With Coronavirus delaying prosecution, preventing courts from empaneling juries, and keeping attorneys home with the kids, you would think patent filings would have dropped; instead, we saw a slight uptick this week. We saw Elizabeth Holmes’ Theranos patents reemerge, witnessed the start of a battle between in-flight WiFi companies, and even watched sheets of sapphire sold to the government stay hot.

As if diagnostics companies weren’t beleaguered enough: Fortress Investment Group LLC (as funded by Softbank) purchased old Theranos patents listing Elizabeth Holmes as an inventor, and has asserted them against a Utah diagnostics company, BioFire Diagnostics, LLC using an NPE subsidiary called Labrador Diagnostics LLC. They purchased these and other patents for a song as Theranos went into bankruptcy. Shortly after they filed suit, reporters found a COVID-19 connection, in that BioFire had announced it was making tests for the government, in part, it seemed, based on the accused technology. Forced into a PR nightmare, Fortress issued a press release granting free licenses to anyone for COVID-19 testing, but the case continues. Another perspective on this here.

Call it the battle for the airwaves of the skies—Gogo Business Aviation LLC, which provides in-flight WiFi services to grateful commercial fliers, filed an IPR against Smartsky Networks, LLC, challenging a single patent; no litigation or other dispute is immediately apparent, suggesting perhaps a freedom to operate action in a crowded field—or at least, unfriendly skies.

Acantha LLC, an NPE that has successfully sued medical device companies on a series of bone screw patents, is at it again. The previous round of litigations, against DePuy Synthese Sales, Inc., provoked three IPRs by DePuy in 2016; those IPRs were denied institution, Acantha LLC went on to trial, and late last year won an $8.2 million judgment, later modified by half to $4.3 million by the Wisconsin Eastern District judge. Around the time of the initial judgment, Acantha brought suit against NuVasive, Inc. in the Eastern District of Michigan and against Stryker Corporation in the Northern District of California. Now NuVasive has brought two IPRs on the ’008 patent on the eve of the one-year bar there. NuVasive fled the now-required separate paper explaining why the Board should not use their discretion to deny the second petition on the same patent—i.e., both challenge different claims, with no overlap.

In Obscure Patent Law Issues 101, in May of 2018, II-VI Incorporated, an optical products company, filed an IPR against Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc. on U.S. Patent No. RE43,469 (IPR2018-01022). Then in August, Saint-Gobain fired back, filing a complaint asserting RE43,469, U.S. Patent No. 9,926,645, and 9,963,800, against for, inter alia, products related to single crystal sapphire sheets, which are useful in semiconductors, imaging, windows in high-pressure or vacuum situations like air- or spacecraft, and other various industrial uses. (Saint-Gobain is the sole supplier of large crystal sapphire sheets to Lockheed Martin; defendants, subcontractors in the supply chain who had recently begun competing.). The IPR was instituted on November 15, 2018; then on March 26, 2019 in chambers, the Court granted Defendants’ converted motion for summary judgment in which they argued that the U.S. government was their sole customer (i.e., Lockheed as contractor, then on to the government), and so the case should be dismissed under 28 U.S.C. § 1498; it was wonky, but it worked, in that the immediate action was dismissed, though an action in the Court of Federal Claims would still lie. Then this past August, IV-VI Incorporated filed IPRs against the remaining two once-asserted patents, 9,963,800 and 9,926,645, up against the one-year time bar of the now-dismissed suit. Those IPRs were instituted on all challenged claims this week.

PTAB Cases

Case Number Action Owner Petitioner Patent IPR2020-00692 Filed Innovative Global Systems, LLC Keep Truckin, Inc. 8032277 IPR2020-00701 Filed Uniloc 2017 LLC [Fortress IP] Samsung Electronics America, Inc. 6836654 Apple Inc. Motorola Mobility LLC IPR2020-00706 Filed Acantha LLC NuVasive, Inc. RE43008 IPR2020-00653 Filed Neodron Ltd. [Magentar Capital] HP Inc. 8432173 Lenovo (United States) Inc. Motorola Mobility LLC Dell Inc. Dell Products LP IPR2020-00684 Filed Acantha LLC NuVasive, Inc. RE43008 IPR2020-00694 Filed Innovative Global Systems, LLC Keep Truckin, Inc. 10157384 IPR2020-00691 Filed Cameron International Corporation Nitro Fluids, LLC 10094195 IPR2020-00708 Filed Tessera Advanced Technologies, Inc. [Xperi Corp.] NVIDIA Corporation 6317333 IPR2020-00695 Filed The Regents of the University of California Satco Products, Inc. 9240529 IPR2020-00702 Filed Ideahub Inc. Unified Patents, LLC 9641849 IPR2020-00704 Filed Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd. Satco Products, Inc. 8860331 IPR2020-00690 Filed Enco Systems, Inc. DaVincia, LLC 7047191 IPR2020-00688 Filed Neodron Ltd. Lenovo (United States) Inc. 7821502 Dell Technologies Inc. IPR2020-00697 Filed Bell Northern Research, LLC Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. 7039435 IPR2020-00698 Filed Bell Northern Research, LLC Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. 7039435 IPR2020-00709 Filed Smartsky Networks, LLC Gogo Business Avaiation LLC 9312947 IPR2020-00647 Filed Divx, LLC [Fortress] Hulu, LLC 9270720 Netflix, Inc. IPR2020-00471 Filed Firenet Techs., LLC [IP Investments Grp.] Unified Patents, LLC 8892600 IPR2020-00648 Filed Divx, LLC [Fortress] Netflix, Inc. 9998515 Hulu, LLC IPR2020-00699 Filed 3M Innovative Properties Company YKK Corporation 10165833 IPR2020-00689 Filed Softbelly’s, Inc TY Inc. 6195831 IPR2019-01534 Instituted Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc. II-VI Incorporated 9926645 IPR2019-01535 Instituted Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc. II-VI Incorporated 9963800

District Court

Case Number Action Plaintiff Defendant Patent 3:20-cv-02542 Filed JAMES J MACOR

GOLDFINCH DESIGN STUDIO, LLC HID Global Corp.

COLLECTOR`S UNIVERSE, INC. dba PROFESSIONAL COINN GRADING SERVICES 8376133 1:20-cv-00347 Filed Gilead Sciences

Astellas Pharma Gland Pharma, Ltd. 8106183

RE47301

8524883 2:20-cv-02608 Filed Celgene Mylan 10555939 2:20-cv-02614 Filed Celgene Teva Pharmaceutical 10555939 2:20-cv-02299 Filed JBF Interlude 2009 Ltd – Israel Quibi Holdings, LLC 10460765 3:20-cv-01758 Filed Internet Archive Wordlogic Corp.

602531 British Columbia, Ltd. 8552984

7681124

7716579

7293231 1:20-cv-00349 Filed Quark Distribution, Inc. Advanced Converting Works, Inc.

Advanced Converting Works LLC

Advanced Converting Works Holdings, LLC

ePac, Holdings, LLC 10011403

10011404 6:20-cv-00180 Filed American Inventor Tech, LLC [Oso IP, LLC] Samsung Group 10397639

10547895

10473282 3:20-cv-02738 Filed BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS NORTH AMERICA, LLC

KAKEN PHARMACEUTICAL CO, LTD

BAUSCH HEALTH IRELAND, LTD. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS IRELAND, LTD.

BAUSCH HEALTH AMERICAS, INC. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL Aurobindo Pharma, Ltd. 10512640

10342875

10478601 3:20-cv-00628 Filed Eventi LLC [Wagoo LLC] The Network Bar Beverage Company LLC

The Network Bar Hospitality LLC

TNB Growth Corporation

The Network Bar LLC

TNWB LLC 9264874

8880101 1:20-cv-00358 Filed ViaTech Technologies, Inc. Adobe, Inc. 6920567

6920567 1:20-cv-00361 Filed Speyside Medical, LLC Medtronic, Inc.

Medtronic 8377118

9445897

9510941

9603708

10449040 3:20-cv-02786 Filed ORGANON USA INC

Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V. Lupin Limited 2:20-cv-01356 Filed Noco Co. Nekteck, Inc. 2:20-cv-02250 Filed Quibi Holdings, LLC Interlude US, Inc. dba Eko 10460765 2:20-cv-02609 Filed SUNDESA, LLC DBA BLENDERBOTTLE CO. TEJARAH INTERNATIONAL INC. DBA KITCHSMART 6379032

D510235 2:20-cv-02612 Filed Celgene Teva Pharmaceutical 3:20-cv-02576 Filed ORGANON USA INC

Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V. Aurobindo Pharma, Ltd. RE44733 8:20-cv-00490 Filed Sharp Corporation Xianyang Caihong Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.

Vizio, Inc.

Trend Smart America

Trend Smart CE Mexico S.R.L. DE D.V.

TPV International (USA), Inc.

et al. 6937300

6977704

7450206

8044907

8446556

8471994

8531634

8558959

8797490

8804079

9081239

9201275 1:20-cv-01729 Filed Jedi Technologies, Inc. Cupid Media Pty, Ltd. 7401098

10164918 1:20-cv-00348 Filed Labrador Diagnostics LLC [Fortress IP] bioMerieux S.A.

BioFire Diagnostics, LLC 8283155

10533994 6:20-cv-00314 Filed C & M Oilfield Rentals, LLC dba C-Mor Energy Services Location Illuminator Technologies L L C 10473282 3:20-cv-00611 Filed Neal Technologies, Inc. dba Bullet Proof Diesel Robert Bresnahan

Larson Electronics, LLC 10347975 1:20-cv-00274 Filed ImmunoGen, Inc. Andrei Iancu 3:20-cv-02735 Filed BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS NORTH AMERICA, LLC

KAKEN PHARMACEUTICAL CO, LTD

BAUSCH HEALTH IRELAND, LTD. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS IRELAND, LTD.

BAUSCH HEALTH AMERICAS, INC. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL ALEOR DERMACEUTICALS LTD. 10512640

10342875

10478601 3:20-cv-02747 Filed BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS NORTH AMERICA, LLC

KAKEN PHARMACEUTICAL CO, LTD

BAUSCH HEALTH IRELAND, LTD. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS IRELAND, LTD.

BAUSCH HEALTH AMERICAS, INC. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL Taro Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Taro Pharmaceuticals

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries 10512640

10342875

10478601 5:20-cv-00532 Filed B & T Industries, LLC

B-5, Inc. Luis Felipe Salazar

Accu-Tac, LLC 8904693

8402684 8:20-cv-00529 Filed Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited

Broadcom Corporation Netflix 6744387

6341375

7266079

8259121

8959245

8270992

8572138

9332283

6982663 1:20-cv-02095 Filed Ameziel, Inc. Wiesner Products, Inc. RE45533 0:20-cv-00700 Filed Corning, Inc. John R. Wilson

Wilson Wolf Manufacturing Corp. 9441192

8697443

9732317 2:20-cv-00371 Filed Be Labs, Inc. Watchguard Technologies, Inc. 7827581

9344183 2:20-cv-02593 Filed Celgene Apotex, Inc. 10555939 2:20-cv-02597 Filed Celgene Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc.

Natco Pharma Ltd. 10555939 2:20-cv-02606 Filed Celgene EUGIA PHARMA SPECIALTIES, LTD.

Aurolife Pharma, LLC

Aurobindo Pharma, Ltd. 10555939 1:20-cv-00351 Filed International Business Machines, Corp. Airbnb, Inc. 7631346

6778193

6966038

7072849 3:20-cv-00596 Filed Ironworks Patents, LLC ZTE 6427078 3:20-cv-02742 Filed BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS NORTH AMERICA, LLC

KAKEN PHARMACEUTICAL CO, LTD

BAUSCH HEALTH IRELAND, LTD. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS IRELAND, LTD.

BAUSCH HEALTH AMERICAS, INC. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL KVK-TECH, Inc. 10512640

10342875

10478601 3:20-cv-02750 Filed ORGANON USA INC

Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V. Gland Pharma, Ltd. RE44733 1:20-cv-00362 Filed Braintree Laboratories, Inc. Alkem Laboratories Limited

Ascend Laboratories LLC 6946149 6:20-cv-00186 Filed WSOU Investments, LLC d/b/a Brazos Licensing and Development Huawei Device Co. Ltd. f/k/a Huawei Device (Dongguan) Co.

Huawei Device (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. f/k/a Huawei Device Co., Ltd.

Huawei Technologies, Co., Ltd. 1:20-cv-00046 Filed KAKEN PHARMACEUTICAL CO, LTD

BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC

BAUSCH HEALTH AMERICAS INC

BAUSCH HEALTH IRELAND LIMITED Mylan 4:20-cv-00194 Filed Akoloutheo, LLC NTT Data, Inc. 7426730 2:20-cv-02601 Filed Celgene Hetero Labs, Ltd.

Hetero USA, Inc.

Hetero Drugs 10555939 3:20-cv-01756 Filed Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Wordlogic Corp.

602531 British Columbia, Ltd. 8552984

7681124

7716579

7293231 1:20-cv-00352 Filed USF Research Foundation Hologic, Inc. 6630937 3:20-cv-02744 Filed BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS NORTH AMERICA, LLC

KAKEN PHARMACEUTICAL CO, LTD

BAUSCH HEALTH IRELAND, LTD. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS IRELAND, LTD.

BAUSCH HEALTH AMERICAS, INC. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL Lupin, Ltd.

Lupin Limited 10512640

10342875

10478601 3:20-cv-02748 Filed BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS NORTH AMERICA, LLC

KAKEN PHARMACEUTICAL CO, LTD

BAUSCH HEALTH IRELAND, LTD. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS IRELAND, LTD.

BAUSCH HEALTH AMERICAS, INC. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL Cadila Healthcare

Cadila Healthcare, LTD. DBA Zydus Cadila 10512640

10342875

10478601 3:20-cv-02787 Filed ORGANON USA INC

Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V. Lifestar Pharma, LLC

MANKIND PHARMA LIMITED 1:20-cv-02285 Filed Max A. Rady Boston Consulting Group, LLP

De Beers Group 0:20-cv-00730 Filed Good Mind Solutions Ltd. SipDark, LLC 2:20-cv-01358 Filed Noco Co. Medcursor, Inc. 6:20-cv-00178 Filed Godo Kaisha IP Bridge I Micron Technology, Inc. 7189616

6747320

6445047

6424041 2:20-cv-02607 Filed Celgene Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories 10555939 1:20-cv-00350 Filed Home Semiconductor Corporation

ProMOS Technologies, Inc. Samsung Group 6146997 3:20-cv-02737 Filed BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS NORTH AMERICA, LLC

KAKEN PHARMACEUTICAL CO, LTD

BAUSCH HEALTH IRELAND, LTD. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS IRELAND, LTD.

BAUSCH HEALTH AMERICAS, INC. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL Alkem Laboratories Limited 10512640

10342875

10478601 3:20-cv-02746 Filed BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS NORTH AMERICA, LLC

KAKEN PHARMACEUTICAL CO, LTD

BAUSCH HEALTH IRELAND, LTD. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS IRELAND, LTD.

BAUSCH HEALTH AMERICAS, INC. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL STRIDES PHARMA GLOBAL PTE Ltd.

Strides Arcolab 10512640

10342875

10478601 3:20-cv-02749 Filed BAUSCH HEALTH US, LLC fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS NORTH AMERICA, LLC

KAKEN PHARMACEUTICAL CO, LTD

BAUSCH HEALTH IRELAND, LTD. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS IRELAND, LTD.

BAUSCH HEALTH AMERICAS, INC. fka VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL Mylan 10512640

10342875

10478601 3:20-cv-02751 Filed ORGANON USA INC

Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V. Teva Pharmaceutical RE44733 1:20-cv-02231 Filed Targus International LLC John Doe

Tucano USA, Inc. 8746449

8783458

9170611

10139861 1:20-cv-01351 Filed Audiometric Analytics Technologies, LLC [Leigh Rothschild] Beyer Dynamic, Inc. 4:20-cv-00936 Filed Inventergy LBS, LLC Monarch Tracking LLC 6:20-cv-00187 Filed WSOU Investments, LLC d/b/a Brazos Licensing and Development Huawei Device Co. Ltd. f/k/a Huawei Device (Dongguan) Co.

Huawei Device (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. f/k/a Huawei Device Co., Ltd.

Huawei Technologies, Co., Ltd. 6:20-cv-00188 Filed WSOU Investments, LLC d/b/a Brazos Licensing and Development Huawei Device Co. Ltd. f/k/a Huawei Device (Dongguan) Co.

Huawei Device (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. f/k/a Huawei Device Co., Ltd.

Huawei Technologies, Co., Ltd.

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