Patent Filings Roundup: In Reversal, COVID Renders W.D. TX Trial Dates Uncertain for Fintiv; Semiconductor NPE Suits and PTAB Challenges on a Roll; Board Issues Order Barring Future Filings

patent filings roundup - https://depositphotos.com/159708306/stock-photo-legal-battleand-lawsuit.htmlA quiet week resulted in 28 petitions at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), mostly related to preexisting suits, though with a perhaps surprising number of semiconductor patents challenged, and three Qualcomm challenges to Monterey Research (i.e., Vector Capital) patents were all instituted; in general, the district courts had a light week with 55 patent filings, many complaints adding new defendants for old campaigns. Some of the recently filed complaints in the longest-running Blitzsafe campaign against were dismissed without prejudice against automotive OEMs; and probably most notable, in a Fintiv denial, a panel cited the global pandemic and the uncertainty of trial schedules in weighing that factor neutrally (while still exercising their discretion for other reasons), as discussed below. Sonos hit back with inter partes reviews (IPRs) against Google patents in their ongoing dispute.

Western District Scheduling Order Trial Dates Too Uncertain for Fintiv Analysis: In one of the more notable findings related to Fintiv since Director Iancu stepped down earlier this year, a Board panel found that:

The uncertainty surrounding current international COVID-19 restrictions and the lack of guidance when these restrictions may be lifted raises doubt whether the trial will commence in October as currently scheduled. As such, we determine that the facts underlying this factor are neutral.” See IPR2021-00236, ID (denying institution under Fintiv for other reasons).

That’s notable, given how often other panels have, in the past, discounted all other evidence of potential delay, statistical analysis of court congestion, or the unreliability of scheduled trial dates (which given settlement and court congestion almost never happen on time). The Board here exercised their Fintiv discretion to deny institution based on other factors, but their discounting of the often-dispositive trial date in Factor 2 suggests the Board may have hit their high-water mark in relying on the unreliable trial dates as evidence in exercising their discretion. That said, these decisions are rather panel- and fact-specific, with parties pleading differing evidence as to the reliability of those dates.

Semi-Charmed Kinda Life: There has been and was again a surprising amount of semiconductor/litigation funded/NPE litigation and PTAB challenges this week. For example, Qualcomm was instituted this week in three IPR challenges against three Monterey Research (Vector Capital Corporation) semiconductor patents. The patents are former Spansion chip fabrication patents, including, for example, “Semiconductor Formation Method that Utilizes Multiple Etch Stop Layers.” See U.S. Pats. 6,680,516, 7,572,727, and 7,977,797; IPR2021-00119, IPR2021-00120, IPR2021-00121. A petition by Western Digital against Ocean Semiconductor (Fullbrite Capital Partners) and another by NXP against Bell Semiconductor (Hilco, Inc.), as well as all of Samsung’s voluminous activity against Nanoco’s subsidiaries, a semiconductor reseach firm focused on quantum dots, are all futher evidence this area continues to roil with litigation funding and serial assertions.

Board Orders Party to Cease Filing on Patent Forever: In a case with a somewhat tortured history, the Board has ordered the petitioner not to file any more challenges after e-mail representations and a Section 314 discretionary denial in a related case. While the Board’s order (and the parties’ bickering) aren’t crystal clear, the upshot is both that the petitioners, Dynatemp Int’l, Inc. and Fluorofusion Speciality Chems., Inc., are now apparently barred from filing any further challenges, even apart from discretionary considerations. The order language:

Petitioner shall not file in this forum any other petition requesting review of U.S. Patent No. 8,197,706 B2.

It’s an odd (and I believe, unique) result of an attempt to voluntarily dismiss petitions following a separate discretionary denial; it raises questions about whether the Board has the ability to unilaterally order parties to cease any future filing before it, absent statutory support such as estoppel or other action. Though, if the party did volunteer that they would not continue to challenge it, another way to look at the order is that it is just a recognition of the parties’ stated intent to be bound. The case is IPR2021-00199—and to be fair, the facts and the representations the parties made are muddled and somewhat unique.

                                PTAB (28)

Case Number Action Owner Petitioner Patent
IPR2021-00967 Filed Bell Semiconductor, LLC [Hilco, Inc. d/b/a Hilco Global] Nxp B.V.
NXP USA, Inc
NXP Semiconductors N.V.
8288269
IPR2021-00984 Filed Correct Transmission, LLC [Corrigent Systems, Orckit-Corrigent] Juniper Networks, Inc. 6876669
IPR2021-00969 Filed Sable Networks Inc. [Sable IP, LLC, Mobile Convergence Ltd., poss. Berkshire Partners (Masergy Communications)] Cloudflare, Inc. 6977932
IPR2021-00962 Filed Google LLC [Alphabet] Sonos, Inc. 10140375
IPR2021-00963 Filed Google LLC Alphabet] Sonos, Inc. 10140375
IPR2021-00877 Filed D3d Technologies Inc Microsoft Corporation 9980691
IPR2021-00889 Filed Proven Networks LLC [RAK Investments, Russ, August, & Kabat LLP, poss. Magnetar Capital] Microsoft Corporation 8812454
IPR2021-00986 Filed Xerox Corp Snap Inc. 9208439
IPR2021-00965 Filed WSOU Investments, LLC d/b/a Brazos Licensing and Development [WSOU Holdings, Craig Etchegoyen] Canon, Inc.
Canon USA, Inc.
7116714
IPR2021-00878 Filed D3d Technologies Inc Microsoft Corporation 9980691
IPR2021-00956 Filed RFCyber Corp. Google LLC 9240009
IPR2021-00957 Filed RFCyber Corp. Google LLC 8118218
IPR2021-00960 Filed Wsou Investments LLC [d/b/a Brazos Licensing and Development, WSOU Holdings, Craig Etchegoyen] Cisco Systems, Inc. 8665733
IPR2021-00987 Filed Xerox Corp Snap Inc. 8489599
IPR2021-00990 Filed Parkervision, Inc. TCL Industries Holdings Co., Ltd
Hisense Company, Ltd
7110444
IPR2021-00982 Filed Ecofactor, Inc. Google LLC 10612983
IPR2021-00966 Filed Bell Semiconductor, LLC [Hilco, Inc. d/b/a Hilco Global] Nxp B.V.
NXP USA, Inc
NXP Semiconductors N.V.
8049340
IPR2021-00964 Filed Google LLC [Alphabet] Sonos, Inc. 10229586
IPR2021-00961 Filed Cisco Systems, Inc. 9357014
IPR2021-00954 Filed RFCyber Corp. Google LLC [Alphabet] 8448855
IPR2021-00920 Filed Gesture Technology Partners LLC Apple Inc. 7933431
IPR2021-00876 Filed Aegis 11 S.A. [Fineur Int’l.] Hisense Company, Ltd
Hisense USA Corporation
9584200
IPR2021-00929 Filed Ocean Semiconductor LLC [Fullbrite Capital Partners, LLC] Western Digital Technologies, Inc 7080330
IPR2021-00968 Filed Principal Lighting Group, LLC Grimco, Inc. 9311835
IPR2021-00983 Filed Metacluster Lt Uab Bright Data LTD. 10601948
IPR2021-00985 Filed Parkervision, Inc. TCL Industries Holdings Co., Ltd
ZyXEL Communications Corporation
7292835
IPR2021-00955 Filed RFCyber Corp. Google LLC [Alphabet] 9189787
IPR2021-00922 Filed Gesture Technology Partners, LLC Apple, Inc 8553079
IPR2021-00098 Not Instituted – Merits Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited [Broadcom] Netflix, Inc. 8365183
IPR2021-00161 Not Instituted – Merits Guntert & Zimmerman Const. Div., Inc. Godbersen-Smith Construction Company d/b/a Gomaco Corporation 10053167
IPR2021-00102 Not Instituted – Merits Interdigital VC Holdings, Inc. [Interdigital, Inc.] Unified Patents, LLC 8363724
IPR2021-00135 Not Instituted – Merits Guntert & Zimmerman Const. Div., Inc. Godbersen-Smith Construction Company d/b/a Gomaco Corporation 9908571
IPR2021-00070 Not Instituted – Procedural Visroboro LLC
Cognipower, LLC
Fantasia Trading LLC D/B/A AnkerDirect RE47031
PGR2021-00014 Not Instituted – Procedural Gree, Inc. Supercell OY 10583362
IPR2021-00236 Not Instituted – Procedural Densys Ltd
Densys Ltd.
3Shape Trios A/S
3Shape A/S
6402707
IPR2021-00182 Instituted Nanoco Technologies, Ltd. [Nanoco Group, PLC] Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
9680068
IPR2021-00449 Instituted Caravan Canopy International, Inc. Z-Shade Co., Ltd.
Costco Wholesale Corporation
Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC
Shelterlogic Corp.
5944040
IPR2021-00188 Instituted Novozymes A/S Danisco US Inc.
Dupont Nutrition Biosciences Aps.
10058107
IPR2021-00120 Instituted Monterey Research, LLC [Vector Capital Corp.] Qualcomm Incorporated 7572727
IPR2021-00057 Instituted Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited [Broadcom] Netflix, Inc. 8548976
IPR2021-00176 Instituted DigiMedia Tech, LLC [IP Investments Group] Unified Patents, LLC 7715476
IPR2021-00196 Instituted Proven Networks LLC LLC [RAK Investments, Russ, August, & Kabat LLP, poss. Magnetar Capital] VMware, Inc
Dell Technologies Inc.
7450507
IPR2021-00298 Instituted Sito Mobile R&D IP, LLC
Sito Mobile, Ltd
Hulu, LLC 10171846
IPR2021-00215 Instituted Cambria Company LLC Cosentino S.A.U
C&C North America Inc.
9289923
IPR2021-00159 Instituted Nike, Inc. Skechers USA, Inc. 10098412
PGR2021-00010 Instituted Cambria Company LLC Cosentino S.A.U
C&C North America Inc.
10773418
IPR2021-00136 Instituted Guntert & Zimmerman Const. Div., Inc. Godbersen-Smith Construction Company d/b/a Gomaco Corporation 9908571
IPR2021-00308 Instituted Sito Mobile R&D IP, LLC
Sito Mobile, Ltd
Hulu, LLC 8825887
IPR2021-00189 Instituted Novozymes A/S Danisco US Inc.
Dupont Nutrition Biosciences Aps.
10555541
IPR2021-00119 Instituted Monterey Research, LLC [Vector Capital] Qualcomm Incorporated 6680516
IPR2020-01026 Instituted Caravan Canopy International, Inc. Walmart Inc.
Z-Shade Co., Ltd.
Costco Wholesale Corporation
Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC
Shelterlogic Corp.
5944040
IPR2021-00185 Instituted Nanoco Technologies, Ltd. [Nanoco Group PLC] Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
7867557
IPR2021-00183 Instituted Nanoco Technologies, Ltd. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
7588828
IPR2021-00214 Instituted Cambria Company LLC Cosentino S.A.U
C&C North America Inc.
10252440
IPR2021-00234 Instituted Guntert & Zimmerman Const. Div., Inc. Godbersen-Smith Construction Company d/b/a Gomaco Corporation 10196101
IPR2021-00265 Instituted Sito Mobile R&D IP, LLC
Sito Mobile, Ltd
Hulu, LLC 9591360
IPR2021-00146 Instituted Olati LLC Haas Automation, Inc. 8136432
IPR2021-00184 Instituted Nanoco Technologies, Ltd. [Nanoco Group PLC] Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
7803423
IPR2021-00160 Instituted Nike, Inc. Skechers USA, Inc. 7401420
IPR2021-00186 Instituted Nanoco Technologies, Ltd. [Nanoco Group PLC] Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
8524365
IPR2020-01534 Instituted Aker BioMarine Antarctic AS Rimfrost AS 10010567
IPR2021-00304 Instituted Sito Mobile R&D IP, LLC
Sito Mobile, Ltd
Hulu, LLC 10009637
IPR2021-00216 Instituted Cambria Company LLC Cosentino S.A.U
C&C North America Inc.
10195762
IPR2021-00121 Instituted Monterey Research, LLC [Vector Capital] Qualcomm Incorporated 7977797
IPR2021-00199 Procedural Termination R421A LLC d//b/a Choice Refrigerants Dynatemp Refrigerants International, Inc.
Fluorofusion Specialty Chemicals, Inc.
Dynatemp International, Inc.
8197706

                         District Court (55)

Case Number Action Plaintiff Defendant Patent
5:21-cv-03677 Filed Smith Micro Software, Inc.
Smith Micro Software, LLC
Agis Software Development LLC [Agis Holdings, Inc.; Advanced Ground Information Systems, Inc. (AGIS)]
John Doe
9408055
9467838
7031728
9749829
7630724
9445251
4:21-cv-00345 Filed S Edward Neister
High Energy Ozone LLC d/b/a Far-UV Sterilray
Far UV Technologies 9700642
8975605
1:21-cv-01362 Filed Elide Fire USA, Corp. Grant Van Der Jagt
Auto Fire Guard, LLC
2:21-cv-00172 Filed Arigna Technology Limited [Magnetar Capital] BMW 7049850
6:21-cv-00513 Filed Glogear, LLC Three Amigos Sports dba Ronix Wakeboards 8882554
3:21-cv-00246 Filed KX Technologies, LLC
Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
National Trade Supply 10857492
9901852
D761382
10675571
8137551
D761383
3:21-cv-01166 Filed S Edward Neister
High Energy Ozone LLC
Larson Electronics, LLC 9700642
8975605
3:21-cv-01108 Filed Ranging Optics LLC [IP Valuation Partners] Callaway Co. 7443927
6512574
1:21-cv-00712 Filed Amgen, Inc.
KAI Pharmaceuticals, Inc
MSN LIFE SCIENCES PRIVATE LIMITED
MSN LABORATORIES PVT., LTD.
MSN PHARMACEUTICALS, Inc.
8377880
8999932
9701712
9820938
10344765
9278995
2:21-cv-00174 Filed Arigna Technology Limited Arigna Technology Limited [Magnetar Capital] American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
General Motors
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
7049850
3:21-cv-00775 Filed Eleiko Group AB Kabuki Strength Lab
Rudy A Kadlub
Chris D Duffin
Elite Strength Equipment LLC
10881893
6:21-cv-00512 Filed Three Amigos Sports
1:21-cv-04597 Filed Ali Smith Penguin Random House LLC
John Doe
Blackie Books, SLU
1:21-cv-04607 Filed COREY GRIFFIN
CG3 Media, LLC
Belleau Technologies, LLC 9953646
9:21-cv-00063 Filed Site 2020, Inc. Superior Traffic Services, LLC 10249186
6:21-cv-00516 Filed Mirror Imaging, LLC CitiGroup, Inc. 6963866
10262009
9928275
9141612
10402447
7552118
7836067
10013435
1:21-cv-02660 Filed Samsung Group Lyne Laboratories, Inc.
1:21-cv-02665 Filed Samsung Group Lyne Laboratories, Inc. 10499466
10966298
10750583
10492252
10492251
10506674
10517149
10687400
2:21-cv-00945 Filed WLNS Investments, LLC Phillip S Aurbach
Ken Yoshimine
Desert Supplements, LLC.
Aphaia Pharma AG
Aaron Snyder
et al.
1:21-cv-02666 Filed MyHeritage Ltd
MyHeritage (USA), Inc.
MemoryWeb, LLC [poss. NCM IP Holdings, LLC] 10423658
10621228
2:21-cv-04205 Filed Ark Diagnostics, Inc. Acro Biotech, Inc.
Hangzhou AllTest Biotech Co., Ltd.
1:21-cv-02727 Filed Lupercal LLC [IP Valuation Partners] US Bank N.A 9386094
6:21-cv-00518 Filed Mirror Imaging, LLC PNC BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION 9928275
10262009
10013435
10402447
0:21-cv-61035 Filed CAYAGO AMERICAS, INC
CAYAGO TEC, GmbH
RENE HEINEN
I-AQUA USA LLC
LUXURY WATER TOYS, LLC
9774019
7963814
2:21-cv-04152 Filed Bobrick Washroom Equipment,Inc. American Specialties, Inc.
Global Specialties Direct Inc.
John Doe
RE48480
8365328
4:21-cv-00381 Filed CDN Innovations, LLC [IP Investments Group] Cequel Communications, LLC dba Suddenlink Communications 6865532
6947598
7130831
7164714
8024227
7225157
6311180
7565699
7293291
2:21-cv-11412 Filed 2109971 Ontario Inc. MATRIX HOSPITALITY FURNITURE INC.
MEGA FURNITURE IMPORTS LTD.
KULWINDER DEOL
AKAL PURKH GROUP CORP.
MATRIX HOSPITALITY FURNITURE INCORPORATED
et al.
D909088
2:21-cv-02786 Filed Advanced Arch Grilleworks, Inc
INV Holdings, Inc.
Dayus Register & Grille, Inc. 10871305
9765988
5:21-cv-00871 Filed Ark Diagnostics, Inc. Acro Biotech, Inc.
Hangzhou AllTest Biotech Co., Ltd.
John Doe
10203345
1:21-cv-02742 Filed Oakley, Inc. The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule “A” D719209
1:21-cv-02753 Filed S Edward Neister
High Energy Ozone LLC
EDEN PARK ILLUMINATION, INC. 9700642
8975605
1:21-cv-00625 Filed Soluble Technologies Group, LLC
TC Heartland, LLC
DreamPak, LLC 10448659
2:21-cv-04256 Filed CALIBER8, INC.
Dillon Bruno
The Partnership and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule “A” 10441098
10047903
3:21-cv-11630 Filed Social Positioning Input Systems, LLC [Leigh Rothschild] RAPIDSOFT SYSTEMS, INC. doing business as FIELD FORCE TRACKER 9261365
6:21-cv-00521 Filed Onstream Media Corp. Restream, Inc. 9161068
1084870
10674109
10200648
10694142
9467728
10038930
3:21-cv-00328 Filed Soluble Technologies Group, LLC
TC Heartland, LLC
DreamPak, LLC 10448659
1:21-cv-02664 Filed Samsung Group Lyne Laboratories, Inc.
1:21-cv-01350 Filed SEELEY INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD VALERIY MAISOTSENKO
M-CYCLE INDUSTRIES, INC.
M-CYCLE CORPORATION, LTD.
1:21-cv-02683 Filed Imagination Products Corporation Does 1-6 as Identified in Exhibit 3 8359696
7810176
5:21-cv-00690 Filed Correct Transmission, LLC [Corrigent Systems, Orckit-Corrigent] Adtran, Inc. 6876669
7283465
7127523
7768928
7983150
6:21-cv-00505 Filed SITO Mobile R&D IP
SITO Mobile, Ltd.
Essel Group
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.
10009637
9380088
9350777
7054949
9135635
9135636
10171846
9591360
9756362
9026673
8825887
7689706
2:21-cv-04207 Filed Wheel Pros Arev Distributing Inc. d/b/a AZAD WHEELS and d/b/a FORCE OFF-ROAD WHEELS D741241
D772132
D712334
D736136
D708113
4:21-cv-01652 Filed Ark Diagnostics, Inc. Healgen Scientific, LLC 10203345
2:21-cv-00173 Filed Arigna Technology Limited Arigna Technology Limited [Magnetar Capital] Porsche Cars North America, Incorporated
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
Porsche Ag
Volkswagen
BMW
et al.
8289082
2:21-cv-00175 Filed Arigna Technology Limited Arigna Technology Limited [Magnetar Capital] Volkswagen
Mercedes-Benz
Daimler AG Co.
7049850
1:21-cv-04544 Filed Guvera IP Pty Ltd. Spotify USA 8977633
1:21-cv-00344 Filed Tekvoke, LLC [IP Edge] Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions LLC 6687343
6:21-cv-00514 Filed MOTION OFFENSE, LLC [Oso IP] Google LLC [Alphabet] 10303353
10904178
10949507
10803140
10613737
8:21-cv-00938 Filed BioCorRx, Inc. VDM BioChemicals, Inc.
David Martirosyan
3:21-cv-03854 Filed Koss Corp. Polycom, Inc.
Plantronics Co.
10368155
10206025
10506325
10469934
1:21-cv-00721 Filed SITO Mobile R&D IP, LLC
SITO Mobile, Ltd.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. 10009637
9380088
9350777
7054949
9135635
9135636
10171846
9591360
9756362
9026673
8825887
7689706
1:21-cv-00722 Filed Onstream Media Corp. Dacast, Inc. 9161068
10848707
10674109
10200648
10694142
9467728
10038930
6:21-cv-00517 Filed Mirror Imaging, LLC Capital One Financial Corp. 10402447
9928275
10262009
10013435
6:21-cv-00519 Filed Decapolis Systems, LLC [Raymond Anthony Joao] NEXTGEN HEALTHCARE, INC. 7464040
7490048
6:21-cv-00520 Filed Parkervision, Inc. LG Corp. 6580902
6266518
9444673
7292835
8660513
9118528
7110444
6049706
8588725
9246736

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