After almost 200 district court patent filings last week, things settled back into their recent rhythm, with an average 66 district court complaints (including some “Schedule A” brand anti-counterfeiting complaints) and 28 Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) petitions filed (all inter partes reviews [IPRs]) this week. There were no IP Edge or Rothschild complaints this week, after last week’s busy filings. There were no Fintiv denials again this week; the PTAB petitions included three IPRs filed by Microsoft against Daedalus Blue LLC against patents originally assigned to IBM (more below), as well as various patents related to ongoing challenges (like the rolling Lasik J&J/Alcon fight), more fracking IPRs, more Peloton-related challenges (those bikes make big bucks!), and a curious rechargeable-battery suit between a Taiwanese U.S. patent holder and a U.S. rechargeable battery company based in Michigan, A123 Systems, LLC (a name that conjures this classic clip). Those batteries are supplied to NEC and other device manufacturers, so what looks at first blush like a small suit probably is set to have broader implications. Nokia had a Google challenge denied, and two Ideahub [Synkloud] challenges by Microsoft were denied as well, on the merits; and more Uniloc/Fortress IP claims were cancelled on final written decision.
Microsoft Feeling Blue: Just before its major shift in focus from licensing to cloud computing, IBM offloaded a bunch of litigation-grade assets to Ed Gomez and various entities he controls, including Daedalus Blue LLC and Daedalus Group LLC. I love the symbolism—Daedalus was the father of Icarus and the master engineer of Greek myth, who built the labyrinth and the wax wings that helped Icarus fly too close to the sun (I’m a sucker for a good literary reference.) Reports suggest the entities control over 500 U.S. assets, and have been asserting them against major companies, including Oracle, Microstrategy, and Microsoft; this week, Microsoft fought back, challenging three of the eight patents (one would assume they’ll likely file against others in the coming weeks). The challenges are interesting amid the repositioning of IBM in the market, but the proxy war continues; it will be interesting to follow the litigation and challenges as they develop. For those playing at home, that’s IPR2021-00832 (U.S. 8,381,209), IPR2021-00831 (U.S. 8,671,132), and IPR2021-00830 (U.S. 8,572,612).
The First-to-File Two-Step: The recently beleaguered-Intel has been battered by non-practicing entities (NPEs) asserting semiconductor patents, both before the Fortress IP/VLSI trials, and now again, in their wake. In at least one of those assertions, it has chosen to go on the offense a bit, and this week served a declaratory judgment action (DJ) on NPE Longhorn IP in the Northern District of California over five semiconductor patents the NPE was seeking to license through its subsidiary Trenchant Blade Technologies, LLC, which immediately triggered a complaint filed by the Trenchant entities in the Western District of Texas. The Northern District of California complaint outlines Longhorn’s licensing practices in detail, which, for any interested, is worth the read. The five patents in suit are (perhaps unsurprisingly) former TSMC patents. In the complaint, Intel highlights that Longhorn had previously used the Lone Star subsidiary (also controlled by Longhorn President and CEO Khaled Fekih-Romdhane) to assert against others. Intel’s first-filed complaint should control under the widely accepted first-filed rule, see, e.g., In re: VOIP-PAL.com, Inc., No. 2021-12 (Feb. 19, 2021) (Moore, J.) (non-precedential) (declining to find mandamus-worthy error in District Court’s use of the first-to-file rule, where the complaint was similarly filed first in the Northern District of California, then later in the Western District of Texas; noting application of the rule is ultimately an issue of judicial discretion); but see Communications Test Design, Inc. v. Contec, LLC, No. 19-1672 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 13, 2020) (finding no abuse of discretion in accepting the later-filed suit and dismissing the first-filed DJ). But like the customer-suit exception, the Federal Circuit and district courts have been waffling on uniform application of longstanding comity rules. See In re Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., No. 2020-116 (Fed. Cir. 2020) (Newman, J.) (non-precedential) (declining to find mandamus-worthy error in the district court’s decision not to apply the customer suit exception).
Electric Blanket Boogaloo: A competitor-competitor fight in the hotly-contested electric blanket market is heating up, with defendant London Luxury LLC headed to the PTAB to challenge U.S. Patent 10,920,376. London Luxury sells in the US under the “Brookstone” label, which to be fair was the first and only retailer that came to mind when I saw electric blanket. It’s not the first suit by E&E Company—they themselves have been the subject of a couple of patent suits from Sheex and AAVN, apparent competitors in the space. The E&E brand sells in Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock.com, and various other retailers; E&E, for its part, is a California company that has been making electric blankets since 1998.
PTAB (28)
|
Case Number |
Action |
Owner |
Petitioner |
Patent |
IPR2021-00903 |
Filed |
Aegis 11 S.A. [Fineur Int’l, Sisvel Int’l S.A.] |
Hisense Company, Ltd
Hisense USA Corporation |
9848443 |
IPR2021-00832 |
Filed |
Daedalus Blue LLC [Ed Gomez, Daedalus Group LLC, poss. IBM] |
Microsoft Corporation |
8381209 |
IPR2021-00834 |
Filed |
Ahern Rentals, Inc. |
EquipmentShare.com, Inc. |
9193330 |
IPR2021-00897 |
Filed |
Nabors Drilling Techs., Inc. |
Helmerich & Payne Int’l Drilling Co.; Helmerich & Payne Techs, LLC; Motive Drilling Techs, LLC |
8360171 |
IPR2021-00852 |
Filed |
Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC [Dominion Harbor] |
Unified Patents, LLC |
6877038 |
IPR2021-00898 |
Filed |
Alcon Inc. |
Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. |
9622913 |
IPR2021-00875 |
Filed |
Guada Technologies LLC [IP Edge] |
Elastic N.V. |
7231379 |
IPR2021-00871 |
Filed |
Teladoc Health Inc
Jonata Sub Two Inc |
American Well Corporation |
10059000 |
IPR2021-00882 |
Filed |
Wrinkl Inc |
Facebook, Inc. |
9860198 |
IPR2021-00883 |
Filed |
Wrinkl Inc |
Facebook, Inc. |
10728192 |
IPR2021-00831 |
Filed |
Daedalus Blue LLC [Ed Gomez, Daedalus Group LLC, poss. IBM] |
Microsoft Corporation |
8671132 |
IPR2021-00900 |
Filed |
Kinectus LLC |
Bumble Trading Inc. |
10575145 |
IPR2021-00904 |
Filed |
E & E Co., Ltd. |
London Luxury LLC |
10820376 |
IPR2021-00902 |
Filed |
Ravgen, Inc. |
Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings |
7332277 |
IPR2021-00899 |
Filed |
Alcon Inc. |
Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. |
9849036 |
IPR2021-00880 |
Filed |
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
9669069 |
IPR2021-00848 |
Filed |
Peloton Interactive, Inc. |
Echelon Fitness Multimedia, LLC |
10639521 |
IPR2021-00909 |
Filed |
Sable Networks, Inc. [Sable IP, LLC] |
Cloudfare, Inc.
Sonicwall Inc. |
8243593 |
IPR2021-00822 |
Filed |
Litl LLC [TRI Ventures, LLC] |
Lenovo United States Inc. |
8624844 |
IPR2021-00855 |
Filed |
Teradata US Inc. [Teradata Corp.] |
SAP SE |
6763357 |
IPR2021-00786 |
Filed |
Litl LLC [TRI Ventures, LLC] |
Lenovo United States Inc. |
9880715 |
IPR2021-00830 |
Filed |
Daedalus Blue LLC [Ed Gomez, Daedalus Group LLC, poss. IBM] |
Microsoft Corporation |
8572612 |
IPR2021-00894 |
Filed |
Long Hua Technology Co. |
A123 Systems, LLC |
7803484 |
IPR2021-00881 |
Filed |
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
9254338 |
IPR2021-00905 |
Filed |
Ultravision Technologies, LLC [Ultravision International] |
Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. |
9947248 |
IPR2021-00901 |
Filed |
Kinectus LLC |
Bumble Trading Inc. |
9584464 |
IPR2021-00863 |
Filed |
Teradata US Inc |
SAP SE |
9720623 |
IPR2021-00800 |
Filed |
Litl LLC [TRI Ventures, LLC] |
Lenovo United States Inc. |
10289154 |
IPR2021-00020 |
Not Instituted – Merits |
Advance Cluster Systems, Inc. |
NVIDIA Corporation |
10333768 |
IPR2021-00002 |
Not Instituted – Merits |
NXP USA, Inc |
Impinj, Inc. |
7795951 |
IPR2021-00175 |
Not Instituted – Merits |
Synkloud Technologies, LLC [Ideahub] |
Microsoft Corporation
HP, Inc. |
7870225 |
IPR2021-00019 |
Not Instituted – Merits |
Advance Cluster Systems, Inc. |
NVIDIA Corporation |
10333768 |
IPR2021-00174 |
Not Instituted – Merits |
Synkloud Technologies, LLC [Ideahub] |
Microsoft Corporation
HP, Inc. |
7870225 |
IPR2021-00163 |
Not Instituted – Merits |
Nokia Technologies OY |
Google LLC |
8583706 |
IPR2020-01713 |
Instituted |
Masimo Corporation |
Apple, Inc |
10624564 |
IPR2021-00082 |
Instituted |
Nexus Perforating LLC |
Nextier Oilfield Solutions Inc. |
10352136 |
IPR2020-01739 |
Instituted |
Voice Tech Corporation |
Mycroft AI Inc. |
9794348 |
IPR2020-01022 |
Instituted |
Arbor Global Strategies, LLC [Arbor Co. LLLP] |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
Pantech Co., Ltd.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. |
6781226 |
IPR2020-01608 |
Instituted |
Advanced Cluster Systems, Inc. |
NVIDIA Corporation |
8082289 |
IPR2020-01638 |
Instituted |
Ultravision Technologies, LLC [Ultravision Int’l] |
Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc.
ACUITY BRANDS INC. |
10223946 |
IPR2020-01716 |
Instituted |
Masimo Corporation |
Apple, Inc |
10702194 |
IPR2021-00075 |
Instituted |
Advance Cluster Systems, Inc. |
NVIDIA Corporation |
8140612 |
IPR2020-01733 |
Instituted |
Masimo Corporation |
Apple, Inc |
10702195 |
IPR2020-01698 |
Instituted |
Guntert & Zimmerman Const. Div., Inc. |
Godbersen-Smith Construction Company d/b/a Gomaco Corporation |
10029749 |
IPR2021-00088 |
Instituted |
Cytonome/ST, LLC |
ABS Global, Inc.
Genus PLC |
10583439 |
IPR2021-00393 |
Instituted |
Arbor Global Strategies, LLC |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. |
6781226 |
IPR2021-00001 |
Instituted |
Nxp B.V |
Impinj, Inc. |
6819092 |
IPR2021-00050 |
Instituted |
Guntert & Zimmerman Const. Div., Inc. |
Godbersen-Smith Construction Company d/b/a Gomaco Corporation |
9708020 |
IPR2020-01646 |
Instituted |
Sentius International, LLC [Sentius Corp.] |
Apple, Inc |
7672985 |
IPR2020-00460 |
Adverse Judgment |
Hammond Development International, Inc. |
Amazon, Inc.
Amazon.com, Inc |
9264483 |
IPR2019-01653 |
Final Written Decision |
4361423 Canada, Inc. d/b/a AnywhereCommerce
4361423 Canada Inc. |
Square, Inc. |
9818107 |
IPR2020-00116 |
Final Written Decision |
Sucxess LLC [SmartPat] |
Dataspeed Inc. |
9871671 |
IPR2020-00102 |
Final Written Decision |
Uniloc 2017 LLC [Fortress IP] |
Microsoft Corporation |
6498541 |
IPR2019-01654 |
Final Written Decision |
4361423 Canada, Inc. d/b/a AnywhereCommerce
4361423 Canada Inc. |
Square, Inc. |
9818107 |
|
District Court (66)
|
Case Number |
Action |
Plaintiff |
Defendant |
Patent |
1:21-cv-02362 |
Filed |
Fitness Anywhere, Inc. |
The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule “A” |
D669945 |
1:21-cv-21678 |
Filed |
VPR Brands |
HQDTech USA, LLC |
8205622 |
6:21-cv-00457 |
Filed |
Via Transportation, Inc. |
RideCo Inc. |
9562785 |
5:21-cv-00794 |
Filed |
Fortress Iron L.P., d/b/a Fortress Building Products |
Barrette Outdoor Living, Inc., d/b/a RDI |
10197249
9109775 |
6:21-cv-00462 |
Filed |
Interactive Graphic Solutions LLC [Strategic Intellectual Solutions, LLC, David White] |
Microsoft |
9424621
9852490
9117285
8466922
8081192
7916147
9113146
8203568 |
1:21-cv-01861 |
Filed |
JBS Hair, Inc. |
SLI Production IW Corp. |
10980301
10945478 |
4:21-cv-00090 |
Filed |
14F Licensing N.V. |
Happy Feet International LLC |
8978336
10267046 |
6:21-cv-00470 |
Filed |
Modern Font Applications, LLC |
Red Lobster Hospitality LLC |
9886421 |
2:21-cv-00157 |
Filed |
Belaj Innovations LLC [Endpoint IP] |
Stella & Dot LLC |
9101555
8084066
10434056
9622965 |
2:21-cv-03909 |
Filed |
Cathay Bank |
Gryphon Mobile Electronics, LLC |
|
3:21-cv-10629 |
Filed |
ORGANON USA INC
Merck Sharp & Dohme Co., Inc.
Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V. |
Microspherix LLC |
10994058 |
6:21-cv-00460 |
Filed |
Identity Security LLC [f/k/a Integrated Information Solutions Corp.] |
Apple |
7493497
8489895
9507948
8020008 |
1:21-cv-00556 |
Filed |
Comfort Wheels Inc. |
Shenzhen Miruisi Technology Co., Ltd |
D892010 |
2:21-cv-03797 |
Filed |
VPR Brands |
PHD Marketing Inc. |
8205622 |
1:21-cv-10669 |
Filed |
Eagle View Technologies, Inc.
Pictometry International Corporation |
GAF Materials LLC |
8542880
8078436
8670961
8209152
9514568
10685149
8170840
10528960
9129376 |
1:21-cv-00645 |
Filed |
Novartis |
Handa Neuroscience, LLC
Handa Pharma, Inc.
Handa Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Handa Pharmaceuticals, LLC |
9187405
10543179 |
3:21-cv-00102 |
Filed |
Joel Jorgenson |
Daniel Ewert
Anderson Industries, LLC
Kory Anderson
IronMaster Innovations, LLC |
|
6:21-cv-00467 |
Filed |
Proven Networks, LLC [RAK Investments III, LLC, Russ, August, & Kabat; Provenance Asset Group] |
Barracuda Networks, Inc. |
7877786
8165024 |
1:21-cv-02452 |
Filed |
Oakley, Inc. |
The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule “A” |
D659180 |
1:21-cv-00656 |
Filed |
MOBILE PIXELS, INC. |
STAND STEADY COMPANY, LLC |
10871801 |
6:21-cv-00477 |
Filed |
Foothills IP LLC |
Tanium Inc. |
5815456
6057862 |
2:21-cv-00158 |
Filed |
21st Century Garage LLC [Poss. Hangar Solutions, IPInvestments Group, Intellectual Ventures] |
Navistar International Corp.
Navistar International Corporation |
6240365
6208948
5978737 |
2:21-cv-00813 |
Filed |
Blackhawk Network Incorporated |
SL Card Company Incorporated
Linq3 Technologies LLC
E2interactive Incorporated |
|
1:21-cv-03929 |
Filed |
Schoeneckers, Inc. d/b/a BI Worldwide |
Biz-Effective Ltd., d/b/a Centrical |
8768764
9779421 |
6:21-cv-00456 |
Filed |
VideoLabs, Inc. [PanOptis, Soryn IP, poss. Brevet Capital] |
Dell Technologies Inc.
Dell Technologies |
7769238
8139878 |
6:21-cv-00459 |
Filed |
3D Scan Guide LLC |
INSTITUT STRAUMANN AG
Straumann Usa, LLC |
RE47368 |
3:21-cv-03321 |
Filed |
Vision Works IP Corp. |
Peloton Technology, Inc. |
|
1:21-cv-02395 |
Filed |
Internet Media Interactive Corp. |
A. T. Kearney, Inc. |
6049835 |
2:21-cv-10629 |
Filed |
ORGANON USA INC
Merck Sharp & Dohme Co., Inc.
Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V. |
Microspherix LLC |
10994058 |
6:21-cv-00463 |
Filed |
Mirror Imaging LLC |
Bank of America |
10402447
9928275
10262009
10013435 |
1:21-cv-01859 |
Filed |
JBS Hair, Inc. |
Beauty Elements, Corp. |
10786026
10945478
10980301 |
1:21-cv-00937 |
Filed |
Brightplanet Corporation II, Inc. |
International Business Machines, Corp. |
6741979 |
3:21-cv-03397 |
Filed |
Novartis |
Handa Neuroscience, LLC
Handa Pharma, Inc.
Handa Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Handa Pharmaceuticals, LLC |
9187405
10543179 |
3:21-cv-03398 |
Filed |
Intel Corp. |
Longhorn IP LLC [Fekih-Romdhane], Trenchant Blade Technologies, LLC |
6720619
7498642
7056821
7511332
7494846 |
1:21-cv-00652 |
Filed |
Icon Health and Fitness, Inc. |
Tonal Systems, Inc. |
10967214
10953268 |
6:21-cv-00471 |
Filed |
Foothills IP LLC |
Rubrik, Inc. |
5815456
6057862 |
1:21-cv-00664 |
Filed |
Astellas Pharma |
SANDOZ |
10842780 |
1:21-cv-02445 |
Filed |
VPR Brands |
MVH I, INC.
Myle Vape Inc. |
8205622 |
6:21-cv-00458 |
Filed |
3D Scan Guide LLC |
Implant Concierge, LLC |
RE47368 |
5:21-cv-00793 |
Filed |
Fortress Iron L.P., d/b/a Fortress Building Products |
Capital Lumber Company, Inc., d/b/a Cinch |
10590656
10995496 |
6:21-cv-00465 |
Filed |
Mirror Imaging LLC |
Wells Fargo |
10402447
9928275
10262009
10013435 |
2:21-cv-00283 |
Filed |
Pictometry International
Eagle View Technologies |
Nearmap US |
8542880
9135737
8670961
8209152
9514568
8593518
10685149
10528960 |
1:21-cv-00648 |
Filed |
Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. [likely Intellectual Ventures] |
Infinova Corporation |
8537242
6972790
6924832
8165867 |
1:21-cv-01858 |
Filed |
JBS Hair, Inc. |
Hair Zone, Inc. |
10786026
10945478
10980301 |
6:21-cv-00468 |
Filed |
HELEN OF TROY LIMITED |
IKEA North America Services, LLC
IKEA US Retail LLC |
8726799
D675488 |
1:21-cv-00654 |
Filed |
PPC Broadband, Inc. |
Times Fiber Communications, Inc.
Amphenol Corp. |
10038284
10965063
10446983
9225083 |
1:21-cv-04090 |
Filed |
AML IP, LLC [Dynamic Deals, d/b/a DynaIP] |
Tencent America, LLC |
7177838 |
1:21-cv-04092 |
Filed |
2109971 Ontario Inc. |
Refat Ijbara
Nedal Ijbara
Hollywood Furniture Ltd.
Velvet Import Corp.
Samira Furniture Ltd
et al. |
D909088 |
3:21-cv-00704 |
Filed |
East Texas Boot Company, LLC |
Adidas |
8695235
8191285
10426219 |
1:21-cv-00661 |
Filed |
Throwdown Industries Holdings, LLC |
FITBENCH, LLC
FITBENCH HOLDINGS LTD LLC |
10092791
10960256
D831762 |
6:21-cv-00479 |
Filed |
3D Scan Guide LLC |
Carestream Dental, LLC |
RE47368 |
6:21-cv-00480 |
Filed |
MCOM IP, LLC |
FIRST TECH FEDERAL CREDIT UNION |
8862508 |
1:21-cv-02369 |
Filed |
Oakley, Inc. |
The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule “A” |
D659180 |
6:21-cv-00464 |
Filed |
Mirror Imaging LLC |
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
10402447
9928275
10262009
10013435 |
6:21-cv-00466 |
Filed |
Riggs Technology Holdings, LLC [Ortiz & Lopez LLP] |
John Wiley and Sons, Inc. |
7299067 |
1:21-cv-01857 |
Filed |
JBS Hair, Inc. |
SUN TAIYANG CO., LTD. |
10786026
10945478
10980301 |
1:21-cv-01860 |
Filed |
JBS Hair, Inc. |
Beauty Essence, Inc. |
10786026
10945478
10980301 |
4:21-cv-00324 |
Filed |
Chemoil Corporation |
Profuel, LLC |
10752491
10604403 |
4:21-cv-00356 |
Filed |
Gravel Rating Systems LLC |
Under Armour |
7590636 |
1:21-cv-00653 |
Filed |
10x Genomics
Prognosys Biosciences, Inc |
Nanostring Technologies, Inc. |
10996219
10983113
10662467
10472669
10961566 |
2:21-cv-00591 |
Filed |
ZPE LICENSING INC. |
SCOTT SNYDER
SNYDER PERFORMANCE ENGINEERING, INC. dba SPE MOTORSPORTS
DAN SNYDER |
10655723
10851884 |
1:21-cv-00662 |
Filed |
Amgen, Inc.
KAI Pharmaceuticals, Inc |
Aurobindo Pharma, Ltd. |
10344765
9820938 |
3:21-cv-01212 |
Filed |
CAYAGO TEC, GmbH
CAYAGO AMERICAS, INC |
iAqua PR LLC |
7963814
RE48329
9774019 |
3:21-cv-01036 |
Filed |
SEVEN Networks, LLC [Fortress IP, Softbank] |
Motorola Mobility |
10299161
10178199
10499339
10063486
10154432
9661103
9602457
10595228
9516127 |
6:21-cv-00481 |
Filed |
Identity Software Pty. Ltd. |
InMoment, Inc. |
6272495 |
6:21-cv-00482 |
Filed |
Yillio, Inc. |
Map Labs Ltd. dba Mapme |
8650176
8943037
8285696 |
|
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Copyright:iqoncept
Jonathan Stroud
Jonathan Stroud is General Counsel at Unified Patents, LLC, where he manages a growing team of talented, diverse attorneys and oversees a docket of administrative challenges, appeals, licensing, pooling, and
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