IPR2020-00255 (P.T.A.B. Dec. 3, 2020)

SEVEN Networks, LLC

Patent Trials and Appeals BoardDec 3, 2020

IPR2020-00255 (P.T.A.B. Dec. 3, 2020)

Trials@uspto.gov Paper 29 571-272-7822 Date: December 3, 2020 UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE ____________ BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD ____________ APPLE INC., Petitioner, v. SEVEN NETWORKS, LLC, Patent Owner. ____________ IPR2020-00156 (Patent 10,110,534); IPR2020-00157 (Patent 10,110,534); IPR2020-00180 (Patent 9,648,557); IPR2020-00188 (Patent 9,608,968); IPR2020-00235 (Patent 10,091,734); IPR2020-00236 (Patent 9,369,539); IPR2020-00255 (Patent 9,516,127); IPR2020-00266 (Patent 10,135,771); IPR2020-00279 (Patent 9,712,476); IPR2020-00280 (Patent 10,027,619); IPR2020-00285 (Patent 10,039,029); IPR2020-00490 (Patent 9,473,914); IPR2020-00491 (Patent 9,712,986); IPR2020-00506 (Patent 9,769,176); IPR2020-00584 (Patent 9,603,056); IPR2020-00707 (Patent 9,712,476)1 ____________ Before THU A. DANG, KARL D. EASTHOM, and JONI Y. CHANG, Administrative Patent Judges. CHANG, Administrative Patent Judge. TERMINATION Due to Settlement After Institution of Trial 35 U.S.C. § 317; 37 C.F.R. § 42.74 1 This Order applies to each proceeding in the caption. The parties, however, are not authorized to use this style of filing in subsequent papers, without prior authorization. IPR2020-00156 (Patent 10,110,534); IPR2020-00157 (Patent 10,110,534); IPR2020-00180 (Patent 9,648,557); IPR2020-00188 (Patent 9,608,968); IPR2020-00235 (Patent 10,091,734); IPR2020-00236 (Patent 9,369,539); IPR2020-00255 (Patent 9,516,127); IPR2020-00266 (Patent 10,135,771); IPR2020-00279 (Patent 9,712,476); IPR2020-00280 (Patent 10,027,619); IPR2020-00285 (Patent 10,039,029); IPR2020-00490 (Patent 9,473,914); IPR2020-00491 (Patent 9,712,986); IPR2020-00506 (Patent 9,769,176); IPR2020-00584 (Patent 9,603,056); IPR2020-00707 (Patent 9,712,476) 2 In each above-identified proceeding, Petitioner and Patent Owner jointly move to terminate inter parte review in light of their settlement that resolves their dispute regarding the patents at issue. Paper 27 (“Mot.”).2 The parties also filed a true copy of their written settlement agreement in connection with the termination as required by 35 U.S.C. § 317(b) and 37 C.F.R. § 42.74(b), in each above-identified proceeding. Ex. 2100. Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.74(c), the parties additionally filed a joint request to treat the Settlement Agreement as business confidential information kept separate from the file of the involved patent, in each above-identified proceeding. Paper 28. Generally, the Board expects that a proceeding will terminate after the filing of a settlement agreement. See Consolidated Trial Practice Guide3 at 86; see also 84 Fed. Reg. 64,280 (Nov. 21, 2019). Here, the parties indicate that their Settlement Agreement completely resolves the controversy between the parties relating to the involved patents. Mot. 3. They also certify, in each above-identified proceeding, that “there are no collateral 2 For purposes of expediency, we refer to the papers and exhibits filed in IPR2020-00156. Similar papers and exhibits were filed in each of the other above-identified cases. 3 Available at https://www.uspto.gov/TrialPracticeGuideConsolidated. IPR2020-00156 (Patent 10,110,534); IPR2020-00157 (Patent 10,110,534); IPR2020-00180 (Patent 9,648,557); IPR2020-00188 (Patent 9,608,968); IPR2020-00235 (Patent 10,091,734); IPR2020-00236 (Patent 9,369,539); IPR2020-00255 (Patent 9,516,127); IPR2020-00266 (Patent 10,135,771); IPR2020-00279 (Patent 9,712,476); IPR2020-00280 (Patent 10,027,619); IPR2020-00285 (Patent 10,039,029); IPR2020-00490 (Patent 9,473,914); IPR2020-00491 (Patent 9,712,986); IPR2020-00506 (Patent 9,769,176); IPR2020-00584 (Patent 9,603,056); IPR2020-00707 (Patent 9,712,476) 3 agreements or understandings made in connection with, or in contemplation of, the termination of this inter partes review.” Id. at 4. Although the above-identified inter partes reviews have been instituted, these proceedings are still in the briefing stage. We have not yet held an oral hearing and have not entered a final written decision in any of these proceedings. Upon review of the procedural posture of these proceedings and the facts before us, we determine that the parties’ requests have merit and that it is appropriate to terminate these proceedings and enter judgment without rendering a final written decision in each above-identified proceeding. See 35 U.S.C. § 317(a); 37 C.F.R. §§ 42.2, 42.72. In consideration of the foregoing, it is hereby ORDERED that the Joint Motions to Terminate filed in these proceedings are granted; and FURTHER ORDERED that the Joint Requests to File Settlement Agreement as Business Confidential Information and to keep such settlement agreement separate from the patent files, and to make it available only to Federal Government agencies on written request, or to any person on a showing of good cause, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 317(b) and 37 C.F.R. § 42.74(c), are granted. IPR2020-00156 (Patent 10,110,534); IPR2020-00157 (Patent 10,110,534); IPR2020-00180 (Patent 9,648,557); IPR2020-00188 (Patent 9,608,968); IPR2020-00235 (Patent 10,091,734); IPR2020-00236 (Patent 9,369,539); IPR2020-00255 (Patent 9,516,127); IPR2020-00266 (Patent 10,135,771); IPR2020-00279 (Patent 9,712,476); IPR2020-00280 (Patent 10,027,619); IPR2020-00285 (Patent 10,039,029); IPR2020-00490 (Patent 9,473,914); IPR2020-00491 (Patent 9,712,986); IPR2020-00506 (Patent 9,769,176); IPR2020-00584 (Patent 9,603,056); IPR2020-00707 (Patent 9,712,476) 4 PETITIONER: W. Karl Renner Roberto J. Devoto Nicholas Stephens Stuart Nelson Patrick Bisenius Jeremy Monaldo Craig Deutsch Kim Leung David Holt Hyun Jin In Dan Smith FISH & RICHARDSON P.C. axf-ptab@fr.com devoto@fr.com nstephens@fr.com snelson@fr.com bisenius@fr.com jjm@fr.com deutsch@fr.com leung@fr.com holt2@fr.com in@fr.com dsmith@fr.com PATENT OWNER: Kenneth Weatherwax Bridget Smith Flavio Rose IPR2020-00156 (Patent 10,110,534); IPR2020-00157 (Patent 10,110,534); IPR2020-00180 (Patent 9,648,557); IPR2020-00188 (Patent 9,608,968); IPR2020-00235 (Patent 10,091,734); IPR2020-00236 (Patent 9,369,539); IPR2020-00255 (Patent 9,516,127); IPR2020-00266 (Patent 10,135,771); IPR2020-00279 (Patent 9,712,476); IPR2020-00280 (Patent 10,027,619); IPR2020-00285 (Patent 10,039,029); IPR2020-00490 (Patent 9,473,914); IPR2020-00491 (Patent 9,712,986); IPR2020-00506 (Patent 9,769,176); IPR2020-00584 (Patent 9,603,056); IPR2020-00707 (Patent 9,712,476) 5 Edward Hsieh Parham Hendifar Patrick Maloney Jason C. Linger LOWENSTEIN & WEATHERWAX LLP weatherwax@lowensteinweatherwax.com smith@lowensteinweatherwax.com rose@lowensteinweatherwax.com hsieh@lowensteinweatherwax.com hendifar@lowensteinweatherwax.com maloney@lowensteinweatherwax.com linger@lowensteinweatherwax.com