, Inc.
7045620
7612199
7902206
7906542
7915275
8158644
8158781
8193196
8309569
8518949
8642573
8741904
8829017
8835452
8853231
8946252
8969398
9271968
9421195
9629828
10314828
10335397
10456384
6:20-cv-00231 Filed WSOU Investments, LLC dba Brazos Licensing and Development ZTE 8147071
1:20-cv-00437 Filed Cassiopeia IP LLC Technicolor USA, Inc. 7322046
3:20-cv-00317 Filed Mentone Solutions LLC Pax Technology, Inc. 6952413
8:20-cv-00724 Filed Blueprint IP Solutions, LLC Catalina Marketing Corp. 8089980
1:20-cv-21350 Filed ILC Dover, LP FloodBarrier, Inc. 9453316
9303423
9453314
6:20-cv-00246 Filed Anadex Data Communications, LLC Lorex 7210120
6:20-cv-00210 Filed Bell Semiconductor, LLC NXP Semiconductors, NV
NXP, BV
NXP USA, Inc.
7566964
6596639
6544907
6281129
6960836
8049340
8288269
6743669
6342734
6153543
5:20-cv-00120 Filed Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. Progress Solar Solutions, LLC 8733963
9428100
6:20-cv-00218 Filed Far North Patents, LLC ADVA Optical Networking SE 8306053
6246702
6215797
8891504
6661804
6:20-cv-00219 Filed Far North Patents, LLC Analog Devices, Inc. 8306053
6246702
6215797
8891504
6661804
6:20-cv-00220 Filed Intellectual Ventures II, LLC VMWare, Inc. 9338217
9686378
9092546
7016963
6816464
6:20-cv-00225 Filed Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp.
Essential Wifi, LLC
MediaTek 7280551
7545781
7400616
7242720
2:20-cv-02849 Filed Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co. GennComm, LLC 10427061
10596475
1:20-cv-00422 Filed Sonohm Licensing LLC Contec Americas, Inc. 6651207
7106705
2:20-cv-03314 Filed Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V.
Organon USA, Inc.
MSN Laboratories Private, Ltd.
MSN PHARMACEUTICALS, Inc.
MSN LIFE SCIENCES PRIVATE, LTD.
RE44733
6:20-cv-00229 Filed WSOU Investments, LLC dba Brazos Licensing and Development ZTE 8730905
6:20-cv-00236 Filed Anadex Data Communications, LLC Compassion Consulting & Distribution, LP dba Top Dawg Electronics 7310120
1:20-md-02930 Filed Novartis
8:20-cv-00721 Filed Tekvoke, LLC 3CX USA Corp. 6687343
1:20-cv-10620 Filed WILDLIFE ACOUSTICS, INC. FRONTIER LABS PTY., LTD. 7782195
6:20-cv-00243 Filed STC.UNM GlobalFoundries U.S. Inc.
GlobalFoundries, Inc.
Globalfoundries U.S. 2 LLC
9142400
6:20-cv-00245 Filed 511 TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
CADDO SYSTEMS, INC.
Microchip Technology 8352880
7191411
7216301
7640517
7725836
10037127

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One comment so far.

  • [Avatar for Pro Se]
    Pro Se
    April 2, 2020 09:13 am

    I think we all are waiting to see how the IP around Covid-19 explode into the equivalent of IP Nuclear Warfare… what’s disturbing is someone will need to bite the soap for the “greater good” of humanity with a cure/vaccines… what’s sad is that entity will only buy themselves patent turmoil and unfair scrutiny…

    Is it worth it?