- Wolfspeed, Inc. v. The Trustees Of Purdue UniversityInstitution deniedPTAB · Nov 1, 2022 · IPR2022-00854 · APJ Jeffrey W Abraham · IPR · Institution
The Board denied institution because the Patent Owner disclaimed all challenged claims in compliance with the statutory requirements.
RulingsInstitution decision- Adverse judgmentAdverse judgmentOther
“A disclaimer under 35 U.S.C. § 253(a) is “considered as part of the original patent” as of the date on which it is “recorded” in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“Office”). 35 U.S.C. § 253(a). For a disclaimer to be “recorded” in the Office, the document filed by the patent owner must: (1) Be signed by the patentee, or an attorney or agent of record; (2) Identify the patent and complete claim or claims, or term being disclaimed. A disclaimer which is not a disclaimer of a complete claim or claims, or term will be refused recordation;” slip op. at 7
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 8,035,112 - Stmicroelectronics, Inc. v. The Trustees Of Purdue UniversityInstitution deniedPTAB · Nov 1, 2022 · IPR2022-00724 · APJ Jeffrey W Abraham · IPR · Institution
The Board denied institution because Patent Owner disclaimed all challenged claims 2–5, 8, 9, and 13–16 in compliance with the statutory requirements.
RulingsInstitution decision- Adverse judgmentAdverse judgmentDenied
“Here, Patent Owner filed a statutory disclaimer of claims 1–16 of the ’112 patent, which includes the challenged claims. Prelim. Resp. 1; Ex. 2001. Based on our review of Exhibit 2001 and Office public records, we conclude that a disclaimer of claims 1–16 of the ’112 patent under 35 U.S.C. § 253(a) was filed with the Office as of September 29, 2021. Based on the information in the public record, we find that the disclaimer complies with the above-listed requirements of 37 C.F.R. § 1.321(a). Because all challenged claims have been disclaimed under 35 U.S.C. § 253(a), in compliance with 37 C.F.R. § 1.321(a), no inter partes review is instituted in this proceeding. 37 C.F.R. § 42.107(e); General Electric Co. v. United Techs. Corp., IPR2017-00491, Paper 9 (PTAB July 6, 2017) (precedential) (declining to institute inter partes review when all challenged claims were disclaimed under 35 U.S.C. § 253(a)). Patent Owner acknowledges that we should deny institution on this threshold procedural ground. Prelim. Resp. 1.” slip op. at 7
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 8,035,112 - PPC Broadband, Inc. v. Times Fiber Communications, Inc.Institution deniedPTAB · Oct 24, 2022 · IPR2022-00830 · APJ Frances L Ippolito · IPR · Institution
The Board denied institution of IPR on claims 1–14 and 16–21 because the Patent Owner effectively disclaimed all challenged claims.
RulingsInstitution decision- Adverse judgmentAdverse judgmentDenied
“conclude a disclaimer of claims 1–14 and 16–21 of the ’632 Patent, under 35 U.S.C. § 253(a) has been recorded in the Office as of July 28, 2022. Ex. 2002. Vectra Fitness, Inc., 162 F.3d at 1382. The record shows that a completed Form PTO/SB/43 (“DISCLAIMER IN PATENT UNDER 37 CFR 1.321(a)”) was filed and received by the Office on that date. See Ex. 2002. The disclaimer form was signed by Lance D’Armico, Secretary for Patent Owner Times Fiber Communications, Inc. See Ex. 2002, 3; see also Ex. 2001 (recorded assignment of the challenged patent from Amphenol Corporation to Times Fiber Communications, Inc., executed on December 23, 2021). The form identifies Patent Owner as having a “100% Ownership Interest” in the ’632 Patent, and identifies claims 1–14 and 16– 21 as being disclaimed. See Ex. 2002, 3. The evidence also reflects payment of the required fee. See id. at 1, 4–5. We determine Patent Owner has met the requirements for an effective disclaimer under 35 U.S.C. § 253 and 37 C.F.R. § 1.321(a). In view of this disclaimer, and as consistent with 37 C.F.R. § 42.107(e) and the Board’s precedential General Electric decision, we determine a denial of institution is sufficient to dispose of this case. See Gen. Elec. Co., IPR2017-00491, Paper 9. Thus, we decline to institute an inter partes review.” slip op. at 4
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 10,913,632 - Apple Inc. v. Memoryweb, LLCInstitution deniedPTAB · Jun 10, 2022 · IPR2022-00111 · APJ Jason M Repko · IPR · Institution
The Board denied institution because the patent was likely subject to the AIA’s nine-month IPR waiting period, and the petition was filed less than six months after grant.
RulingsInstitution decision- PTAB / AIA Trials › Institution threshold (reasonable likelihood / more likely than not)Institution denied time barInstitution denied
“A petition for inter partes review shall be filed after the later of either—(1) the date that is 9 months after the grant of a patent; or (2) if a post-grant review is instituted under chapter 32, the date of the termination of such post-grant review.” 35 U.S.C. § 311(c). Similarly, our rules require that, for patents described in section 3(n)(1) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, Pub. L. No. 112–29, 125 Stat. 284 (Sept. 16, 2011) (“AIA”), a petition for inter partes review must be filed no earlier than nine months after the date of the grant of the patent. 37 C.F.R. § 42.102(a)(1). Patents subject to the AIA first-inventor-to file provisions are those that issue from applications “that contain or contained at any time— (A) a claim to a claimed invention that has an effective filing date as defined in section 100(i) of title 35, United States Code, that is on or after [March 16, 2013]; or (B) a specific reference under section 120, 121, or 365(c) of title 35, United States Code, to any patent or application that contains or contained at any time such a claim. AIA § 3(n)(1). slip op. at 6
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 11,017,020 - A123 Systems, LLC v. Long Hua Technology Co., Ltd.Institution deniedPTAB · Apr 15, 2022 · IPR2022-00026 · APJ Kristina M Kalan · IPR · Institution
The Board denied institution because the Patent Owner recorded a compliant statutory disclaimer of all challenged claims 1–19.
RulingsInstitution decision- Adverse judgmentAdverse judgmentOther
“[§] 253(a) in compliance with § 1.321(a) of this chapter, disclaiming one or more claims in the patent. No inter partes review will be instituted based on disclaimed claims.” 37 C.F.R. § 42.107(e) (2019). A disclaimer under 35 U.S.C. § 253(a) is “considered as part of the original patent” as of the date on which it is “recorded” in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“Office”). 35 U.S.C. § 253(a). For a disclaimer to be “recorded” in the Office, the document filed by the patent owner must:” slip op. at 5
- PTAB / AIA Trials › Institution threshold (reasonable likelihood / more likely than not)Institution denied meritsInstitution denied
“To institute inter partes review, we must determine that the information presented in the Petition shows “there is a reasonable likelihood that the petitioner would prevail with respect to at least 1 of the claims challenged in the petition.” 35 U.S.C. § 314(a). For the reasons discussed below, we decline to institute inter partes review.” slip op. at 2
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 8,034,480 - Apple Inc. v. Rfcyber Corp.Institution deniedPTAB · Mar 24, 2022 · PGR2022-00003 · APJ Patrick R Scanlon · PGR · Institution
The Board denied Apple’s untimely joinder motion and denied institution because the petition was filed outside the nine-month PGR filing period.
RulingsInstitution decision- PTAB / AIA Trials › Joinder §315(c) / SAS all-or-nothingJoinder, deniedDenied
“motion under§ 42.22, no later than one month after the institution date of any post-grant review for which joinder is requested.” 37 C.F.R. § 42.222(b). Petitioner’s Motion for Joinder was filed October 20, 2021, which is more than one month after the Board instituted post-grant review in the Google PGR on July 23, 2021. Petitioner, however, argues that special circumstances warrant that the Board exercise its discretion under 37 C.F.R. § 42.5 to waive the one-month joinder period. Mot. 3–6.” slip op. at 3
- PTAB / AIA Trials › Institution threshold (reasonable likelihood / more likely than not)Institution denied meritsInstitution denied
“B. Eligibility for Post-Grant Review under 35 U.S.C. § 321 Institution of post-grant review is barred when a petition is filed more than 9 months after the challenged patent is granted. 35 U.S.C. § 321(c). The ’046 patent issued on March 24, 2020 (see Ex. 1001, code (45)), and the Petition in this proceeding was accorded a filing date of October 20, 2021 (see Paper 1). Thus, the Petition was filed outside the 9-month statutory period for requesting post-grant review under § 321(c). Accordingly, in view of our decision to deny Petitioner’s Motion for Joinder, we deny the Petition because it was not filed within the time limit imposed under 35 U.S.C. § 321(c).” slip op. at 8
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 10,600,046 - Volkswagen Group Of America, Inc. v. Arigna Technology LimitedInstitution deniedPTAB · Jan 21, 2022 · IPR2021-01263 · APJ Iftikhar Ahmed · IPR · Institution
The Board denied institution of review of claims 1 and 2 because Conti was a real party in interest and had previously filed a civil action challenging the claims’ validity.
RulingsInstitution decision- PTAB / AIA Trials › Real party in interest / privityRpi dispute resolved for patent ownerDecided for patent owner
“petition requesting inter partes review. 35 U.S.C. § 312(a)(2). The Board generally accepts a petitioner’s initial identification of the real parties in interest unless the patent owner presents some evidence to support an argument that an unnamed party should be included. See Worlds Inc. v. Bungie, Inc., 903 F.3d 1237, 1242 (Fed. Cir. 2018) (explaining that, in an inter partes review, the “petitioner’s initial identification of the real parties in interest should be accepted unless and until disputed by a patent owner,” and that “a patent owner must produce some evidence to support its argument that a particular third party should be named a real party in interest”). Furthermore, a petitioner bears the burden of persuasion to demonstrate that it has identified all of the real parties in interest. Id. at 1242−43. That burden never shifts to the patent owner. Id. at 1243−44. Our reviewing court has instructed us to apply a “flexible approach” to the real party in interest inquiry, which turns on “equitable and practical considerations” bearing on whether an unnamed entity has “a preexisting, established relationship with the petitioner.” Applications in Internet Time, LLC v. RPX Corp., 897 F.3d 1336, 1351 (Fed. Cir. 2018). The real party in interest inquiry, thus, “is a highly fact-dependent question” with no “bright line test,” which the Board assesses “on a case-by-case basis.” Patent Trial and Appeal Board Consolidated Trial Practice Guide (Nov. 2019) (“TPG”), 12–18, available at https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ tpgnov.pdf.” slip op. at 5
- PTAB / AIA Trials › §315(b) time barDenied
“C. The Statutory Bar “An inter partes review may not be instituted if, before the date on which the petition for such a review is filed, the petitioner or real party in interest filed a civil action challenging the validity of a claim of the patent.” 35 U.S.C. § 315(a)(1) (emphasis added). Conti has a business relationship with Volkswagen whereby it supplies radar sensor modules to Volkswagen under an agreement that includes provisions relating to indemnification, and Volkswagen has sought indemnification against Patent Owner’s infringement claims based on the agreement. Ex. 2007 ¶¶ 3, 15, 22 (Complaint filed in the Virginia Declaratory Judgment Action). Given that Conti filed (prior to Volkswagen’s filing of the Petition) a civil action challenging the validity of the claims of the ’318 patent, Conti is barred under 35 U.S.C. § 315(a)(1). Thus, a dispositive question, fully briefed by the parties, is whether Conti is a real party in interest to this proceeding. For reasons provided in our analysis below, we answer that question in the affirmative.” slip op. at 5
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 7,397,318 - Trend Micro Inc. v. Cupp Computing AsInstitution deniedPTAB · Jan 19, 2022 · PGR2021-00101 · APJ Garth D Baer · PGR · Institution
The Board denied post-grant review of claims 1, 7, 9, 16, 22, and 24 because the patent is not eligible for PGR as a pre-AIA patent.
RulingsInstitution decision- PTAB / AIA Trials › Institution threshold (reasonable likelihood / more likely than not)Institution denied meritsInstitution denied
“Act (“AIA”)5 apply only to AIA patents, which are patents that have an effective filing date on or after March 16, 2013. See AIA §§ 3(n)(1); 6(f)(2)(A). Pre-AIA patents—those with effective filing dates before March 16, 2013—are not eligible for post-grant review.” slip op. at 6
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 10,951,632 - Trend Micro Inc. v. Cupp Computing AsInstitution deniedPTAB · Jan 19, 2022 · PGR2021-00100 · APJ Thomas L Giannetti · PGR · Institution
The Board denied post-grant review of claims 1, 9, 16, and 24 because the patent is pre-AIA and ineligible for post-grant review.
RulingsInstitution decision- PTAB / AIA Trials › Institution threshold (reasonable likelihood / more likely than not)Institution denied
“III. ELIGIBILITY FOR POST-GRANT REVIEW The post-grant review provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (“AIA”)4 apply only to AIA patents, which are patents that have an effective filing date on or after March 16, 2013. See AIA §§ 3(n)(1); 6(f)(2)(A). Pre-AIA patents—those with effective filing dates before March 16, 2013—are not eligible for post-grant review.” slip op. at 5
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 10,951,632 - Sattler Tech Corporation v. Yaqi LyuInstitution deniedPTAB · Dec 9, 2021 · PGR2021-00095 · APJ Scott A Daniels · PGR · Institution
The Board denied institution of PGR challenging the sole claim because Sattler had filed a civil action challenging that claim’s validity before filing the petition.
RulingsInstitution decision- PTAB / AIA Trials › Institution threshold (reasonable likelihood / more likely than not)Institution denied
“Sattler filed this Petition for post grant review of the ’645 patent on June 9, 2021. Approximately two months prior, on April 15, 2021, Sattler filed the Virginia lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment that the claim of the ’645 patent is invalid based on prior art sales and activity prior to October 18, 2019. See Ex. 3002; see also Ex. 3001 ¶¶ 15, 25(a). Because the Board may not institute a post grant review of a challenged patent when the petitioner filed a civil action challenging the validity of a claim of the patent before the date on which the petition for review is filed, we deny the Petition in all respects. See 35 U.S.C. § 325(a)(1).” slip op. at 3
- BurdenDenied
“Sattler filed this Petition for post grant review of the ’645 patent on June 9, 2021. Approximately two months prior, on April 15, 2021, Sattler filed the Virginia lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment that the claim of the ’645 patent is invalid based on prior art sales and activity prior to October 18, 2019. See Ex. 3002; see also Ex. 3001 ¶¶ 15, 25(a). Because the Board may not institute a post grant review of a challenged patent when the petitioner filed a civil action challenging the validity of a claim of the patent before the date on which the petition for review is filed, we deny the Petition in all respects. See 35 U.S.C. § 325(a)(1).” slip op. at 3
Discretionary denial
Holdings, summaries, rulings, issues, outcomes, winners and claim constructions shown for a decision were generated by a large language model reading the opinion. They are a guide to the decision, not the decision. Confirm every one against the court's own text before relying on it. Outcomes read from the patent owner’s side. Party names are extracted from the decision and are missing on about 900 short Director denials and scans, which carry the trial number instead.