Category: Patents
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Discretionary denials of PTAB inter partes reviews come back with a vengeance: Fintiv review inserted before potential merits proceedings
Within four weeks of her decision to rescind former USPTO Director Kathi Vidal’s memo narrowing the application of Fintiv, Acting Director Coke Morgan Stewart has taken another bold step favoring patentees.
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EPO Patent Index 2024: Unitary Patent requests “exceeded expectations” despite stagnant European applications
The European Patent Office’s Patent Index 2024 found that there was no growth in European applications (-0.1%) compared with 2023, although unitary protection was requested for 25.6% of all patents granted by the EPO in 2024 – a 53% increase compared to 2023.
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ITC finds BOE Technology infringed Samsung Display patents but denies U.S. import ban, parallel trade secrets spat faces initial May deadline
The ITC ruled that while BOE Technology did infringe three of Samsung Display’s patents, the complainant did not meet the “domestic industry” standard and thus no U.S. import ban could be granted. In a separate trade secrets complaint between the two OLED screen makers, the Administrative Law Judge is due to issue an initial decision…
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ITC staff reiterates its view that Nokia, unlike Amazon, complied with FRAND and recommends U.S. import ban regardless of UK proceedings
The ITC Staff participates in some investigations as a neutral party defending the public interest, and its views are given significant weight by the ultimate decision makers.
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Unified Patent Court injunction in 10x Genomics v. NanoString could be reinstated as EPO Opposition Division upholds patent in ‘slightly amended form’
Context: The Unified Patent Court (UPC) opened its doors on June 1, 2023, and only a few months later, in September 2023, 10x Genomics won a preliminary injunction against rival NanoString in the Munich Local Division (LD). NanoString nearly went out of business as a result of that loss, but apparently found an acquirer. The…
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Munich appeals court lays out security-centric FRAND framework in VoiceAge EVS v. HMD as previously indicated; ignores input from EC, referral to ECJ still possible
VoiceAge EVS v. HMD could become the new Huawei v. ZTE, but the regional appeas court in Munich wants to leave it to the Federal Court of Justice to make the preliminary reference.
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Huawei to join Via Licensing Alliance HEVC/VVC patent pool as VVC licensor and licensee
“Via LA is thrilled to have Huawei jumping into the pool with it”, as VVC adoption is set to take off, President Heath Hoglund tells ip fray on the sidelines of the company’s first-ever Business Summit in Shanghai.
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Gallium nitride patent wars: China’s Innoscience claims “ultimate victory” in ITC litigation against EPC
The United States Patent & Trademark Office has invalidated the only remaining patent in a United States International Trade Commission dispute initiated by Efficient Power Conversion over gallium nitride patents, handing Innoscience a significant win.
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Indian court hearing reveals HMD offers only 1.5% of what Dolby is seeking: $15K instead of $1M deposit for standard-essential patent royalties
At a Delhi High Court hearing today, the enormous ask-bid spread between Dolby and HMD became publicly known.
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Samsung countersuing ZTE in UPC: two filings from end of February have become discoverable
Context: Before ZTE brought any standard-essential patent (SEP) infringement action against Samsung, the latter fired the first shot by bringing a FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory licensing) action in the UK, followed by a SEP-related antitrust case in Frankfurt, Germany as well as a U.S. antitrust and contract lawsuit (March 3, 2025 ip fray article)….