- Fasteners For Retail, Inc. v. RTC Industries, Inc.Rehearing deniedPTAB · Nov 15, 2018 · IPR2018-00743 · APJ Michael L Woods · IPR · Rehearing
The Board denied Fasteners for Retail’s rehearing request and left institution denied because it failed to identify Olympus as a real party in interest.
RulingsRehearing decision- RehearingRehearing, deniedDenied
“Petitioner’s argument is without merit because it mischaracterizes our Order. Contrary to Petitioner’s assertion (Request 5), our Order does not “instruct” or “direct” Petitioner to file a reply brief if it believes Olympus is not an unnamed RPI. Rather, our Order explicitly provides that if “Petitioner does not believe that Olympus is an unnamed real party in interest, in lieu of updating its mandatory notices, Petitioner may file a reply brief.” Order 3 (emphasis added). In other words, the Order does not state “Petitioner must file a reply brief,” as Petitioner’s argument would have us believe. The Order further provides: ORDERED that within 7 days of the entry of this Order, Petitioner may amend its mandatory notices to name other parties, including Olympus as a real party in interest in each [proceeding] . . . FURTHER ORDERED that in lieu of updating its mandatory notices, Petitioner may file a 7-page reply brief to address Patent Owner’s RPI arguments in each [proceeding].” slip op. at 4
- PTAB / AIA Trials › Real party in interest / privityInstitution denied rpiDecided for patent owner
“We entered a decision denying institution (Paper 25, “DDI”), in which we explained that Petitioner failed to persuade us that Olympus was not an RPI. DDI 14.” slip op. at 2
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 9,504,321 - Fasteners For Retail, Inc. v. RTC Industries, Inc.Rehearing deniedPTAB · Nov 15, 2018 · IPR2018-00742 · APJ Michael L Woods · IPR · Rehearing
The Board denied the rehearing request in all four proceedings, upholding denial of institution because Petitioner failed to identify Olympus as a real party in interest.
RulingsRehearing decision- RehearingRehearing, deniedDenied
“b. Standard for Reconsideration The party filing a request for rehearing has the burden of showing a decision should be modified, and the request for rehearing must specifically identify all matters the party believes the Board misapprehended or overlooked and the place where each matter was previously addressed in its papers. 37 C.F.R. § 42.71(d). Therefore, Petitioner bears the burden of establishing that we misapprehended or overlooked the matters that it requests that we review. When rehearing a decision whether to institute a trial, the Board reviews the decision for an abuse of discretion. 37 C.F.R. § 42.71(c).” slip op. at 3
- PTAB / AIA Trials › Real party in interest / privityRpi dispute resolved for patent ownerDecided for patent owner
“I. INTRODUCTION a. Background Fasteners for Retail, Inc. (“Petitioner”), filed four petitions (IPR2018- 00741, IPR2018-00742, IPR2018-00743, and IPR2018-00744) requesting inter partes review of claims in U.S. Patent Nos. 9,173,505, 9,149,132, 9,504,321, and 9,635,957. Paper 1.2 RTC Industries, Inc. (“Patent Owner”), filed a Preliminary Response (Paper 8, “Prelim. Resp.”) arguing that Petitioner failed to identify Olympus Partners LP (“Olympus”) as a real party-in-interest (“RPI”). Prelim. Resp. 28–39. After receiving the Preliminary Response, we issued an order (Paper 13, “Order”) permitting Petitioner to either: (1) amend its mandatory notices within 7 days to name Olympus as an RPI; or (2) file a reply brief within 7 days to address Patent Owner’s RPI argument. Order 4. Although it amended its mandatory notices to add certain additional RPIs (Paper 14), Petitioner chose to file a reply brief (Paper 15, “Reply”) rather than name Olympus as an RPI. We entered a decision denying institution (Paper 25, “DDI”), in which we explained that Petitioner failed to persuade us that Olympus was not an RPI. DDI 14.” slip op. at 2
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 9,149,132 - Fasteners For Retail, Inc. v. RTC Industries, Inc.Rehearing deniedPTAB · Nov 15, 2018 · IPR2018-00741 · APJ Michael L Woods · IPR · Rehearing
The Board denied Fasteners for Retail’s rehearing request, leaving institution denied because Petitioner failed to identify Olympus as a real party in interest.
RulingsRehearing decision- RehearingRehearing, deniedDenied
“b. Standard for Reconsideration The party filing a request for rehearing has the burden of showing a decision should be modified, and the request for rehearing must specifically identify all matters the party believes the Board misapprehended or overlooked and the place where each matter was previously addressed in its papers. 37 C.F.R. § 42.71(d). Therefore, Petitioner bears the burden of establishing that we misapprehended or overlooked the matters that it requests that we review. When rehearing a decision whether to institute a trial, the Board reviews the decision for an abuse of discretion. 37 C.F.R. § 42.71(c).” slip op. at 3
- PTAB / AIA Trials › Real party in interest / privityRpi dispute resolved for patent ownerDecided for patent owner
“Moreover, the 7-day period for amending its mandatory notices to name Olympus as an RPI expired on July 27, 2018, (Order 4), and we entered our decision denying institution based on Petitioner’s failure to name Olympus as an RPI on September 12, 2018, (DDI 14). To permit Petitioner to now amend its mandatory notices to cure its failure to name Olympus as an RPI would be unfair to Patent Owner and would encourage gamesmanship by allowing petitioners to refrain from naming all RPIs until if and after such unnamed RPI is the cause for denying institution. Indeed, we are not aware of any Board decision that has permitted such amendment to mandatory notices after a decision denying institution. Accordingly, Petitioner’s Request is denied.” slip op. at 5
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 9,173,505 - Radware, Inc. v. F5 Networks, Inc.Institution deniedPTAB · Oct 23, 2017 · IPR2017-01249 · APJ Kristen L Droesch · IPR · Institution
The Board denied institution because Radware, Inc. did not identify Radware, Ltd. as a real party in interest.
RulingsInstitution decision- PTAB / AIA Trials › Real party in interest / privityInstitution denied rpiDecided for patent owner
“review, “the party against whom a presumption is directed has the burden of producing evidence to rebut the presumption. But this rule does not shift the burden of persuasion, which remains on the party who had it originally.” Fed. R. Evid. 301; see 37 C.F.R 42.62(a). Accordingly, when a patent owner provides sufficient evidence prior to institution that reasonably brings into question the accuracy of a petitioner’s identification of real parties-in-interest, the overall burden remains with the petitioner to establish that it has complied with the statutory requirement to identify all real parties-in-interest. Zerto at 7. The allocation of the burdens of production and persuasion for identification of all real parties in interest appropriately accounts for the fact that a petitioner is far more likely to be in possession of, or have access to, evidence relevant to the issue than is a patent owner. Id.” slip op. at 5
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 6,311,278 - Mastercard International Inc. v. Alexsam, Inc.Institution deniedPTAB · Sep 21, 2017 · CBM2017-00042 · APJ Christopher G Paulraj · CBM · Institution
The Board denied institution because MasterCard lacked standing: it had not been sued for or charged with infringement under the CBM statute.
RulingsInstitution decision- PTAB / AIA Trials › Real party in interest / privityDenied
“Under § 18(a)(1)(B) of the America Invents Act (AIA), “[a] person may not file a petition for a transitional proceeding with respect to a covered business method patent unless the person or the person’s real party in interest or privy has been sued for infringement of the patent or has been charged with infringement under that patent.” AIA § 18(a)(1)(B) (emphasis added); see also 37 C.F.R. § 42.302(a). Petitioner contends that this standing requirement is satisfied “because Patent Owner sued Petitioner for alleged breach of a patent License Agreement involving the ‘608 Patent.” Pet. 4 (citing Ex. 1002). After considering the parties’ arguments, including those set forth in their supplemental briefs, we determine that Petitioner has not met its burden of demonstrating that it is eligible to bring this CBM review. See 37 C.F.R. § 42.304(a) (“The petitioner must demonstrate . . . that [it] meets the eligibility requirements of § 42.302.”).” slip op. at 5
- BurdenDecided for patent owner
“Under § 18(a)(1)(B) of the America Invents Act (AIA), “[a] person may not file a petition for a transitional proceeding with respect to a covered business method patent unless the person or the person’s real party in interest or privy has been sued for infringement of the patent or has been charged with infringement under that patent.” AIA § 18(a)(1)(B) (emphasis added); see also 37 C.F.R. § 42.302(a). Petitioner contends that this standing requirement is satisfied “because Patent Owner sued Petitioner for alleged breach of a patent License Agreement involving the ‘608 Patent.” Pet. 4 (citing Ex. 1002). After considering the parties’ arguments, including those set forth in their supplemental briefs, we determine that Petitioner has not met its burden of demonstrating that it is eligible to bring this CBM review. See 37 C.F.R. § 42.304(a) (“The petitioner must demonstrate . . . that [it] meets the eligibility requirements of § 42.302.”).” slip op. at 5
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 6,000,608 - Mastercard International Inc. v. Alexsam, Inc.Institution deniedPTAB · Sep 21, 2017 · CBM2017-00041 · APJ Christopher G Paulraj · CBM · Institution
The Board denied institution because MasterCard lacked standing: it was neither sued for nor charged with infringement of the challenged patent.
RulingsInstitution decision- PTAB / AIA Trials › Real party in interest / privityDenied
“may not file a petition for a transitional proceeding with respect to a covered business method patent unless the person or the person’s real party in interest or privy has been sued for infringement of the patent or has been charged with infringement under that patent.” AIA § 18(a)(1)(B) (emphasis added); see also 37 C.F.R. § 42.302(a). Petitioner contends that this standing requirement is satisfied “because Patent Owner sued Petitioner for alleged breach of a patent License Agreement involving the ‘787 Patent.” Pet. 4 (citing Ex. 1002). After considering the parties’ arguments, including those set forth in their supplemental briefs, we determine that Petitioner has not met its burden of demonstrating that it is eligible to bring this CBM review. See 37 C.F.R. § 42.304(a) (“The petitioner must demonstrate . . . that [it] meets the eligibility requirements of § 42.302.”).” slip op. at 5
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 6,189,787 - Acxiom Corporation v. Phoenix Licensing, LLCInstitution deniedPTAB · Mar 21, 2016 · CBM2015-00180 · APJ Barry L Grossman · CBM · Institution
The Board denied institution of CBM review of claims 1, 9, 16, 18-25, 34, 49-52, and 57 because Acxiom failed to establish standing.
RulingsInstitution decision- PTAB / AIA Trials › Real party in interest / privityInstitution denied rpiDenied
“Acxiom must establish more than just the fact that it has sold products to an entity that has been sued for infringement. It must establish that the relationship between itself and a sued customer is sufficient to constitute privity.1 The evidence provided by Acxiom, which will be discussed in detail below, in short, indicates that Acxiom has sold some unspecified software and/or other goods and services to a variety of entities and that some of those entities have approached Acxiom with claims of indemnity. We are not persuaded that these requests for indemnity without evidence or an acknowledgement of an obligation to indemnify are sufficient to establish privity. See Microsoft Corp. v. DataTern, Inc., 755 F. 3d 899 (Fed. Cit. 2014); Arris Group, Inc. v. British Telecomm. PLC, 639 F.3d 1368, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2011).” slip op. at 6
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 8,352,317 - Corning Optical Communications RF, LLC v. PPC Broadband, Inc.Rehearing deniedPTAB · Dec 9, 2015 · IPR2014-00736 · APJ Jacqueline Wright Bonilla · IPR · Rehearing
The Board denied Corning’s rehearing request, leaving intact dismissal of the petitions because Corning Inc. and Corning Optical Communications LLC were unnamed real parties in interest.
RulingsRehearing decision- RehearingRehearing, deniedDenied
“Under 37 C.F.R. § 42.71(c), “[w]hen rehearing a decision on petition, a panel will review the decision for an abuse of discretion.” An abuse of discretion occurs when a “decision was based on an erroneous conclusion of law or clearly erroneous factual findings, or . . . a clear error of judgment.” PPG Indus. Inc. v. Celanese Polymer Specialties Co. Inc., 840 F.2d 1565, 1567 (Fed. Cir. 1988) (citations omitted). A request for rehearing “must specifically identify all matters the party believes the Board misapprehended or overlooked, and the place where each matter was previously addressed.” 37 C.F.R. § 42.71(d).” slip op. at 3
- PTAB / AIA Trials › Real party in interest / privityRpi dispute resolved for patent ownerDecided for patent owner
“proof on Petitioner.” Req. Reh’g. 9–10. As noted in our Decision, we placed the ultimate burden of proof, i.e., burden of persuasion, on Patent Owner, not Petitioner. Dec. 13–14 (stating that if “a patent owner raises the RPI issue after institution and after filing a response to the petition, and in the form of a motion . . . , the burden of proof is on the patent owner as the proponent of the motion”). As explained recently by the Federal Circuit, the “burden of persuasion ‘is the ultimate burden assigned to a party who must prove something to a specified degree of certainty,’ such as by a preponderance of the evidence.” Dynamic Drinkware, LLC v. Nat’l Graphics, Inc., 800 F.3d 1375, 1378 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (quoting Tech. Licensing Corp. v. Videotek, Inc., 545 F.3d 1316, 1326–27 (Fed. Cir. 2008)). Notwithstanding Patent Owner’s burden of persuasion, however, once it came forward with sufficient evidence indicating that Petitioner should have identified Corning Inc. and Corning NC as RPIs (as cited and discussed in Patent Owner’s Motion), a “shifting burden” came into play, i.e., a “burden of production” on Petitioner. Id. at 1379. To address that burden of production, Petitioner had an opportunity to “produc[e] additional evidence and present[] persuasive argument based on new evidence or evidence already of record” in its Opposition to Patent Owner’s Motion to Dismiss. Id. (citations omitted). It was in this capacity, only after determining that Patent Owner had made a sufficient showing regarding RPI, that we stated that Petitioner did not point “to credible evidence indicating that if interests of Corning Inc. and Petitioner ever diverged, Mr. Hulme and Mr. Vynalek, who are employees of Corning Inc. (Ex. 2100, 12– 14), would act in a matter contrary to Corning Inc.’s interests.” Dec. 22; Req. Reh’g. 9. Thereafter, based on all evidence before us, we concluded that Patent Owner had established by a preponderance of the evidence that Corning NC and Corning Inc. should have been named as RPIs in these proceedings. Dec. 13–14, 16, 25. Thus, Petitioner does not persuade us that we impermissibly placed the burden of persuasion on Petitioner.” slip op. at 5
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 6,676,446 - Corning Optical Communications RF, LLC v. PPC Broadband, Inc.Rehearing deniedPTAB · Dec 9, 2015 · IPR2014-00440 · APJ Jacqueline Wright Bonilla · IPR · Rehearing
The Board denied Corning’s rehearing request, leaving in place dismissal of the petitions, termination of the reviews, and vacatur of the institution decisions for failure to identify all RPIs.
RulingsRehearing decision- RehearingRehearing, deniedDenied
“Under 37 C.F.R. § 42.71(c), “[w]hen rehearing a decision on petition, a panel will review the decision for an abuse of discretion.” An abuse of discretion occurs when a “decision was based on an erroneous conclusion of law or clearly erroneous factual findings, or . . . a clear error of judgment.” PPG Indus. Inc. v. Celanese Polymer Specialties Co. Inc., 840 F.2d 1565, 1567 (Fed. Cir. 1988) (citations omitted). A request for rehearing “must specifically identify all matters the party believes the Board misapprehended or overlooked, and the place where each matter was previously addressed.” 37 C.F.R. § 42.71(d).” slip op. at 3
- PTAB / AIA Trials › Real party in interest / privityDecided for patent owner
“Notwithstanding Patent Owner’s burden of persuasion, however, once it came forward with sufficient evidence indicating that Petitioner should have identified Corning Inc. and Corning NC as RPIs (as cited and discussed in Patent Owner’s Motion), a “shifting burden” came into play, i.e., a “burden of production” on Petitioner. Id. at 1379. To address that burden of production, Petitioner had an opportunity to “produc[e] additional evidence and present[] persuasive argument based on new evidence or evidence already of record” in its Opposition to Patent Owner’s Motion to Dismiss. Id. (citations omitted). It was in this capacity, only after determining that Patent Owner had made a sufficient showing regarding RPI, that we stated that Petitioner did not point “to credible evidence indicating that if interests of Corning Inc. and Petitioner ever diverged, Mr. Hulme and Mr. Vynalek, who are employees of Corning Inc. (Ex. 2100, 12– 14), would act in a matter contrary to Corning Inc.’s interests.” Dec. 22; Req. Reh’g. 9. Thereafter, based on all evidence before us, we concluded that Patent Owner had established by a preponderance of the evidence that Corning NC and Corning Inc. should have been named as RPIs in these proceedings. Dec. 13–14, 16, 25. Thus, Petitioner does not persuade us that we impermissibly placed the burden of persuasion on Petitioner.” slip op. at 5
- PTAB / AIA Trials › Motions to amend / substitute claimsDenied
“sufficient “good cause” exists to waive our rules to allow correction of the RPIs identified in the Petitions without a loss of original filing dates. Dec. 24–25 (citing Reflectix, Inc. v. Promethean Insulation Tech. LLC, Case IPR2015-00039, slip op. at 13–18 (PTAB April 24, 2015) (Paper 18)). Petitioner’s incorrect determination of RPIs in its Petition, as argued in its Opposition to Patent Owner’s Motion to Dismiss and its Request now, “did not arise out of some mistake of fact.” Reflectix, Case IPR2015-00039, slip. op at 14 (Paper 18). Rather, Petitioner asserted that it “designated itself as the only RPI in good faith at the time the Petitions were filed, based on the guidance in the [Trial Practice Guide] before the Board’s RPI decisions cited in the Decision even existed.” Req. Reh’g. 12, 14–15. In other words, Petitioner “misunderstood the law as it applies to the RPI determination.” Reflectix, Case IPR2015-00039, slip. op at 14 (Paper 18). We agree with our colleagues in Reflectix that the Trial Practice Guide provides notable guidance, “as it devotes over a page of the Federal Register to discussing RPI and privity, and cites to precedent including the Supreme Court decision in Taylor v. Sturgell.” Id. at 14–15 (citing 77 Fed. Reg. at 48,759 (citing 553 U.S. 880 (2008)). Furthermore, a number of relevant Board decisions concerning RPI had issued by March 2, 2015, when we authorized Patent Owner to file its Motion for Additional Discovery regarding whether Corning Inc. and Corning NC should have been listed as RPIs. Paper 31. Petitioner did not request authorization to correct its Petitions thereafter, but instead suggested the possibility of correction in its Opposition to Patent Owner’s Motion to Dismiss. Opp. 1, 22, 23, 25. Our determination that Petitioner’s Motion to Dismiss was timely did not undercut the significance of Petitioner’s actions here. Req. Reh’g. 14–15. We are not persuaded, given the facts of this case, that Petitioner’s failure to name all RPIs in its Petitions, and its failure to request authorization to correct its Petitions regarding RPIs during trial, constitute a type of “error” that warrants permitting correction at this stage, without altering filing dates of the Petitions, even assuming no evidence of bad faith by Petitioner exists. Req. Reh’g. 15, 14. In addition, regardless of whether Petitioner “erred” when preparing its Petitions, Petitioner continued to maintain strongly its position regarding RPIs, even after it had access to all facts and evidence before us when we issued our Decision, thereby indicating that its position was not an “error” on Petitioner’s part, but rather a strategic position. As stated in 35 U.S.C. § 312(a)(2) (emphasis added), a petition for inter partes review “may be considered only if— . . . the petition identifies all real parties in interest.” In view of Petitioner’s actions here, we are not persuaded that we abused our discretion in determining the appropriate remedy here was to grant Patent Owner’s Motions to Dismiss, terminate the instant proceedings, and vacate our Decisions on Institution.” slip op. at 12
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 8,597,041 - Corning Optical Communications RF, LLC v. PPC Broadband, Inc.Rehearing deniedPTAB · Dec 9, 2015 · IPR2014-00441 · APJ Jacqueline Wright Bonilla · IPR · Rehearing
The Board denied rehearing, leaving intact dismissal of the petitions, termination of the proceedings, and vacatur of institution decisions for failure to identify all real parties in interest.
RulingsRehearing decision- RehearingRehearing, deniedDenied
“Under 37 C.F.R. § 42.71(c), “[w]hen rehearing a decision on petition, a panel will review the decision for an abuse of discretion.” An abuse of discretion occurs when a “decision was based on an erroneous conclusion of law or clearly erroneous factual findings, or . . . a clear error of judgment.” PPG Indus. Inc. v. Celanese Polymer Specialties Co. Inc., 840 F.2d 1565, 1567 (Fed. Cir. 1988) (citations omitted). A request for rehearing “must specifically identify all matters the party believes the Board misapprehended or overlooked, and the place where each matter was previously addressed.” 37 C.F.R. § 42.71(d).” slip op. at 3
- PTAB / AIA Trials › Real party in interest / privityDecided for patent owner
“Notwithstanding Patent Owner’s burden of persuasion, however, once it came forward with sufficient evidence indicating that Petitioner should have identified Corning Inc. and Corning NC as RPIs (as cited and discussed in Patent Owner’s Motion), a “shifting burden” came into play, i.e., a “burden of production” on Petitioner. Id. at 1379. To address that burden of production, Petitioner had an opportunity to “produc[e] additional evidence and present[] persuasive argument based on new evidence or evidence already of record” in its Opposition to Patent Owner’s Motion to Dismiss. Id. (citations omitted). It was in this capacity, only after determining that Patent Owner had made a sufficient showing regarding RPI, that we stated that Petitioner did not point “to credible evidence indicating that if interests of Corning Inc. and Petitioner ever diverged, Mr. Hulme and Mr. Vynalek, who are employees of Corning Inc. (Ex. 2100, 12– 14), would act in a matter contrary to Corning Inc.’s interests.” Dec. 22; Req. Reh’g. 9. Thereafter, based on all evidence before us, we concluded that Patent Owner had established by a preponderance of the evidence that Corning NC and Corning Inc. should have been named as RPIs in these proceedings. Dec. 13–14, 16, 25. Thus, Petitioner does not persuade us that we impermissibly placed the burden of persuasion on Petitioner.” slip op. at 5
Discretionary denialPatents in suitUS 8,562,366
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.