MVS Attorneys Successful in Fighting Institution of Inter Partes Review

Des Moines, Iowa – September 24, 2020 – MVS is proud to announce that it was successful in fighting the institution of Inter Partes Review (IPR) for its client Putco, owner of Patent No. 9,995,473. IPR is a third-party challenge to a patent’s validity and is heard before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board (PTAB) at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). To determine whether Shenzhen Aurora Technology Co.’s petition for IPR could be heard on a substantive basis, the PTAB had to first decide whether there was merit to “institute” the petition for IPR.

Putco’s patent covers LED conversion kits that have flexible heat sinks. The flexible heat sink can be made from a braided metal fabric. Putco currently sells a version of the protected product under the name Nitro-Lux Pro Zero. To better help consumers identify Putco’s legitimate product from counterfeited ones, Putco has uniquely dyed its copper heat sinks blue.

Based on their review of the information presented by the attorneys at MVS, the PTAB denied institution of Aurora’s request for IPR at the earliest opportunity to do so, stating “there are significant questions as to the accuracy of the submitted translations and whether the ’529 patent qualifies as prior art based on its alleged publication date.” Based on this ruling, Putco’s patent remains valid.

The winning team from MVS included Jonathan L. Kennedy, Glenn L. Johnson, Gregory Lars Gunnerson, and Nicholas J. Krob.

About Putco:

Putco is a small Iowa business that designs and manufactures automotive based products that it sells throughout the United States. Putco has been operating for more than 48 years. Over this time, Putco has obtained 50 issued patents that cover their products.

About MVS:

McKee, Voorhees & Sease, PLC is Iowa’s oldest and largest boutique IP firm, helping clients protect their intellectual property rights through patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, licensing, and related commercial litigation, both domestically and internationally. MVS has attorneys skilled in all areas of technology including chemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences as well mechanical, electrical, computer, industrial and aerospace engineering. Many attorneys with the firm have advanced degrees in science in addition to their law degree.

For more information, contact Richard Marsolais, Business Development Director, at 515-564-5938.