Patent Filings Roundup: Banks Targeted after CBM Expiry; Counterfeit Collections Suits on the Rise; Patent Food Fight

Litigation lightbulbPatent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) filings were down substantially this week, with just 16 filed, possibly given the rush to file before the fee increase probably cleared some dockets—or it could just be a fluke. District court patent filings were down just a tad from the usual 70 or so, with 68, fueled by megafiler WSOU adding another defendant in a half-dozen suits, this time NEC Corp. Otherwise, the jump in business method patent assertions is evident, and parties are filing counterfeiting/brand enforcement actions with design and utility patents at a healthy clip. All of that will be overshadowed by the Supreme Court’s grant of certiorari in Arthrex and the shadow it casts, but it’s worth noting that in the meantime monetization entities aren’t skipping a beat.

Food Court Friday: On Friday, Equitable IP subsidiary Push Data LLC asserted a portfolio of patents against 10 different retailers, mostly fast food retailers like Dunkin Donuts, Chipotle (owned by McDonald’s), Burger King, Panera Bread, Jack in the Box, and Papa John’s, with outdoor retailer REI and two hotel companies thrown in for good measure. The portfolio is a slice of Endpoint IP LLC’s Aido Mobility LLC portfolio, which is the second time they have transferred part of that portfolio to another monetization entity. The accused products are all mobile apps and the patents themselves—at least the four that were asserted—reflect relatively generic mobile web searching that considers user preference, location tags or push notifications.

Uncovered Business Method Patents: When the covered business method (CBM) program expired, commenters predicted that a slew of formerly suspect patents might be asserted. I wasn’t so sure; the CBM program itself had been lifeless since Alice motions in district court had come to dominate subject matter challenges given timing, cost, and the power to cancel entire portfolios in a single judicial order. I assumed at least that non-practicing entities (NPEs) would wait awhile or would need some time to seek licensing fees for their previously suspect assets. But in the month since the program expired, we’ve seen numerous new LLCs asserting business method patents against banks and transactions software—like Kioba Processing LLC adding Bank of America to their five-patent ongoing suit this week, in 2:20-cv-00328; and last week, IP Edge dropping the Milestone IP, LLC suits against banks, added banks to Sapphire Crossing, LLC, and IP Valuation added banks to their Lupercal LLC suit on U.S. 9,386,094; the list goes on. It appears I was wrong, and the sunsetting of the CBM program has lead to more suits against banks, though only time will tell.

Counterfeit Bill: Just a quick note that we’ve seen an increasing number of sometimes-hybrid design/utility patent actions this year on what appear to all be counterfeiting actions meant to stymie Chinese defendants (who, in these actions, often default) and seize/recover available funds upon default. This week frequent anti-counterfeit suit filer Oakley filed another design patent action, 1:20-cv-05943, as did Playology, LLC, 2:20-cv-09255. The rise of such actions, one would assume, probably coincides with takedown or third-party actions on e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Etsy, and they’ve led to an uptick in these omnibus filings against “The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule “A”— so if you see that in filing lists, it’s likely a large-scale effort at recovery.

                                    PTAB (16)

Case Number Action Owner Petitioner Patent
IPR2021-00002 Filed NXP USA, Inc Impinj, Inc. 7795951
IPR2021-00023 Filed Sonova AG Med-El Elektromedizinische Gerate Ges.m.b.H. 7267847
IPR2021-00020 Filed Advanced Cluster Systems Inc NVIDIA Corporation 10333768
IPR2021-00022 Filed Ivanti, Inc., Staylinked Corporation 9648083
IPR2020-01721 Filed Sable Networks, Inc. Cisco Systems, Inc.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company
Aruba Networks, Inc.
7012919
IPR2021-00044 Filed Advanced Bionics AG Med-El Elektromedizinische Gerate Ges.m.b.H. 8155746
IPR2020-01693 Filed Bell Semiconductor LLC Texas Instruments Incorporated 8288269
IPR2021-00052 Filed Guy A. Shaked Investments Ltd. Ontel Products, Corp. 9877562
IPR2021-00019 Filed Advance Cluster Systems, Inc. NVIDIA Corporation 10333768
IPR2021-00045 Filed Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited, Netflix, Inc. 7457722
IPR2020-01691 Filed Bell Semiconductor LLC Texas Instruments Incorporated 7566964
IPR2021-00034 Filed USC IP Partnership, L.P., Facebook, Inc. 8645300
IPR2021-00003 Filed Nxp B.V Impinj, Inc. 7538444
IPR2020-01692 Filed Bell Semiconductor LLC Texas Instruments Incorporated 8049340
IPR2021-00001 Filed Nxp B.V Impinj, Inc. 6819092
IPR2021-00033 Filed USC IP Partnership, L.P., Facebook, Inc. 8645300
IPR2020-00568 Not Instituted – Merits Cellect, LLC Samsung
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
6862036
IPR2020-00567 Not Instituted – Merits Cellect, LLC Samsung
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
6452626
IPR2020-00566 Not Instituted – Merits Cellect, LLC Samsung
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
6452626
IPR2020-00858 Not Instituted – Merits GE Video Compression, LLC Unified Patents, LLC 9357217
IPR2020-00565 Not Instituted – Merits Cellect, LLC Samsung
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
6452626
IPR2020-00837 Not Instituted – Merits Innovative Foundry Technologies LLC SMIC, Americas 6608126
IPR2020-00785 Not Instituted – Merits Xylem Europe GmbH Primozone Production AB 10336612
IPR2020-00569 Not Instituted – Merits Cellect, LLC Samsung
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
6862036
IPR2020-00839 Not Instituted – Merits Innovative Foundry Technologies LLC SMIC, Americas 6933620
IPR2020-00808 Not Instituted – Procedural Rovi Guides, Inc. [Xperi Holding Co.] Comcast Cable Communications, LLC 8001564
PGR2020-00053 Not Instituted – Procedural Gree, Inc. Supercell OY 10335683
IPR2020-00583 Not Instituted – Procedural VLSI Technology LLC [Fortress, Softbank] Intel Corporation 7606983
IPR2020-00717 Not Instituted – Procedural Bell Northern Research, LLC Samsung
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
7957450
IPR2020-00718 Not Instituted – Procedural Bell Northern Research, LLC Samsung
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
7957450
PGR2020-00046 Not Instituted – Procedural Gree, Inc. Supercell OY 10328347
PGR2020-00044 Not Instituted – Procedural Canopy Growth Corporation GoFire, Inc., 10327479
IPR2020-00807 Not Instituted – Procedural Rovi Guides, Inc. [Xperi Holding Co.] Comcast Cable Communications, LLC 8001564
IPR2020-00628 Instituted Nucoat, Inc.
Jodi A. Schwendimann
Jodi A. Dalvey
Avery Products Corporation
Neenah, Inc.
Nokia
RE41623
IPR2020-00726 Instituted BOT M8, LLC Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC 8112670
IPR2020-00777 Instituted Magna Mirrors of America, Inc. Motherson Innovations Company Limited 10261648
IPR2020-00806 Instituted Rovi Guides, Inc. [Xperi Holding Co.] Comcast Cable Communications, LLC 8001564
IPR2020-00786 Instituted Innovative Foundry Technologies LLC SMIC, Americas
SMIC
Americas
7009226
IPR2020-00633 Instituted Nucoat, Inc.
Jodi A. Schwendimann
Jodi A. Dalvey
STAHLS’ Inc RE41623
IPR2020-00764 Instituted Imperial College Innovations Limited Astellas US LLC 10052317
IPR2020-00732 Instituted iRobot Corporation SharkNinja Operating LLC
SharkNinja Management LLC
SharkNinja Sales Company
9492048
IPR2020-00734 Instituted iRobot Corporation SharkNinja Operating LLC
SharkNinja Management LLC
SharkNinja Sales Company
9921586
CBM2020-00012 Instituted Trioptima AB Quantile Technologies Limited 8010441
IPR2020-00733 Instituted iRobot Corporation SharkNinja Operating LLC
SharkNinja Management LLC
SharkNinja Sales Company
9550294
IPR2020-00845 Instituted Jenam Tech, LLC [Oso IP, LLC] Google LLC
LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics USA, Inc
9923995
IPR2020-00742 Instituted Jenam Tech, LLC [Oso IP, LLC] Unified Patents, LLC 9923995
IPR2020-00784 Instituted Optima Direct, LLC [2S Ventures, LLC] Unified Patents, LLC 8646060
IPR2020-00641 Instituted Nucoat, Inc.
Jodi A. Schwendimann
Jodi A. Dalvey
STAHLS’ Inc RE41623
IPR2020-00759 Adverse Judgment Lighthouse Consulting Group, LLC Wells Fargo & Company RE44274
IPR2019-00646 Final Written Decision RAH Color Technologies LLC Adobe Inc. 7791761
IPR2019-00919 Final Written Decision Huber Engineered Woods LLC Louisia-Pacific Corporation
Louisiana-Pacific Corporation
9546479
IPR2017-01063 Final Written Decision Novartis AG Argentum Pharmaceuticals LLC
West-Ward Pharmaceuticals International Ltd.
9006224
IPR2019-00821 Final Written Decision MPH Technologies Oy Apple Inc. 8037302
IPR2017-01078 Final Written Decision Novartis AG West-Ward Pharmaceuticals International Ltd.
Argentum Pharmaceuticals LLC
9006224
IPR2015-01190 Final Written Decision Sirona Dental Systems GmbH Institut Straumann Ag
Dental Wings Inc.
6319006
IPR2016-01610 Final Written Decision Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Polygroup Ltd.
Polygroup Limited MCO
8454186
IPR2016-01612 Final Written Decision Willis Electric Co., Ltd. Polygroup Ltd.
Polygroup Limited MCO
8454187
IPR2017-01589 Final Written Decision B. Braun Melsungen Ag Becton, Dickinson and Company 8597249
IPR2016-01479 Final Written Decision Novartis AG Par Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Argentum Pharmaceuticals LLC
West-Ward Pharmaceuticals International Ltd.
West-Ward Pharmaceuticals International Limited n/k/a Hikma Pharmaceuticals International Limited
9006224
IPR2019-00629 Final Written Decision RAH Color Technologies LLC Adobe Inc. 7312897
IPR2019-00899 Final Written Decision Blackberry Limited Facebook, Inc.
Instagram, LLC
WhatsApp, Inc.
8301713

 

                        District Court (68)

Case Number Action Plaintiff Defendant Patent
1:20-cv-01344 Filed ALLERGAN PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
Allergan
Janssen Pharmaceutica, N.V.
Allergan Holdings Unlimited Co.
Hetero Labs, Ltd.
Hetero USA, Inc.
7741356
6:20-cv-01269 Filed CeleritasWorks, LLC Cellular South, Inc. 6343290
1:20-cv-01539 Filed Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. Spartan Fire, LLC 7784554
2:20-cv-00325 Filed PerdiemCo, LLC Calamp Corp. 10277689
10284662
9680941
9871874
10021198
10382966
10397789
10602364
3:20-cv-00414 Filed Social Positioning Input Systems, LLC Midmark Corp. 9261365
5:20-cv-04970 Filed BIO MED SCIENCES, Inc. APRICOT, GMBH 9414970
6:20-cv-00925 Filed WSOU Investments, LLC [WSOU Holdings, LLC] NEC Corp. 8041017
6:20-cv-00928 Filed OPEN TEXT SA ULC
Open Text, Inc.
Alfresco Software Americas, Inc.
Alfresco Software, LTD.
Alfresco Software America, Inc.
Blue Fish Development Group, Ltd.
7062515
7590665
8117152
8645318
5:20-cv-07051 Filed Rothschild Patent Imaging, LLC [Leigh Rothschild] Flickr, Inc. 9936086
4:20-cv-00779 Filed Push Data, LLC [Equitable IP] Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. 6983139
7058395
7212811
7292844
4:20-cv-00784 Filed Push Data, LLC [Equitable IP] The Wendys Co. 6983139
7058395
7212811
7292844
1:20-cv-06050 Filed Fontem Ventures B.V.
Fontem Holdings 1 B.V.
Eco-Cigs, Inc.
1:20-cv-01370 Filed Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. LiveXLive Media, Inc.
3:20-cv-01154 Filed Doc Palapa Co. Global Innovation, LLC
6:20-cv-01270 Filed CeleritasWorks, LLC New-Cell, LLC 6343290
6:20-cv-00920 Filed Open Text Corp. Alfresco Software Americas, Inc.
Alfresco Software, LTD.
Alfresco Software America, Inc.
Blue Fish Development Group, Ltd.
8370388
7627726
7818300
8712980
1:20-cv-05943 Filed Oakley, Inc. The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule “A” D569412
D581443
D581444
2:20-cv-00324 Filed Gallio IP, LLC [Endpoint IP] Seiko 10176332
6:20-cv-00927 Filed WSOU Investments, LLC [WSOU Holdings, LLC] NEC Corp. 9065918
2:20-cv-09255 Filed PLAYOLOGY, LLC C.B. WORLDWIDE, INC., DBA MAMMOTH PET PRODUCTS D743638
D744175
D778002
2:20-cv-09273 Filed Battery Conservation Innovations, LLC [Leigh Rothschild] G.B.T. Inc. 9239158
2:20-cv-02501 Filed Cirrus Systems, Inc. Next LED Signs, LLC d/b/a nextLED 8992037
2:20-cv-01500 Filed DIGITAL DREAM LABS, LLC EMO PET
LIVING TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD. d/b/a LIVING.AI
D812153
D812154
D811496
9155961
9919232
9177239
9996369
4:20-cv-00777 Filed Push Data, LLC [Equitable IP] Chipotle Mexican Grill 6983139
7058395
7212811
7292844
1:20-cv-01365 Filed H Lundbeck A/S
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., LTD.
Alembic
1:20-cv-01372 Filed Orthopaedic Hospital Aesculap Implant Systems, LLC
1:20-cv-01374 Filed Koolbridge Solar, Inc. SolarEdge Technologies
1:20-cv-03037 Filed Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. Deezer, Inc.
3:20-cv-13967 Filed Actelion PHARMAQ, INC.
LAURUS LABS, LTD.
7094781
7:20-cv-08255 Filed Allele Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals 10221221
6:20-cv-01271 Filed CeleritasWorks, LLC Thumb Cellular, LLC 6343290
3:20-cv-03048 Filed Tama Group Zhejiang Yajia Packaging Materials Co., Ltd. 6787209
2:20-cv-00328 Filed Kioba Processing, LLC [IP Investments Group] Bank of America 6917902
6931382
7110792
7107078
8442915
4:20-cv-00780 Filed Push Data, LLC [Equitable IP] Jack In The Box 6983139
7058395
7212811
7292844
4:20-cv-00785 Filed Push Data, LLC [Equitable IP] Inter-Continental Hotels Group, Inc. 6983139
7058395
7212811
7292844
6:20-cv-00937 Filed Aeritas, LLC Whataburger Restaurants, LLC
1:20-cv-05927 Filed 511 TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
CADDO SYSTEMS, INC.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (AG)
Siemens
8352880
7191411
7216301
7640517
7725836
10037127
6:20-cv-00921 Filed Broadband iTV, Inc. Amazon.com Services, LLC
Amazon.com, Inc.
Amazon
10028026
9648388
10506269
10536750
10536751
9973825
1:20-cv-01352 Filed Natera Genosity, Inc. 10732220
1:20-cv-01359 Filed LEO PHARMA, Inc.
LEO Pharma A/S
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. 10617698
10660908
10682364
10688108
10716799
1:20-cv-01362 Filed Rhodes Technologies, Inc.
Purdue Pharma
Accord Healthcare
Accord Healthcare USA, Inc.
9073933
9763933
9775808
9763886
9522919
10407434
6:20-cv-00934 Filed GreatGigz Solutions, LLC [Raymond Anthony Joao] HEB Grocery Company, LP
H-E-B, LP
H. E. BUTT GROCERY Co.,LP.
10096000
7490086
9760864
6662194
6:20-cv-00935 Filed GreatGigz Solutions, LLC [Raymond Anthony Joao] Neighborfavor, Inc. 10096000
7490086
9760864
6662194
4:20-cv-00782 Filed Push Data, LLC [Equitable IP] Papa Johns International, Inc. 6983139
7058395
7212811
7292844
1:20-cv-06037 Filed Fontem Ventures B.V.
Fontem Holdings 1 B.V.
Sago Technology, Inc. dba JAK ECIG
6:20-cv-00941 Filed Carbonite, Inc.
Open Text, Inc.
Alfresco Software Americas, Inc.
Alfresco Software, LTD.
Alfresco Software America, Inc.
Blue Fish Development Group, Ltd.
6:20-cv-00942 Filed KinectUs LLC Bumble Trading, LLC
2:20-cv-01503 Filed NXP USA, Inc.
NXP
Impinj, Inc.
1:20-cv-08287 Filed Kioba Processing, LLC [IP Investments Group] American Express Co. 7107078
6917902
6931382
7136841
6332134
3:20-cv-01958 Filed Allele Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Does 1-30
Pfizer
BioNTech US, Inc.
BioNTech SE
10221221
1:20-cv-08319 Filed Rothschild Patent Imaging, LLC [Leigh Rothschild] PhotoShelter, Inc. 9936086
3:20-cv-03064 Filed Symbology Innovations, LLC [Leigh Rothschild] McLaren Automotive, Inc. 8424752
1:20-cv-05972 Filed Oakley, Inc. The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule “A” D569412
D581443
D581444
6:20-cv-01854 Filed RFID Technology Innovations, LLC [Leigh Rothschild] RMS Omega Technologies Group, Inc. 9582689
6:20-cv-00923 Filed WSOU Investments, LLC [WSOU Holdings, LLC] NEC Corp. 7577103
6:20-cv-00924 Filed WSOU Investments, LLC [WSOU Holdings, LLC] NEC Corp. 7885398
6:20-cv-00926 Filed WSOU Investments, LLC [WSOU Holdings, LLC] NEC Corp. 8103213
5:20-cv-02113 Filed Scanning Technologies Innovations, LLC [Leigh Rothschild] Alvarado Manufacturing Company, Inc. 10600101
5:20-cv-07050 Filed Rothschild Patent Imaging, LLC [Leigh Rothschild] Cloudinary, Inc. 9936086
4:20-cv-00776 Filed Push Data, LLC [Equitable IP] Burger king Corp. 6574239
6983139
7058395
7212811
7292844
4:20-cv-00778 Filed Push Data, LLC [Equitable IP] Dunkin` Donuts, LLC 6983139
7058395
7212811
7292844
4:20-cv-00781 Filed Push Data, LLC [Equitable IP] Panera Bread Co. 6983139
7058395
7212811
7292844
4:20-cv-00783 Filed Push Data, LLC [Equitable IP] Recreational Equipment, Inc. 6983139
7058395
7212811
7292844
1:20-cv-06021 Filed Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. ViacomCBS Inc.
1:20-cv-01373 Filed Almirall, LLC Torrent Pharmaceuticals
4:20-cv-00210 Filed SANDCRAFT LLC SUPER ATV, LLC
3:20-cv-01746 Filed Intellibrands, LLC
The Brand Group, LLC
AOSOM LLC
John Doe
6:20-cv-00938 Filed Aeritas, LLC Darden Restaurants, Inc.

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