Patent Filings Roundup: Gig Economy Targeted, Takeda Defends ADHD Drug VYVANSE®, Snap’s Me-too Joinder Petitions Discretionarily Denied

Patent Filings RoundupIt was a relatively light week in the district court for patent filings compared with recent memory, with 56 new complaints filed; the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) is holding steady with 27 filings (all inter partes reviews [IPRs] this week), a number nearly identical to the totals for the past few months. The District Court activity was driven by new complaints in existing campaigns, some new ANDA/aBLA litigations related to pharmaceutical generic entry, a smattering of company disputes, and a new campaign by Raymond Anthony Joao. At the Board, a trickle of petitions filed as part of ongoing licensing disputes between Dolby and Intertrust, some further challenges in the funded Neodron suits, some further filings by Verzion against Huawei, and a number of petitions in response to non-practicing entity (NPE) suits made up the balance.

Takeda Best Shot: In late 2019, Japanese drug conglomerate Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. took over pharmaceutical giant Shire PLC, and with it, took over their new drug application (NDA) of VYVANSE®, the brand name of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, an attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) drug with the potential for abuse and for treatment of moderate to severe binge eating, as well as the Orange Book-listed patents covering said drug, of which there are at least 18.

One key feature of the drug is that it is an amphetamine derivative resistant to abuse.  An earlier (i.e., first-filed) abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) suit with generic would-be entrant Amneal et. al. was an overwhelming success for Takeda, finding that at least claim 4 of the compound patent was infringed and that the invalidity arguments brought by the generic challengers failed. The suits filed this week represent late-filer challenges provoked by notice letters, though it seems Takeda’s portfolio and earlier ruling put them in a strong position to either fight to the end or settle on favorable terms with many of the would-be generics.

My Name is Mr. Gig: The now-infamous Raymond Anthony Joao has started still another assertion campaign, this one asserting four patents under corporate alter ego GreatGigz Solutions, LLC (or GreatGigz, LLC, a separate entity).  The patents, 6,662,194, 7,490,086, 9,760,864, and 10,096,000, claim aspects of temporary job placement and recruiting—and thus have been asserted against “gig economy” companies GitHub, Angie’s List, Lyft, Uber, and LinkedIn in the Western District of Texas within a week of each other.

This is in addition to the recent NavBlazer suit and the now-notorious Joao Bock Transaction Systems, LLC and Joao Control and Monitoring Systems LLC suits, which sued more than 170 times combined. Joao is infamous for having claims per patent that number in the hundreds in those earlier suits; eventually some of those patents and claims were held ineligible under Section 101, and now-retired Judge Sue Robinson in the District of Delaware awarded fees to defendants, affirmed on appeal. The complaints go into great detail arguing for venue and that the patents are not unpatentable under 35 USC 101.

Snap Judgment: A Board panel has found that “me-too” joinder petitions on instituted cases should be subject to the Board’s discretion to deny, and has denied two Snap petitions seeking to join recently instituted IPR proceedings against Blackberry—but of course, it’s much more complicated than a brief summary does justice. Ostensibly for settlement purposes and to block the other companies from settling without Snap, Snap waited until institution of the first cases to file identical me-too joinder petitions, i.e., IPR2020-00391 and IPR2020-00392. But the background is highly relevant, and convoluted; here, Blackberry sued both Snap and Facebook in the Central District of California, Snap in April of 2019; claims 1, 2, 9, 14, 15, 21 were at issue in an IPR filed by Facebook, and Snap filed their own first full petition IPR2019-00830, this one on claims 1, 2, 4–6, 8, 9, 11, 14–18, 20, 21, and 23. The District Court judge in late 2019 ruled that some claims, 1, 2, 14, 20, and 21, were patent ineligible. Shortly thereafter (Dec. 4), the Board instituted the Facebook (and Instagram, and WhatsApp) petition. Then, Blackberry voluntarily cancelled claim 9 and 15, thus effectively eliminating any claims in the proceeding not subject to either the 101 or the cancellation but leaving all remaining claims at issue.

It was then, post-institution, that Snap filed the me-too and sought to join the existing proceeding, as is common joinder practice. The Board, exercising their discretion, denied Snap’s petitions for joinder. They acknowledged that an identical me-too petition does not tax the Board’s resources, but faulted the parties for delaying in their filing and cited the unique nature of some of the claims having been disclaimed, and some having been subject to a 101 ruling in the district court, as well as Snap’s earlier petition and the fact that their one-year period had lapsed. They acknowledged that the me-too petition was properly filed but denied institution under Section 314, given the other considerations.

                                                  PTAB (27)
Case Number Action Owner Petitioner Patent
IPR2020-01282 Filed Acorn Semi, LLC [Acorn Technologies, Inc.] Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. 10090395
IPR2020-01273 Filed Intertrust Technologies Corporation [Fidelio Acquisition Co., LLC] Dolby Laboratories, Inc. 7340602
IPR2020-01294 Filed Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. AEP Generation Resources Inc.,
AEP Texas Inc
Southwestern Energy Power Co.
10343114
IPR2020-01315 Filed Monterey Research, LLC [Vector Capital Corp.] Advance Micro Devices, Inc 8373455
IPR2020-01271 Filed Synkloud Technologies, LLC. Microsoft Corporation
HP, Inc.
9239686
IPR2020-01299 Filed Paice LLC
The Abell Foundation, Inc
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
BMW of North America, LLC
8630761
IPR2020-01218 Filed BOT M8, LLC Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC 8095990
IPR2020-01278 Filed Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Verizon Business Network Services LLC [Verizon Communications Inc.] 9312982
IPR2020-01272 Filed Oceana Innovations, LLC [Endpoint IP] Frontier Communications Corporation 6508678
IPR2020-01210 Filed Analog Devices Inc Xilinx, Inc. 10250250
IPR2020-01283 Filed Polaris Powerled Technologies, LLC [Microchip Technology Inc.] LG Electronics, Inc.
Hisense Co., Ltd.
8223117
IPR2020-01265 Filed Parker Vision, Inc. Intel Corporation 7110444
IPR2020-01198 Filed P21 Ltd. Favored Tech Corporation 10421876
IPR2020-01318 Filed Novartis Pharma AG
Novartis Technology LLC
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 9220631
IPR2020-01295 Filed Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. AEP Generation Resources Inc.,
AEP Texas Inc
Southwestern Energy Power Co.
10343114
IPR2020-01292 Filed Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Verizon Business Network Services LLC 8406236
IPR2020-01219 Filed Analog Devices Inc Xilinx, Inc. 8487659
IPR2020-01320 Filed Novartis Pharma AG
Novartis Technology LLC
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 9220631
IPR2020-01301 Filed Synkloud Technologies, LLC. Adobe Inc. 9219780
IPR2020-00665 Filed Intertrust Technologies Corporation [Fidelio Acquisition Co., LLC] Dolby Laboratories, Inc. 8931106
IPR2020-01317 Filed Novartis Pharma AG
Novartis Technology LLC
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 9220631
IPR2020-01291 Filed Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Verizon Business Network Services LLC 8824505
IPR2020-01209 Filed Intertrust Technologies Corporation [Fidelio Acquisition Co., LLC] Dolby Laboratories, Inc. 7694342
IPR2020-01266 Filed Luminati Networks Ltd. Code 200 UAB
Teso Lt UAB
Metacluster Lt UAB
Oxysales UAB
10257319
IPR2020-01296 Filed Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. AEP Generation Resources Inc.,
AEP Texas Inc
Southwestern Energy Power Co.
8168147
IPR2020-01297 Filed Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. AEP Generation Resources Inc.,
AEP Texas Inc
Southwestern Energy Power Co.
8168147
IPR2020-01290 Filed Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Verizon Business Network Services LLC 8824505
IPR2020-00170 Not Instituted – Merits Uniloc 2017 LLC [Fortress IP, Softbank] Google LLC 6253201
IPR2020-00501 Not Instituted – Procedural Apalone, Inc., Kranos Corporation d/b/a Schutt Sports 8938817
IPR2020-00391 Not Instituted – Procedural Blackberry Limited Snap, Inc. 8296351
IPR2020-00392 Not Instituted – Procedural Blackberry Limited Snap, Inc. 8676929
IPR2020-00308 Instituted Neodron Ltd. [Magnetar Capital] Samsung
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
10365747
IPR2020-00413 Instituted Hammond Development International, Inc. Google LLC 10193935
IPR2020-00412 Instituted Hammond Development International, Inc. Google LLC 9456040
IPR2020-00349 Instituted Samsung [Samsung Electronics Co.] Ascend Performance Materials Operations LLC [SK Capital Partners] 9819057
IPR2020-00202 Instituted Maxell, Ltd. [Maxell Holdings, Ltd.] Apple Inc. 10212586
IPR2020-00388 Instituted uniQure N.V.
Uniqure Biopharma B.V.,
Pfizer, Inc. 9249405
IPR2020-00200 Instituted Maxell, Ltd. [Maxell Holdings, Ltd.] Apple Inc. 10084991
IPR2020-00245 Instituted Nice Ltd. Callminer, Inc. 8553872
IPR2019-01315 Adverse Judgment Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation [Boston Scientific Corporation] Nevro Corp. 7127298
IPR2019-01216 Adverse Judgment Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation [Boston Scientific Corporation] Nevro Corp. 7177690
IPR2015-01047 Final Written Decision VirnetX Inc. [VirNetX Holding Corp.] The Mangrove Partners [Celsion Corporation] Master Fund, Ltd.
Apple Inc.
Black Swamp IP, LLC
7490151
IPR2019-00446 Final Written Decision Skybell Technologies, Inc. Ring LLC 9179109
PGR2019-00024 Final Written Decision Traeger Pellet Grills LLC GMG Products LLC 10158720
PGR2019-00025 Final Written Decision William F. O’Keeffe
O’Keeffee’s, Inc.
Ely Holdings Ltd. 9926709
IPR2019-00490 Final Written Decision HandyLab, Inc [Becton Dickinson Co.] QIAGEN North American Holdings, Inc. 8323900
IPR2019-00151 Final Written Decision Align Technology, Inc. 3Shape A/S
3Shape, Inc.
8638448
IPR2019-00496 Final Written Decision MModal Services, Ltd [Legend Parent, Inc.] Nuance Communications, Inc. 8412524
IPR2016-01238 Final Written Decision WAG Acquisition, LLC Webpower, Inc.
FriendFinder Networks, Inc.
Steamray, Inc.
WMM, LLC
WMM Holdings, LLC
et al.
8122141
IPR2019-00499 Final Written Decision MModal Services, Ltd [Legend Parent, Inc.] Nuance Communications, Inc. 8781829
IPR2019-00488 Final Written Decision HandyLab, Inc QIAGEN North American Holdings, Inc.
NeuMoDx Molecular, Inc.
7998708
IPR2019-01493 Final Written Decision HandyLab, Inc NeuMoDx Molecular, Inc.
QIAGEN North American Holdings, Inc.
7998708
IPR2019-00152 Final Written Decision Align Technology, Inc. 3Shape A/S
3Shape, Inc.
9615901
IPR2015-01046 Final Written Decision VirnetX Inc. [VirNetX Holding Corp.] The Mangrove Partners [Celsion Corporation] Master Fund, Ltd.
Apple Inc.
Black Swamp IP, LLC
6502135
IPR2019-00481 Final Written Decision Carrum Technologies, LLC [Pratima Instruments, LLC] Unified Patents, LLC 7925416
IPR2019-00416 Final Written Decision Ioengine, LLC Ingenico Inc. 8539047
IPR2019-01115 Procedural Termination Data Scape Ltd. [Magnetar Capital] Unified Patents, LLC 7720929
IPR2019-01277 Settlement Lodge Manufacturing Company Gibson Overseas, Inc. 7622197
 

                                          District Court (56)

Case Number Action Plaintiff Defendant Patent
1:20-cv-11319 Filed Q-State Biosciences, Inc. TET Systems Holding GMBH & Co. KG 9181556
8383364
6:20-cv-00629 Filed Be Labs, Inc. AsusTek Computer, Inc. 7827581
9344183
6:20-cv-00636 Filed Demaray, LLC Samsung Group 7544276
7381657
2:20-cv-00372 Filed National Products Corp. YakAttack, LLC 7523904
1:20-cv-04171 Filed Oakley, Inc. The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule “A” D659180
1:20-cv-00953 Filed Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Alvogen Group, Inc.
ALVOGEN PHARMA US, INC.
NORWICH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Alvogen PB Research And Development, LLC
7105486
7223735
7678771
7687466
7700561
7718619
7713936
7662788
7655630
7659253
7659254
7662787
7671030
7671031
7723305
7687467
7674774
7678770
3:20-cv-01350 Filed Leland J. Hebert Allied Rubber & Gasket Co., Inc. 8850931
6:20-cv-00645 Filed Arden Innovations, LLC [Endpoint IP] The Reinalt-Thomas Corp. DBA Discount Tire 8001465
4:20-cv-00549 Filed Akoloutheo, LLC MediaKind
4:20-cv-00552 Filed Communication Interface Technologies, LLC [Equitable IP] Allstate Insurance Co.
The Allstate Corp.
6574239
8266296
8291010
1:20-cv-04218 Filed Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. Bullitt Mobile, LLC 6473527
6972790
8537242
7292261
6972774
1:20-cv-05519 Filed Global Interactive Media, Inc. RCN Telecom Services, LLC 7574721
4:20-cv-02536 Filed Dr Probir K Bondyopadhyay Attorney General William Barr
2:20-cv-00514 Filed Datrec MyHeritage, Ltd.
MyHeritage USA, Inc.
8156158
8381309
2:20-cv-08809 Filed THERAPEUTICSMD, INC. Teva Pharmaceutical 10537581
10568891
8:20-cv-01256 Filed Symbology Innovations, LLC [Leigh Rothschild] Universal Electronics Inc. 8424752
1:20-cv-04127 Filed Unicorn Global, Inc.
Hangzhou Chic Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd
Smalife
STKE
e_Power
E-Link Technology Co., Ltd.
Wormwhole USA
et al.
9376155
9452802
10696348
10696347
10486764
10597107
1:20-cv-05424 Filed IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING, LLC d/b/a Cree Lighting RAB Lighting, Inc. 8596819
8403531
8777449
9261270
9476570
6:20-cv-00632 Filed PROVEN NETWORKS, LLC Aruba Networks
Hewlett-Parkard Co.
8018852
8165024
1:20-cv-04180 Filed STI Holdings, Inc.
Stoughton Trailers, LLC
Stoughton Parts Sales, LLC
HYUNDAI Translead, Inc. D790407
D864038
D889320
2:20-cv-06339 Filed One-E-Way, Inc. Apple 10468047
8131391
6:20-cv-00646 Filed Maxell, Ltd. Apple 7203517
7199821
8982086
4:20-cv-00550 Filed Communication Interface Technologies, LLC [Equitable IP] Albertson`s, LLC
Albertsons Companies, Inc.
6574239
8266296
8291010
2:20-cv-00234 Filed Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. Huawei Technologies, Co., Ltd. 6473527
6972790
8537242
7292261
6972774
6516147
6566805
9961264
3:20-cv-00531 Filed National Products Inc. YakAttack, LLC 7523904
3:20-cv-00421 Filed Amarin Pharma, Inc.
AMARIN PHARMACEUTICALS IRELAND, LTD.
HIKMA PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
HIKMA PHARMACEUTICALS USA INC.
8293728
8318715
8357677
8367652
8377920
8415335
8426399
8440650
8518929
8524698
8546372
8617594
4:20-cv-00335 Filed Ubiquitous Connectivity, LP Central Security Group – Nationwide, Inc. DBA Alert 360 10344999
5:20-cv-00815 Filed Ubiquitous Connectivity, LP City of San Antonio, by and through its agent, City Public Service Board of San Antonio DBA CPS Enegy 10344999
2:20-cv-00239 Filed Neodron, Ltd. [Magnetar Capital] Fujitsu, Ltd.
Fujitsu
9823784
8946574
10088960
1:20-cv-00949 Filed Merck Sharp & Dohme Co., Inc. Aurobindo Pharma, Ltd. 7326708
6:20-cv-00639 Filed Aeritas, LLC Finnair Oyi 8620364
7706819
9390435
9888107
10362160
7933589
7209903
6:20-cv-00640 Filed Teleputers, LLC Fujitsu
Fujitsu, Ltd.
6922472
7174014
7519795
7092526
6952478
3:20-cv-04768 Filed Cartera Commerce, Inc.
Ebates Performance Marketing, Inc. DBA Rakuten Rewards
MyMail, Ltd. [MyMail Management, LLC] 8275863
9021070
10228838
9141263
1:20-cv-22945 Filed DeCurtis, LLC Carnival Corp. 10171978
10304271
10499228
10037642
10045184
10049516
10157514
4:20-cv-00548 Filed Akoloutheo, LLC MediaKind
1:20-cv-00160 Filed QUICK-MED Technologies, Inc. Sarasota Medical Products, Inc.
Walter F. Leise, III
1:20-cv-00559 Filed Delta T, LLC dba Big Ass Fans David T. Williams
Vortikul, Ltd.
Dafydd & Yong, Pte. Ltd.
D614757
D672868
D635237
D641075
3:20-cv-01234 Filed Steer Machine Tool & Die Corp. SS Niles Bottle Stoppers, LLC
Ruth Niles
D575639
D758853
6:20-cv-00652 Filed GreatGigz Solutions, LLC [Raymond Anthony Joao] Uber Technologies, Inc. 6662194
10096000
7490086
9760864
5:20-cv-04677 Filed Avago Technologies International Sales PTE, Ltd.
Broadcom Corporation
Netflix 6982663
6744387
6341375
7266079
8259121
8959245
8270992
8572138
9332283
6:20-cv-00633 Filed GreatGigz Solutions, LLC [Raymond Anthony Joao] Angie`s List, Inc. 6662194
10096000
7490086
9760864
6:20-cv-00634 Filed Demaray, LLC Intel Corp. 7544276
7381657
8:20-cv-01257 Filed Battery Conservation Innovations, LLC [Leigh Rothschild] Iogear, Inc. 9239158
1:20-cv-00948 Filed Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. Royole Corp. 6972790
8537242
6566805
3:20-cv-01344 Filed Vedanti Licensing Limited, LLC GOOGLE, LLC
John Doe
7974339
4:20-cv-00551 Filed Communication Interface Technologies, LLC [Equitable IP] Aldi, Inc.
Compagnie, oHG
ALDI SUD Dienstleistungs, GmbH
6574239
8266296
8291010
4:20-cv-02444 Filed Magema Technology, LLC Phillips 66
Phillips 66 Co.
WRB Refining, LP
10308884
10533141
10604709
U10584287
2:20-cv-08966 Filed Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.
Alvogen Group, Inc.
ALVOGEN PHARMA US, INC.
NORWICH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Alvogen PB Research And Development, LLC
7105486
7223735
7678771
7687466
7718619
7713936
7662788
7655630
7659253
7659254
7662787
7671030
7671031
7674774
7723305
7687467
7700561
7678770
0:20-cv-01576 Filed Pro-Troll, Inc. KMDA, Inc.
PROKING SPOON, LLC
D516663
6:20-cv-00644 Filed Alert Signal Intellectual Property, LLC [Fred DuFrense] GOOGLE, LLC 8212661
8446270
8624718
9313626
2:20-cv-00241 Filed Neodron, Ltd. [Magnetar Capital] PANASONIC CORP.PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA 9823784
8946574
10088960
1:20-cv-05537 Filed Globe Electric Company, Inc. All Star Lighting Supplies, Inc. d/b/a Luxrite 10234091
3:20-cv-00800 Filed SOLUTEX, N.A. LLC Designs for Health, Inc. 10568858
10653703
1:20-cv-02961 Filed DataWidget, LLC The Rocket Science Group, LLC DBA MailChimp 10102557
6:20-cv-00649 Filed Browse3D LLC BASS PRO, LLC
Bass Pro Outdoor World, LLC
10031897
6:20-cv-00651 Filed GreatGigz Solutions, LLC [Raymond Anthony Joao] Lyft, Inc. 6662194
10096000
7490086
9760864

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2 comments so far.

  • [Avatar for Pro Say]
    Pro Say
    July 23, 2020 08:47 pm

    VirnetX is robbed.

    Yet again.

    Does the amount of shame the unconstitutional PTAB is willing to accept for doing Apple’s bidding know no bounds?

  • [Avatar for Josh Malone]
    Josh Malone
    July 23, 2020 01:12 pm

    Virnetx looks like another case of the USPTO/PTAB nullifying a jury verdict for the benefit of Apple. This cronyism and corruption must be dealt with.