- PTAB · May 15, 2024 · IPR2023-00268 · APJ Sean P O’Hanlon · IPR · Remand
The Board instituted IPR on claims 1–3, 5–10, 16–18, and 21–25 based on all asserted grounds, finding a reasonable likelihood of success on anticipation and obviousness.
RulingsRemand decision- RehearingOther
“On August 11, 2023, a majority of the panel entered a Decision denying institution of inter partes review. Paper 9 (“Board Decision”). On September 11, 2023, Petitioner timely filed a request for Director Review of the Board Decision. Paper 10. On November 7, 2023, the Director delegated Director Review of the Board Decision to a Delegated Review Panel (“DRP”). Paper 11. On February 21, 2024, the DRP issued a decision granting Petitioner’s request for Director Review rehearing, vacating the Board Decision, and remanding to the original panel to reconsider whether to institute review. Paper 14 (“DRP Dec.”).” slip op. at 2
- PTAB / AIA Trials › Discretionary denial › Fintiv (parallel litigation)Decided for petitioner
“[T]he Board’s cases addressing earlier trial dates as a basis for denial under NHK have sought to balance considerations such as system efficiency, fairness, and patent quality.” Apple Inc. v. Fintiv, Inc., IPR2020-00019, Paper 11 at 5 (PTAB Mar. 20, 2020) (designated precedential). Fintiv sets forth six non-exclusive factors for determining “whether efficiency, fairness, and the merits support the exercise of authority to deny institution in view of an earlier trial date in the parallel proceeding.” Id. at 6. In evaluating the factors, we take a holistic view of whether efficiency and integrity of the system are best served by denying or instituting review. Id. We are also guided by the Director’s Memorandum, Interim Procedure for Discretionary Denials in AIA Post-Grant Proceedings with Parallel District Court Litigation, issued June 21, 2022 (“Guidance Memo”),1 which provides several clarifications concerning the application of the Fintiv factors. One such clarification instructs that “the PTAB will not discretionarily deny institution in view of parallel district court litigation where a petitioner presents a stipulation not to pursue in a parallel proceeding the same grounds or any grounds that could have reasonably been raised before the PTAB.” Guidance Memo 3; see also id. at 7–8. Thus, we will not exercise our discretion to deny institution if a petitioner makes a stipulation similar to that provided in Sotera Wireless, Inc. v. Masimo Corp., IPR2020-01019, Paper 12 at 18–19 (PTAB Dec. 1, 2020) (designated precedential in relevant part). 1 Available at https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ interim_proc_discretionary_denials_aia_parallel_district_court_litigation_ memo_20220621_.pdf. Petitioner stipulates “not to pursue, in the[Delaware litigation], any argument that the Challenged Claims are invalid on any ground that was raised or could have been reasonably raised in this [inter partes review], should th[e] petition be instituted.” Pet. 86; see also Ex. 1057, 1 (“If the Patent Trial and Appeal Board institutes a proceeding for [this inter partes review], [Petitioner] will not pursue in the [Delaware litigation], any argument that the challenged claims of the patent in [this inter partes review] are invalid on any ground that was raised or could have been reasonably raised in [this inter partes review] proceeding.”). Accordingly, pursuant to the Guidance Memo, we decline to exercise discretion under 35 U.S.C. § 314(a) to deny institution. slip op. at 8
- PTAB / AIA Trials › Institution threshold (reasonable likelihood / more likely than not)InstitutedInstituted
“IV. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, we determine that the information presented establishes a reasonable likelihood that Petitioner would prevail in showing that at least one of the challenged claims is unpatentable. At this preliminary stage, we have not made a final determination with respect to the patentability of the challenged claims or any underlying factual and legal issues. See TriVascular, Inc. v. Samuels, 812 F.3d 1056, 1068 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (noting that “there is a significant difference between a petitioner’s burden to establish a ‘reasonable likelihood of success’ at institution, and actually proving invalidity by a preponderance of the evidence at trial”). Accordingly, inter partes review is instituted as to all challenged claims and all proposed grounds of unpatentability. See 37 C.F.R. § 42.108(a). V. ORDER Accordingly, it is: ORDERED that pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 314(a), an inter partes review of claims 1–3, 5–10, 16–18, and 21–25 of the ’779 patent is instituted with respect to all grounds set forth in the Petition; and” slip op. at 33
- Skill levelSkill level petitioner adoptedDecided for petitioner
“Patent Owner does not contest Petitioner’s proposed definition of the level of ordinary skill in the art. See generally Prelim. Resp. We note that Patent Owner’s declarant, Dr. Vancura, uses essentially the same definition as Petitioner. See Ex. 2001 ¶ 33. Based on the arguments presented and the cited references, we find Petitioner’s definition of the level of ordinary skill reasonable and for purposes of this Decision, adopt it as our own.” slip op. at 12
Claim construction§ 102 anticipation§ 103 obviousnessDiscretionary denialcites KSR · GrahamPatents in suitUS 11,200,779 - PTAB · Dec 7, 2015 · IPR2015-01438 · APJ Michael R Zecher · IPR · Order
The Board granted the parties’ joint motion and terminated the proceeding before deciding whether to institute review of claims 1–3 and 8–12.
RulingsOther- PTAB / AIA Trials › Other PTAB motions (exclude, strike, seal, additional discovery, rehearing)Granted
“they have settled their disputes regarding the ’104 patent. Paper 7, 2. The parties further represent that there are numerous related matters in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California that have been dismissed with prejudice or stayed pending final determination of two related inter partes reviews involving U.S. Patent No. 7,550,870 B2 (“the ’870 patent”). Id. at 3. Based on the joint requests filed by the parties in the two proceedings involving the ’870 patent, those cases have been terminated. Avocent Huntsville Corp. v. Cyber Switching Patents, LLC, Cases IPR2015-00690 & IPR2015-00725 (PTAB Dec. 7, 2015) (Paper 33 in each proceeding). Lastly, the parties do not represent that the ’104 patent is involved in any other proceedings before the Office. See generally id. at 2–4. Under these circumstances, we determine that it is appropriate to terminate this proceeding without rendering any further decisions. See 37 C.F.R. § 42.72.” slip op. at 2
NonePatents in suitUS 7,672,104 - PTAB · Sep 24, 2015 · IPR2015-01382 · APJ Michael R Zecher · IPR · Order
The Board granted the renewed joint motion to terminate and terminated the proceeding before deciding whether to institute review.
RulingsOther- PTAB / AIA Trials › Other PTAB motions (exclude, strike, seal, additional discovery, rehearing)Granted
“I. DISCUSSION On September 18, 2015, the parties filed a Joint Motion to Terminate this proceeding (Paper 9), a copy of the parties’ settlement agreement (Ex. 1009), and a Motion to Seal (Paper 8) that includes a request to treat the settlement agreement as business confidential information under 37 C.F.R. § 42.74(c). After reviewing the settlement agreement submitted by the parties, we informed the parties via email correspondence on September 21, 2015, that these papers were insufficient because the settlement agreement was redacted. See 35 U.S.C. § 317(b) (requiring a “true copy” of a settlement agreement be filed in the Office before the termination of an inter partes review); see also APTwater, Inc. v. ThinkVillage- Kerfoot, LLC, Case IPR2014-00132, slip op. at 2 (PTAB June 10, 2014) (Paper 17) (“A redacted version of the settlement agreement will not be accepted as a true copy of the settlement agreement.”). We instructed the parties to file a non-redacted version of the settlement agreement. On September 21, 2015, the parties complied with our instructions by filing a renewed Joint Motion to Terminate this proceeding (Paper 10), and a true copy of the parties’ settlement agreement (Ex. 1010).1 The renewed Joint Motion to Terminate this proceeding also includes a joint request to treat the settlement agreement as business confidential information under 35 U.S.C. § 317(b) and 37 C.F.R. § 42.74(c). Paper 10, 4–5.” slip op. at 2
NonePatents in suitUS 6,578,086 - PTAB · Oct 28, 2014 · IPR2014-00059 · APJ Joni Y Chang · IPR · Order
The Board granted the parties’ joint motions, terminated the instituted review as to all parties, and entered judgment after settlement before deciding the merits.
RulingsOther- Adverse judgmentAdverse judgmentGranted
“a proceeding will terminate after the filing of a settlement agreement, unless the Board already has decided the merits of the proceedings. Id. In their Joint Motions to Terminate, the parties indicate that they have settled all of their disputes involving the Rackspace inter partes reviews, as well as the related district court proceeding styled PersonalWeb Tech. LLC v. Rackspace US, Inc., No. 6-12-cv-00659 (E.D. Tex.). Mot. 1, 4. The parties also indicate that they concurrently filed their Stipulation of Dismissal, as to only the Rackspace Defendants with prejudice, in that related district court proceeding. Id.; Ex. 2019. More importantly, the parties expressly state that “no other disputes between the parties remain,” and “[t]here is no other litigation or dispute in any court or forum involving [Rackspace and PersonalWeb].” Id. at 4. Upon consideration of the facts before us, we determine that it is appropriate to terminate the Rackspace inter partes reviews as to both parties, and enter judgment.” slip op. at 5
- PTAB / AIA Trials › §315(b) time barDecided for patent owner
“3. However, Google’s Petitions were not filed timely in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 315(b) (“[a]n inter partes review may not be instituted if the petition requesting the proceeding is filed more than 1 year after the date on which the petitioner . . . is served with a complaint alleging infringement of the patent.”).3 Google could have, but did not, file a petition for inter partes review with the one-year time period. More significantly, Google’s Motions for Joinder were not filed timely in accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 42.122(b) (“[a]ny request for joinder must be filed, as a motion under § 42.22, no later than one month after the institution date of any inter partes review for which joinder is requested.”).4 Google fails to provide sufficient reasons as to why we should exercise our discretion under 37 C.F.R. § 42.5(b) to waive the one-month time limit for filing a Motion for Joinder.5” slip op. at 4
NonePatents in suitUS 6,415,280 - PTAB · Oct 28, 2014 · IPR2014-00066 · APJ Joni Y Chang · IPR · Order
The Board granted the parties’ joint motions, terminated the Rackspace inter partes reviews as to all parties, and granted confidential treatment of the settlement agreement.
RulingsOther- PTAB / AIA Trials › Other PTAB motions (exclude, strike, seal, additional discovery, rehearing)Granted
“The parties further argue that maintaining the Rackspace inter partes reviews, after the parties have settled their disputes, would be contrary to public policy and would discourage future settlements by removing a significant motivation for settlement. Mot. 5. In view of the circumstances, we agree. Indeed, there are strong public policy reasons to favor settlement between the parties to a proceeding. Office Patent Trial Practice Guide, 77 Fed. Reg. 48,756, 48,768 (Aug. 14, 2012). Generally, the Board expects that” slip op. at 4
- PTAB / AIA Trials › §315(b) time barDecided for patent owner
“3. However, Google’s Petitions were not filed timely in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 315(b) (“[a]n inter partes review may not be instituted if the petition requesting the proceeding is filed more than 1 year after the date on which the petitioner . . . is served with a complaint alleging infringement of the patent.”).3 Google could have, but did not, file a petition for inter partes review with the one-year time period. More significantly, Google’s Motions for Joinder were not filed timely in accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 42.122(b) (“[a]ny request for joinder must be filed, as a motion under § 42.22, no later than one month after the institution date of any inter partes review for which joinder is requested.”).4 Google fails to provide sufficient reasons as to why we should exercise our discretion under 37 C.F.R. § 42.5(b) to waive the one-month time limit for filing a Motion for Joinder.5” slip op. at 4
- PTAB / AIA Trials › Joinder §315(c) / SAS all-or-nothingNot reached
“3. However, Google’s Petitions were not filed timely in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 315(b) (“[a]n inter partes review may not be instituted if the petition requesting the proceeding is filed more than 1 year after the date on which the petitioner . . . is served with a complaint alleging infringement of the patent.”).3 Google could have, but did not, file a petition for inter partes review with the one-year time period. More significantly, Google’s Motions for Joinder were not filed timely in accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 42.122(b) (“[a]ny request for joinder must be filed, as a motion under § 42.22, no later than one month after the institution date of any inter partes review for which joinder is requested.”).4 Google fails to provide sufficient reasons as to why we should exercise our discretion under 37 C.F.R. § 42.5(b) to waive the one-month time limit for filing a Motion for Joinder.5” slip op. at 4
NonePatents in suitUS 6,928,442 - PTAB · Oct 28, 2014 · IPR2014-00062 · APJ Joni Y Chang · IPR · Order
The Board granted the joint motion and terminated IPR2014-00062 as to all parties after settlement, before deciding the merits.
RulingsOther- PTAB / AIA Trials › Other PTAB motions (exclude, strike, seal, additional discovery, rehearing)Granted
“reviews, after the parties have settled their disputes, would be contrary to public policy and would discourage future settlements by removing a significant motivation for settlement. Mot. 5. In view of the circumstances, we agree. Indeed, there are strong public policy reasons to favor settlement between the parties to a proceeding. Office Patent Trial Practice Guide, 77 Fed. Reg. 48,756, 48,768 (Aug. 14, 2012). Generally, the Board expects that” slip op. at 4
- PTAB / AIA Trials › Joinder §315(c) / SAS all-or-nothingDenied
“3. However, Google’s Petitions were not filed timely in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 315(b) (“[a]n inter partes review may not be instituted if the petition requesting the proceeding is filed more than 1 year after the date on which the petitioner . . . is served with a complaint alleging infringement of the patent.”).3 Google could have, but did not, file a petition for inter partes review with the one-year time period. More significantly, Google’s Motions for Joinder were not filed timely in accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 42.122(b) (“[a]ny request for joinder must be filed, as a motion under § 42.22, no later than one month after the institution date of any inter partes review for which joinder is requested.”).4 Google fails to provide sufficient reasons as to why we should exercise our discretion under 37 C.F.R. § 42.5(b) to waive the one-month time limit for filing a Motion for Joinder.5” slip op. at 4
NonePatents in suitUS 7,802,310 - PTAB · Oct 28, 2014 · IPR2014-00058 · APJ Joni Y Chang · IPR · Order
The Board granted the parties’ joint motions, terminated the Rackspace inter partes reviews as to all parties, and granted confidential treatment of the settlement agreement.
RulingsOther- PTAB / AIA Trials › Other PTAB motions (exclude, strike, seal, additional discovery, rehearing)Granted
“Hosting, Inc. (collectively, “Rackspace”) and Patent Owner PersonalWeb Technologies, LLC and Level 3 Communications (collectively, PersonalWeb) filed a Joint Motion to Terminate in each of the above-identified inter partes reviews (“the Rackspace inter partes reviews”). Paper 34, “Mot.”2 The parties also filed a true copy of their Written Settlement Agreement, made in connection with the termination of the Rackspace inter partes reviews, in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 317(b) and 37 C.F.R. § 42.74(b). Ex. 1014. Additionally, the parties submitted a Joint Request to have their Written Settlement Agreement treated as confidential business information under 35 U.S.C. § 317(b) and 37 C.F.R. § 42.74(c). Paper 33. For the reasons set forth below, the Joint Motions to Terminate and the Requests to have their Written Settlement Agreement treated as confidential business information are granted.” slip op. at 2
- PTAB / AIA Trials › Joinder §315(c) / SAS all-or-nothingDenied
“court proceedings involving PersonalWeb and third parties. Mot. 6–7. However, except for EMC Corporation and VMWare, Inc. (collectively “EMC”) and Apple, Inc. (“Apple”), none of the third parties elected to file a Petition for inter partes review within the one-year statutory period under 35 U.S.C. § 315(b). Id. at 7. We note that the termination of the Rackspace inter partes reviews would not affect the inter partes reviews that involve EMC and Apple. We are cognizant that Google, Inc. and YouTube, LLC (collectively “Google”) filed four Petitions—IPR2014-00977, IPR2014- 00978, IPR2014-00979, and IPR2014-00980—and Motions for Joinder with four of the Rackspace inter partes reviews. See, e.g., IPR2014-00977, Paper 3. However, Google’s Petitions were not filed timely in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 315(b) (“[a]n inter partes review may not be instituted if the petition requesting the proceeding is filed more than 1 year after the date on which the petitioner . . . is served with a complaint alleging infringement of the patent.”).3 Google could have, but did not, file a petition for inter partes review with the one-year time period. More significantly, Google’s Motions for Joinder were not filed timely in accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 42.122(b) (“[a]ny request for joinder must be filed, as a motion under § 42.22, no later than one month after the institution date of any inter partes review for which joinder is requested.”).4 Google fails to provide sufficient reasons as to why we should exercise our discretion under 37 C.F.R. § 42.5(b) to waive the one-month time limit for filing a Motion for Joinder.5” slip op. at 3
NonePatents in suitUS 8,099,420 - PTAB · Sep 24, 2014 · IPR2014-00969 · APJ Donna M Praiss · IPR · Order
The Board granted the parties’ joint motion and terminated the proceeding under the settlement, without a final written decision.
RulingsOther- PTAB / AIA Trials › Other PTAB motions (exclude, strike, seal, additional discovery, rehearing)Granted
“The Board generally expects that a proceeding will terminate after the filing of a settlement agreement. See, e.g., Office Patent Trial Practice Guide, 77 Fed. Reg. 48,756, 48,768 (Aug. 14, 2012). Under these circumstances, the Board determines that it is appropriate to terminate this proceeding without rendering a final written decision. 37 C.F.R. § 42.72. Therefore, the joint motion to terminate the proceeding is granted.” slip op. at 2
NonePatents in suitUS 7,123,117 - PTAB · Aug 4, 2014 · CBM2014-00089 · APJ Brian J Mcnamara · CBM · Order
The Board granted the parties’ joint motion and terminated the proceeding after settlement, before institution and without a final written decision.
RulingsOther- Adverse judgmentAdverse judgmentGranted
“The parties have moved to terminate this proceeding in view of their settlement of their underlying litigation. A decision by the Board to institute a trial has not yet been entered. Thus, this matter was in the preliminary stages at the time the parties moved to terminate. U.S. Patent 8,346,894 B2, which is the subject of this proceeding, is also the subject of CBM2014-00097, CBM2014- 00101, IPR2014-00413 and IPR2014-00414. Those proceedings will not be affected by the termination of this covered business method patent review. Under these circumstances, the Board determines that it is appropriate to enter judgment1 and terminate the trial without rendering a final written decision. 37 C.F.R. § 42.72. It is, therefore, ORDERED that the joint motion to terminate the proceeding is GRANTED and the proceeding is hereby terminated;” slip op. at 2
NonePatents in suitUS 8,346,894 - PTAB · Jun 30, 2014 · IPR2014-00354 · APJ William V Saindon · IPR · Order
The Board granted the joint motion to join IPR2014-00354 to IPR2013-00629, terminated IPR2014-00354, and set consolidated filing, schedule, reply, and deposition procedures.
RulingsOther- PTAB / AIA Trials › Joinder §315(c) / SAS all-or-nothingJoinder, grantedGranted
“considers many factors, including: (1) the differences in the grounds asserted in the proceedings; (2) time and cost considerations, including the impact joinder would have on the trial schedule; and (3) how briefing and discovery may be simplified. See Order Authorizing Motion for Joinder (Paper 15) at 4, Kyocera Corp. v. SoftView, LLC., IPR2013-00004 (PTAB Apr. 24, 2013).” slip op. at 4
NonePatents in suitUS 7,806,896
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.