Patent Filings Roundup: Patent Suits Hold Steady in the Downturn

Patent FilingsThe traditional wisdom—that patent suits rise and fall with the economy—seems backward. With some data forthcoming on that point, both during the last downturn and this one, patent filings haven’t slowed much, if any. Last week, 22 Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) petitions were filed—one post grant review (PGR) and 21 inter partes reviews (IPRs)—just a few more than last week and down substantially now and on the year from the highs of a few years ago. But patent suits haven’t slowed, with 77 complaints nationwide this week, a docket chock full of repeat offenders, mostly comprising NPE aggregators like Oso IP and Equitable IP, with the occasional new campaign listed below or biopharmaceutical litigation, as listed below.

Remember 3G? Well, network infrastructure provider Ericsson certainly does. Ericsson, coming off of a discretionary denial of institution last week on a Uniloc (Fortress) patent it challenged after being sued, has filed four IPRs against the asserted claims of a recent-vintage Delaware NPE, Cellular Evolution LLC, which is asserting old Pantech patents (the failed Korean smart phone manufacturer), which came to it by way of Ideabridge Opportunity Private Special Asset (Ideabridge) Funds 1 and 2, both of which are affiliated with the Korean sovereign patent fund Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd. established a decade ago.

The four patents are all continuations on a standardized feature of 3G communications and have been asserted against network providers AT&T and T-Mobile, though ostensibly the network infrastructure provider Ericsson would indemnify them. It’s unclear if Ideabridge maintains a backend, but the vehicle has no known ties to any other organizations, so it seems likely that it is, on some level, an arm of the Korean government using old U.S. patents against U.S. telecommunications companies, which are now being challenged by the Swedish infrastructure provider.

Incept-ion. The Board’s new one-petition rule was on full display in four IPRs filed by Palette Life Sciences, Inc. versus Incept LLC. According to their website, Incept is a life sciences venture capital firm, one which invests in device and drug companies that tend to eventually be acquired by larger entities. Palette appears to be a subsidiary of the Swedish life sciences company Pharmanets AB. Palette sought to file the first four IPRs of the 2020 fiscal year on two patents, with two IPRs apiece. The patent owner followed the ranking requirements of the July 2019 Trial Practice Guide Update under their ever-expanding petitioner-focused Section 314 inquiries, and the Board predictably denied institution in the second-ranked petitions. There is no district court litigation; here, the Board found that the second petitions simply provided similar prior art combinations and, as they had instituted on all claims, the IPRs 2020-00002, -00003, -00004, and -00005 challenged patents 7,744,913 and 8,257,723, and are directed to biomaterial fillers shaped to improve the results that prostate patients, in particular, get from radiological exams.

Hindsight bias. Digital telemedicine company 20/20 Vision Center, LLC sued competitor Digital Optometrics LLC on U.S. Patent 9,230,062 a few days after their competitor’s patent, the 9,980,664 patent, was allowed; they then filed a PGR on that same patent, PGR2018-00100, which was instituted, and now has resulted in all of the challenged claims behind held unpatentable. The patent, ostensibly covering a “Remote Comprehensive Eye Examination System,” was held unpatentable a few days before the case in the Eastern District of New York was dismissed pursuant to settlement. The suit included a number of doctor-defendants and seemed related to direct competition in the (apparently fiercely competitive) remote optometrics space.

                                    PTAB (22)

Case Number Action Owner Petitioner Patent
IPR2020-00801 Filed Rovi Guides, Inc. Comcast Cable Communications, LLC 7779445
IPR2020-00849 Filed Boccone, LLC (Oso IP, LLC) Google LLC
LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics USA, Inc
10027727
IPR2020-00839 Filed Innovative Foundry Technologies LLC SMIC, Americas 6933620
IPR2020-00778 Filed Neodron Ltd. {Magentar) Apple Inc.
Microsoft Corporation
7821425
IPR2020-00802 Filed Rovi Guides, Inc. Comcast Cable Communications, LLC 7779445
IPR2020-00841 Filed Cellular Evolution LLC (Ideabridge) Ericsson, Inc. 7505783
PGR2020-00057 Filed Basf Plant Science Co GMBH Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 10351870
IPR2020-00837 Filed Innovative Foundry Technologies LLC SMIC, Americas 6608126
IPR2020-00808 Filed Rovi Guides, Inc. Comcast Cable Communications, LLC 8001564
IPR2020-00806 Filed Rovi Guides, Inc. Comcast Cable Communications, LLC 8001564
IPR2020-00843 Filed Cellular Evolution LLC Ideabridge) Ericsson, Inc. 7110788
IPR2020-00844 Filed Cellular Evolution LLC Ideabridge) Ericsson, Inc. 6741868
IPR2020-00781 Filed Investel Capital Corporation Unified Patents, LLC 9936030
IPR2020-00836 Filed Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Satco Products, Inc. 7081722
IPR2020-00846 Filed Parus Holdings Inc. Google LLC
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics USA, Inc
7076431
IPR2020-00807 Filed Rovi Guides, Inc. Comcast Cable Communications, LLC 8001564
IPR2020-00850 Filed Boccone, LLC (Oso IP, LLC) Google LLC
LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics USA, Inc
10027726
IPR2020-00800 Filed Rovi Guides, Inc. Comcast Cable Communications, LLC 7779445
IPR2020-00828 Filed Philips North America LLC Fitbit, Inc. 8277377
IPR2020-00842 Filed Cellular Evolution LLC (Ideabridge) Ericsson, Inc. 8285325
IPR2020-00847 Filed Parus Holdings Inc. Google LLC
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics USA, Inc
9451084
IPR2020-00845 Filed Jenam Tech, LLC (Oso IP, LLC) Google LLC
LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics USA, Inc
9923995
PGR2020-00002 Not Instituted – Merits GM Global Technology Operations LLC LKQ Corporation
Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc.
D847043
IPR2020-00062 Not Instituted – Merits GM Global Technology Operations LLC LKQ Corporation
Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc.
D811964
IPR2020-00085 Not Instituted – Merits P21 Ltd. Favored Tech Corporation
Shengzhen Favored Nanotechnology Co. Ltd.
Jiangsu Favored Nanotechnology Co., Ltd.
9617353
IPR2020-00053 Not Instituted – Merits Best Medical International, Inc., Varian Medical Systems, Inc. 7266175
IPR2019-01663 Not Instituted – Merits Velos Media, LLC Unified Patents, LLC 9094682
IPR2020-00025 Not Instituted – Merits Becton, Dickinson and Company Baxter International, Inc. 9283367
IPR2020-00024 Not Instituted – Merits Becton, Dickinson and Company Baxter International, Inc. 8740864
IPR2020-00042 Not Instituted – Merits Truinject Corp. SHDS, Inc
Galderma Laboratories LP
9792836
IPR2020-00077 Not Instituted – Merits Best Medical International, Inc., Varian Medical Systems, Inc. 7266175
IPR2020-00026 Not Instituted – Merits Becton, Dickinson and Company Baxter International, Inc. 10159828
PGR2020-00003 Not Instituted – Merits GM Global Technology Operations LLC LKQ Corporation
Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc.
D847703
IPR2020-00027 Not Instituted – Merits Becton, Dickinson and Company Baxter International, Inc. 10335584
IPR2019-01660 Not Instituted – Merits Petromac IP Limited Impact Selector International, LLC 9863198
IPR2020-00008 Not Instituted – Procedural Uniloc 2017 LLC (Fortress IP) Hulu, LLC
Netflix, Inc.
9721273
IPR2020-00005 Not Instituted – Procedural Incept LLC Palette Life Sciences, Inc., 7744913
IPR2019-01611 Not Instituted – Procedural Finjan, Inc. Unified Patents, LLC 8079086
IPR2020-00003 Not Instituted – Procedural Incept LLC Palette Life Sciences, Inc., 8257723
IPR2020-00023 Instituted Uniloc 2017 LLC (Fortress IP) Microsoft Corporation 6467088
IPR2020-00004 Instituted Incept LLC Palette Life Sciences, Inc., 7744913
IPR2020-00038 Instituted Uniloc 2017 LLC (Fortress) Motorola Mobility LLC 6868079
IPR2020-00002 Instituted Incept LLC Palette Life Sciences, Inc., 8257723
IPR2019-01614 Instituted Universal Electronics, Inc. Roku, Inc. 9911325
IPR2019-00061 Final Written Decision Kroy IP Holdings, LLC Groupon, Inc. 6061660
PGR2018-00100 Final Written Decision Digital Optometrics LLC 20/20 Vision Center, LLC 9980644
IPR2019-00024 Final Written Decision Sunoco Partners Marketing
Terminals L.P.
Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminals L.P.
Magellan Midstream Partners L.P.
Powder Springs Logistics LLC
9494948
IPR2019-00219 Final Written Decision Uniloc Luxembourg, S.A.
Uniloc 2017 LLC (Fortress IP)
Apple Inc.
LG Electronics, Inc.
Samsung
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
7020106
IPR2019-00044 Final Written Decision Kroy IP Holdings, LLC Groupon, Inc. 6061660
IPR2018-01630 Final Written Decision Realtime Adaptive Streaming, LLC Netflix, Inc.
Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
9769477
IPR2019-00158 Final Written Decision Baker Hughes, Inc.
Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations, LLC
Innovex Downhole Solutions, Inc 9080439
PGR2019-00002 Final Written Decision The University of Chicago Genome & Company 9855302
IPR2019-01109 Final Written Decision Realtime Adaptive Streaming, LLC Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
Netflix, Inc.
9769477
IPR2020-00383 Settlement Microchip Technology, Inc. Nuvoton Technology Corporation 7126515
IPR2020-00374 Settlement Microchip Technology, Inc. Nuvoton Technology Corporation 9442873
IPR2019-00082 Settlement Feinmetall, Gmbh Formfactor, Inc 7850460
IPR2020-00033 Settlement Rembrandt Wireless Technologies, LP (Rembrandt IP Management, LLC) Apple Inc. 8023580
IPR2020-00034 Settlement Rembrandt Wireless Technologies, LP (Rembrandt IP Management, LLC) Apple Inc. 8023580
IPR2020-00375 Settlement Rex Medical L.P. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 10136892
IPR2020-00390 Settlement Microchip Technology, Inc. Nuvoton Technology Corporation 7075261
IPR2020-00394 Settlement Microchip Technology, Inc. Nuvoton Technology Corporation 7930576
IPR2020-00037 Settlement Rembrandt Wireless Technologies, LP (Rembrandt IP Management, LLC) Apple Inc. 8457228
IPR2020-00036 Settlement Rembrandt Wireless Technologies, LP (Rembrandt IP Management, LLC) Apple Inc. 8457228
IPR2020-00386 Settlement Microchip Technology, Inc. Nuvoton Technology Corporation 7353417
IPR2020-00362 Settlement Zyrcuits IP LLC (IP Edge) Unified Patents, LLC 6671307
IPR2019-00080 Settlement Feinmetall, Gmbh Formfactor, Inc 7850460
IPR2019-00081 Settlement Feinmetall, Gmbh Formfactor, Inc 7850460
IPR2020-00367 Settlement Microchip Technology, Inc. Nuvoton Technology Corporation 9772970

                           District Court (77)

Case Number Action Plaintiff Defendant Patent
3:20-cv-02473 Filed VDPP, LLC AsusTek Computer, Inc.
5:20-cv-02521 Filed PROVEN NETWORKS, LLC F5 Networks 8018852
8165024
7450507
7877786
1:20-cv-00503 Filed CTAF Solutions, LLC ScioTeq LLC 10389396
4:20-cv-00307 Filed Communication Interface Technologies, LLC (Equitable IP) Capital One Financial Corp. 8266296
8291010
6574239
6:20-cv-00286 Filed SaveItSafe, LLC Oracle 8929552
2:20-cv-04163 Filed Quark Distribution, Inc. ePac, Holdings, LLC
REYNOLDS PRESTO PRODUCTS INC.
Advanced Converting Works, Inc.
Advanced Converting Works LLC
Advanced Converting Works Holdings, LLC
10011403
10011404
2:20-cv-00107 Filed Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC) LG Corp. 8374152
8442569
8467723
8792453
9042457
9414059
7133658
8:20-cv-00735 Filed Sanho Corporation intelliarmor
Adam Andereson
D855616
D813875
6:20-cv-00196 Filed Commstech, LLC (Ni, Wang, & Massaud PLLC) Fortinet, Inc. 6349340
5:20-cv-02618 Filed Location Based Services, LLC (Leigh Rothschild) My.com US, Inc.
1:20-cv-00513 Filed Huvepharma, Inc
Huvepharma EOOD
Hoo Cheung Industries, Ltd.
BASF Corp.
8993300
1:20-cv-00514 Filed Huvepharma, Inc
Huvepharma EOOD
DSM Nutritional Products, LLC
DSM Nutritional Products Ltd.
Koninklijke DSM N.V.
8993300
8:20-cv-00869 Filed American Registry, LLC That`s Great News, LLC 7386800
1:20-cv-10742 Filed Endobotics, LLC Design Standards Corporation
Medrobotics Corporation
7147650
1:20-cv-00403 Filed Honeyman Cipher Solutions LLC Evernote, Corporation. 5991399
6:20-cv-00295 Filed SaveItSafe, LLC Ultra Electronics Holdings, PLC 8929552
8:20-cv-00758 Filed International License Exchange of America, LLC (Equitable) Moxa Americas, Inc.
Moxa, Inc.
5959990
RE40999
RE44775
RE45065
RE45081
RE45095
8:20-cv-00759 Filed International License Exchange of America, LLC (Equitable) TP-Link Technologies Co.
TP-Link USA Corp.
5959990
RE40999
RE44775
RE45065
RE45081
RE45095
3:20-cv-02694 Filed Shen Ko Tseng Ross Stores, Inc.
Xiamen Aider Shoe Co.
ACI International
7452106
4:20-cv-01384 Filed Core Laboratories LP Stratum Reservoir LLC
1:20-cv-00413 Filed Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. LG Corp.
1:20-cv-00502 Filed Management Science Associates, Inc. Datavant, Inc.
Universal Patient Key, Inc.
9614814
4:20-cv-00305 Filed Communication Interface Technologies, LLC (Equitable IP) FedEx Corporation 8266296
8291010
6574239
4:20-cv-00310 Filed Gummarus, LLC (Oso IP, LLC) Samsung Group 10212112
10019135
10171392
9998410
10158590
10419374
10397150
3:20-cv-00851 Filed Felix L Sorkin
General Technologies,Inc.
PT Atlas Manufacturing LLC 7424792
1:20-cv-00380 Filed Launchip LLC American Sale Corporation
Inliten LLC
6285140
8203275
8390206
1:20-cv-02311 Filed Apollo Petroleum Solutions, LLC Nano Gas Technologies, Inc. 9586186
10080998
1:20-cv-00507 Filed Lone Star Targeted Advertising, LLC Strategus Corporation 6301619
2:20-cv-03537 Filed 2BCOM, LLC BMW 6928166
7127210
7184707
6885643
2:20-cv-00112 Filed Finish Time Holdings, LLC Garmin LTD, a Swiss corporation 9345948
8889340
10124234
1:20-cv-00401 Filed Honeyman Cipher Solutions LLC Adidas American Inc. 5991399
3:20-cv-00350 Filed Mofazzal H Chowdhury
Bou-Matic, LLC
Waikato Milking Systems NZ LP
Waikato Milking Systems U.S.A Limited
6776120
5:20-cv-00821 Filed Caraleen Enterprises Pty., LLC Health in Motion, LLC 8491506
1:20-cv-00518 Filed Ameranth, Inc. Olo, Inc. 9747651
2:20-cv-10953 Filed Uni-Systems Matthew L. Rossetti Architect, P.C.
Rossetti Inc.
1:20-cv-00415 Filed Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. Amazon.com, Inc.
1:20-cv-00402 Filed Honeyman Cipher Solutions LLC Asics Digital Inc 5991399
1:20-cv-00500 Filed CTAF Solutions, LLC Thales USA, Inc. 10389396
1:20-cv-00381 Filed Launchip LLC (IP Edge) Inliten LLC
Menard, Inc.
6285140
8203275
8390206
2:20-cv-00108 Filed Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor) LG Corp. 9935481
9620282
9991735
10044225
10291069
10574082
2:20-cv-00109 Filed Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor) LG Corp. 8902871
9357441
10039144
9431017
9747903
10102861
5:20-cv-02603 Filed Prothena Biosciences Ltd. Tufts Medical Center
Dr. Raymond Comenzo
1:20-cv-00506 Filed Bio-Rad Laboratories
University of Chicago
Dropworks, Inc. 9127310
8304193
1:20-cv-00395 Filed Persen Technologies Incorporated (d/b/a Persentech) Best Buy Co., Inc. 7362239
3:20-cv-00349 Filed INGURAN, LLC dba STGenetics
Cytonome/ST, LLC
ABS Global, Inc.
Genus, PLC
10583439
1:20-cv-00515 Filed Grunenenthal GmbH
Rhodes Technologies, Inc.
Purdue Pharma
P.F. Laboratories, Inc.
Intellipharmaceuticals International, Inc.
Intellipharmaceuticals Corp.
10407434
10369109
1:20-cv-00516 Filed Astellas US LLC
Astellas Pharma
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals 8106183
RE47301
8524883
3:20-cv-00928 Filed Honeyman Cipher Solutions LLC Asana, Inc. 5991399
1:20-cv-00404 Filed Honeyman Cipher Solutions LLC Paypal, Inc. 5991399
6:20-cv-00296 Filed Bell Semiconductor, LLC (Hilco) Microsemi Corp.
Microchip Technology
8049340
8288269
6707132
6544907
6743669
7221173
6624007
6153543
2:20-cv-03558 Filed Caraleen Enterprises Pty., LLC Paradigm Health & Wellness, Inc. 8491506
1:20-cv-03113 Filed Globe Electric Co., Inc. All Star Lighting Supplies, Inc. dba Luxrite 10234091
3:20-cv-00487 Filed Luv N’ Care, Ltd.
1:20-cv-00414 Filed Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. ON Semiconductor
2:20-cv-04071 Filed SYTE-VISUAL CONCEPTION LTD. Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. 9412182
4:20-cv-00308 Filed Communication Interface Technologies, LLC (Equitable IP) American Messaging Services, LLC 8266296
8291010
6574239
2:20-cv-00106 Filed Fat Statz, LLC Samsung Group 9757066
2:20-cv-03471 Filed CTAF Solutions, LLC Rainbow Aircraft, Inc. 10389396
2:20-cv-00247 Filed Rennsli Brett C Winberg
Boost Performance Products
Combustion Technologies USA
7959693
1:20-cv-00512 Filed Stragent, LLC (Oso IP, LLC) Volvo Car North America, LLC 9705765
10248477
10031790
10002036
6:20-cv-00293 Filed Sotera Tschetter, Inc
L&L Candle Company LLC
Veraflame International, Inc.
Yiwu Shengda Art Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Tongfang Optoelectronic Technology Co., Ltd.
Guangdong Tongfang Lighting Co., Ltd.
Tongfang Optoelectric Company
et al.
10533718
8550660
9366402
9512971
9523471
1:20-cv-04163 Filed Quark Distribution, Inc. ePac, Holdings, LLC
Advanced Converting Works LLC
Advanced Converting Works, Inc.
REYNOLDS PRESTO PRODUCTS INC.
Advanced Converting Works Holdings, LLC
10011403
10011404
1:20-cv-01076 Filed Honeyman Cipher Solutions LLC Slack Technologies Inc. 5991399
1:20-cv-00014 Filed Milford E Friesen
Arlyn Friesen
Harvest International, Inc.
2:20-cv-03559 Filed Caraleen Enterprises Pty., LLC Sunny Health & Fitness, Inc. 8491506
2:20-cv-00581 Filed CTAF Solutions, LLC Dynon Avionics, Inc.
4:20-cv-00306 Filed Communication Interface Technologies, LLC (Equitable IP) Cinemark USA, Inc
Cinemark Holdings, Inc.
8266296
8291010
6574239
2:20-cv-10928 Filed BorgWarner Ithaca LLC Schaeffler AG
Schaeffler Group USA Inc.
7194992
6:20-cv-00288 Filed Sable Networks, Inc.
Sable IP, LLC
Cisco Systems, Inc. 6954431
6977932
7012919
7428209
8085775
8817790
1:20-cv-00505 Filed Electronic Receipts Delivery Systems, LLC (Leigh Rothschild) American Airlines Group, Inc. 8820635
4:20-cv-00298 Filed Anthony Pontier
Sovereign International, Inc.
MPHlex, LLC
Anthony Pontier
William Hudnall
John Minturn
Triomviri Pty Ltd.
Deon van Dyk
et al.
1:20-cv-00510 Filed Stragent, LLC Oso IP, LLC) BMW 10248477
10031790
10002036
9705765
1:20-cv-00511 Filed Stragent, LLC (Oso IP, LLC) Daimler North America Corp.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC
Daimler Trucks North America LLC
9705765
10248477
10031790
10002036
1:20-cv-00396 Filed Persen Technologies Incorporated (d/b/a Persentech) Tom Tom, Inc. 7362239
4:20-cv-02663 Filed Scanning Technologies Innovations, LLC (Leigh Rothschild) Aldelo, LP 9934528
8:20-cv-00756 Filed International License Exchange of America, LLC (Equitable IP) Monoprice 5959990
RE40999
RE44775
RE45065
RE45081
RE45095
1:20-cv-00520 Filed SentriLock, LLC Carrier Global Corp. 7949541
8606589

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