In Fiscal Year 2015, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) instituted inter partes reviews (“IPR”) on approximately 68% of petitions filed. Overcoming these odds, the PTAB recently instituted 17 out of 17 IPRs filed by Sheppard Mullin on behalf of TCL Communication Technology Holdings, LTD. Not only was this a 100% institution rate, but also the institutions resulted in the Eastern District of Texas staying a patent infringement case less than three weeks before trial. In January of 2015, Ericsson, Inc. alleged that TCL infringed five patents related to cellular communications. See Eastern District of Texas Case No. 2:15-cv-00011. These patents are directed to different aspects of cellular communications technology. Ericsson has asserted these patents against multiple providers of cellular handsets, including TCL, Apple and others in the Eastern District of Texas and/or before the International Trade Commission. The District…
↧