Molex Incorporatedv.Bel Fuse Inc.Download PDFPatent Trial and Appeal BoardSep 24, 201410851618 (P.T.A.B. Sep. 24, 2014) Copy Citation Trials@uspto.gov Paper: 11 Tel: 571-272-7822 Entered: September 24, 2014 UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE _______________ BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD _______________ MOLEX, INC., Petitioner, v. BEL FUSE INC., Patent Owner. _______________ IPR2014-00969 Patent 7,123,117 B2 _______________ Before WILLIAM V. SAINDON, DONNA M. PRAISS, and MATTHEW R. CLEMENTS, Administrative Patent Judges. PRAISS, Administrative Patent Judge. JUDGMENT Termination of the Proceeding 37 C.F.R. § 42.72 The parties have requested that this trial proceeding be terminated pursuant to a settlement. On September 18, 2014, the Board authorized the parties to file a joint request to terminate and to file the settlement agreement as business confidential under 37 C.F.R. 42.74(c). Paper 7. The parties filed the joint motion to terminate pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 317 on September 22, 2014. Paper 9. IPR2014-00969 Patent 7,123,117 B2 2 Accompanying the motion, the parties filed a true copy of a settlement agreement (Ex. 1999) referenced as “Exhibit 1” in the joint motion to terminate (Paper 9). The settlement agreement was filed with a request to treat the settlement agreement as business confidential and to be kept separate from the patent file pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 317(b) and 37 C.F.R. § 42.74. Paper 9, 2. The petition requesting inter partes review of U.S. Patent 7,123,117 B2 was filed on June 17, 2014. Paper 1. The preliminary response of the patent owner was due on September 22, 2014. This matter, therefore, is in its preliminary stages. Furthermore, a Stipulated Partial Dismissal of the claims involving U.S. Patent 7,123,117 B2 was filed in the related district court litigation, Bel Fuse Inc. et al. v. Molex Inc., et al., Case No. 1:13-cv-02566-JBS-JS (D. N.J.). Paper 9, 1-2 (referred to as “Exhibit 2”); Ex. 1999. 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. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the parties’ request that the settlement agreement be treated as business confidential information, to be kept separate from the patent file, is granted; FURTHER ORDERED that the joint motion to terminate the proceeding is granted and this proceeding is hereby terminated. IPR2014-00969 Patent 7,123,117 B2 3 For Petitioner: David M. Airan Wesley O. Mueller LEYDIG, VOIT & MAYER, LTD. dairan@leydig.com wmueller@leydig.com For Patent Owner: Martin G. Raskin David B. Sunshine Andrew P. Nemiroff COZEN O’CONNOR mraskin@cozen.com dsunshine@cozen.com anemiroff@cozen.com Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation