Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
and its known 83 related entities (exclude related entities) |
Litigation Campaign Assessments
Document / Campaign
Adaptive Headlamp – Self-Adjusting Headlights (7,241,034)
09/11/2015 Request an Update
North Star – Semiconductors, Memory, and Media Devices (5,781,480)
Network Managing Solutions – Network Management Solutions (6,351,213)
WiLAN (IPA Technologies) – Voice Control Systems (6,523,061)
WiLAN – Video Display on Digital Televisions (5,847,774)
Reversible Connections – USB Ports (7,458,825)
Smart Wearable Technologies – Wearables (6,997,882)
Wireless Protocol Innovations (5,282,222)
Wi-LAN Inc. (5,828,402)
01 Communique Laboratory Incorporated (6,928,479)
Treehouse Avatar Technologies Incorporated (8,180,858)
Wi-LAN USA, Inc. (6,260,168)
Game Controller Technology LLC (8,094,885)
Device Security LLC (6,813,487)
Copy Protection LLC (7,079,649)
Open Network Solutions Inc. (6,684,269)
PLL Technologies, Inc. (6,356,122)
Collabo Innovations, Inc. (5,952,714)
Back Bay Medical Incorporated (6,989,024)
Innovative Memory Systems, Inc. (6,169,503)
Smart Irrigation Solutions Incorporated (6,892,113)
Orthopedic Innovations Inc. (6,575,980)
Improved Search LLC (6,604,101)
Mobile Charging Solutions Incorporated (7,483,272)
Intuitive Building Controls Incorporated (5,945,993)
Variable Lighting LLC (6,285,140)
Automation Middleware Solutions, Inc. (5,691,897)
Advanced Microscopy, Inc. (6,313,452)
Touchscreen Technology LLC (6,597,345)
Seq Vend Technologies, Inc. (6,401,969)
Device Enhancement LLC (7,747,683)
Surgical Irrigation Technologies Inc. (6,162,194)
North Star Innovations Inc. (9,001,899)
Polaris Innovations Limited (6,157,589)
Smart Meter Technologies, Inc. (7,058,524)
Collision Avoidance Technologies Inc. (6,268,803)
Anton Innovations Inc. (5,854,985)
Commercial Copy Innovations Inc. (6,197,466)
Mobile Data Off-Loading Inc. (9,532,267)
Aquila Innovations Incorporated (6,239,614)
SecureWave Storage Solutions Inc. (7,036,020)
252Inactive
194Patents in
134Petitions
About Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
Litigations for Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
50 Total Litigation Campaigns
50 All Cases
48 as Plaintiff
Patent Information for Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
Petitions for Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
Motorola Hit a Second Time in WiLAN's Wireless Networking Campaign
Quarterhill Inc. (as Wi-LAN Inc.; Wi-LAN USA, Inc.; and Wi-LAN Labs, Inc., collectively WiLAN) has filed a second case (1:19-cv-00941) against Motorola Mobility LLC (with Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc.), asserting the same four networking patents at issue in the NPE's 2017 case (3:17-cv-00365) against Motorola and its parent company, Lenovo. WiLAN's new complaint targets some of the same products accused in that first case—which was dismissed without prejudice early last year—including certain models of Motorola's Moto and DROID smartphones.
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Quarterhill's Earnings Get Even "Lumpier" After Judge Trims Damages Award Against Apple
Quarterhill Inc. closed 2018 with multiple new licenses, including with OmniVision (for patents acquired from Panasonic) and Powerchip (covering patents acquired from Infineon). Meanwhile, various Quarterhill subsidiaries continue litigating patents received from Infineon, OKI, or Panasonic, with recently released USPTO records suggesting that more litigation is coming. One thing is certain, however: Quarterhill's earnings, which its executives have referred to as "lumpy", just got lumpier. On Thursday, a judge slashed the company's Q3 trial win against Apple from $145.1M to just $10M.
November PTAB Activity Included IPRs Against Fortress as Standing Dispute over Uniloc Deal Escalates, with Apple Rejecting "Oxymoronic" Counterattack
In November 2018, Fortress Investment Group, LLC subsidiary Uniloc 2017 LLC was hit by a series of inter partes review (IPR) petitions filed by Apple as the two parties continue to brief a contentious dispute over standing in related district court litigation. November also saw the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) institute trial in IPRs involving Japanese patent monetization firm IP Bridge, Inc. and issue final decisions in IPRs against Quarterhill Inc. and Alacritech, Inc., the latter an operating company-turned-NPE formed by SCSI inventor Larry Boucher.
PTAB Sees Further Validity Challenges in Campaign Waged by Native American Tribe
In October 2018, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) continued to see petitions for inter partes review (IPR) filed against Native American tribes following the Federal Circuit's July ruling that the tribes' sovereign immunity does not apply in the context of IPR, including a petition brought against the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe over patents at issue in the campaign waged by SRC Labs, LLC. That petition was filed shortly before the Federal Circuit declined to revisit its sovereign immunity opinion in late October. Also in October, the PTAB instituted trial in four IPRs against a subsidiary of Quarterhill Inc., which just reported a significant drop in quarterly patent licensing revenue over the previous year. Meanwhile, October saw a number of notable final decisions, including one issued in an IPR against a subsidiary of General Patent Corporation.
Following a "Blockbuster" Third Quarter Last Year, Quarterhill's Patent Licensing Revenue Plummets in Q3 2018
Quarterhill Inc. released its third quarter earnings on November 8, reporting $19.6M in revenue—with just $4.4M contributed by Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN), the company's patent licensing business. In a call with investors, CFO Sean McEwan acknowledged the "quarterly variability" in WiLAN's numbers, pointing to its "blockbuster" third quarter last year, during which it brought in $72.6M in revenue, and also touting WiLAN's $145.1M trial win against Apple in August.
September PTAB Activity Includes Validity Challenges in Wireless and Mobile Device Campaigns
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) saw activity in AIA reviews against a variety of familiar plaintiffs in September, including validity challenges brought in campaigns targeting wireless communications technology and mobile devices. Among the NPEs hit with petitions for inter partes review (IPR) in September were Intellectual Ventures LLC, which continues to pursue its existing litigation as it divests other parts of its portfolio; and entities controlled by Fortress Investment Group LLC and Uniloc Corporation Pty. Limited, both of which have kept up a barrage of new litigation asserting former Pendrell Corporation patents. Also in September, the PTAB instituted trial in IPRs against Quarterhill Inc. and an NPE related to PanOptis Equity Holdings LLC, and issued final decisions against private plaintiffs including General Patent Corporation.
August PTAB Activity Included IPRs Against Fortress NPEs, Among Other Prolific Filers
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) saw activity in August 2018 involving a variety of frequent litigants. This included petitions for inter partes review (IPR) filed against two NPEs controlled by Fortress Investment Group LLC, INVT SPE LLC and Uniloc 2017 LLC, the latter of which has in recent months cofiled a barrage of lawsuits with subsidiaries of Australian NPE Uniloc Corporation Pty. Limited (Uniloc). The PTAB also instituted trial in August for IPRs against Uniloc 2017 and some of its campaign coplaintiffs, and in an IPR against an NPE controlled by patent attorney Brian Yates, whose US litigation has waned as he pursues a new patent licensing initiative through his company iPEL, Inc. Finally, the PTAB issued final decisions in August for IPRs against Uniloc, Empire IP LLC, and Quarterhill Inc.
Quarterhill's Q2 Highlights Include Multiple Patent Acquisitions Under Its "Partner Model"
Publicly traded NPE Quarterhill Inc. released its Q2 earnings on August 9, reporting revenue of $20.4M, with over $73M cash on hand as of June 30, 2018. While licensing revenue fell to $3.97M (from $12M during the same period last year), the company inked at least one license with an operating company during the quarter, also picking up patents from MagnaChip and Panasonic. While Quarterhill did not file any new litigation in the US during Q2, its CEO told investors in an earnings call that his company's "level of litigation activity remains constant", with new and ongoing suits against Kingston, LG Electronics, Sharp, Sony, VIZIO, and others, "just to name a few".
California Jury Hands Down $145.1M Against Apple in WiLAN's Sprawling Wireless Networking Campaign
A jury in the Southern District of California has awarded Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN) $145.1M in damages, finding that Apple has infringed two wireless communications patents through provision of certain models of the iPhone 6, iPhone 7, and iPhone SE. The asserted patents are among more than 50 that have been litigated in WiLAN's wireless networking campaign, which has seen multiple trials and a number of settlements since its inception in 2007.
With Original Case Dismissed Due to Botched Transfer of Rights, WiLAN Refiles Against LGE
Quarterhill Inc. (then named Wi-LAN Inc.) underwent a corporate restructuring last June, after which it apparently failed to properly transfer rights to a group of networking patents it had asserted against LG Electronics (LGE) earlier in the year. Now, with its original case against LGE having been dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, Quarterhill (as Wi-LAN Inc.; Wi-LAN USA, Inc.; and Wi-LAN Labs, Inc.; collectively WiLAN) has refiled against LGE, asserting the same four networking patents at issue in the original case (3:18-cv-01577).
Recent Flurry of Litigation, Licenses, and Acquisitions by Quarterhill Involve Patents Acquired from OpCos
Quarterhill Inc. opened July with a trio of new suits against AMD, one each filed by Aquila Innovations, Inc. (asserting former OKI patents); Collabo Innovations, Inc. (over a former Panasonic patent); and Polaris Innovations Limited (involving former Infineon patents). The new litigation closely follows Quarterhill's announcement of two licensing deals—one with Brother, the other with Etron, apparently involving patents from Kodak and Infineon, respectively—and acquisitions of patents from MagnaChip and Panasonic.
PTAB Sees Activity in Notable Campaigns During March 2018, Grants Motion to Amend for Realtime Data
In March 2018, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) saw petitions for inter partes review (IPR) filed in a variety of notable campaigns, including those waged by publicly traded Quarterhill Inc.; privately held XR Communications, LLC; and inventor Leigh M. Rothschild. The Board also instituted trial throughout March in campaigns brought by Oyster Optics, LLC and Uniloc Corporation Pty. Limited. In addition, the PTAB granted in March a motion to amend in two IPRs against prolific plaintiff Realtime Data, LLC, also issuing final decisions involving patents asserted by Uniloc; Papst Licensing GmbH & Company Kg; Evolved Wireless LLC; Game and Technology Co., Ltd; and TQ Delta LLC.
February Saw PTAB Activity in Notable Campaigns Involving Public and Private Plaintiffs
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) saw activity in a variety of notable campaigns throughout February 2018, with petitions for inter partes review (IPR) filed against publicly traded Quarterhill Inc. as well as Fundamental Innovation Systems International LLC, Intellectual Ventures LLC, Realtime Data LLC, and Uniloc Corporation Pty. Limited. The Board also instituted trial in February for IPRs against General Patent Corporation, Oyster Optics, LLC, and Uniloc. In addition, the PTAB issued final decisions throughout February in IPRs against a range of different patent owners, including publicly traded NPEs (Acacia Research Corporation; InterDigital, Inc.; and VirnetX Inc.), an individual inventor (Daniel L. Flamm), and privately held plaintiffs (ChanBond, LLC; Makor Issues & Rights Ltd.; Papst Licensing GmbH & Company Kg; and Personalized Media Communications, LLC).
Early 2018 Sees Multiple Deals Between Quarterhill and OpCos
Commercial Copy Innovations Inc., one of the litigating affiliates of Quarterhill Inc., has entered into a settlement and patent license agreement with Ricoh, resolving litigation against the company in the Central District of California. This latest deal follows a settlement in January between Kyocera and Quarterhill's IPA Technologies, Inc. (the speech recognition campaign of which continues to grow); Quarterhill's January patent acquisition from Panasonic; and Quarterhill's "intellectual property framework agreement" with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which was announced at the beginning of this year.
Quarterhill Adds Three Patents to Speech Recognition Campaign Weeks After Google Challenges the Prior Three Before the PTAB
In December and January, Google filed petitions for inter partes review (IPR) of the three speech recognition patents that IPA Technologies Inc. has been litigating since October 2016. Weeks later, the Quarterhill Inc. subsidiary has sued Alphabet (Google) (1:18-cv-00318) in district court. The new complaint asserts those same three patents, as well as three more from the NPE's family of nine, with infringement allegations focusing on Google Assistant, including its interoperation with Google Search (and Google Feed/Now). IPA pleads that Google Assistant is "enabled" for a range of devices, including "phones, speakers, watches, laptops, televisions, automobiles, and other smart displays" either directly provided by Google or made compatible by third parties (e.g., "Philips Hue lights, Wemo electronics control systems, LG smart appliances") by using identified tools Google Actions, Dialogflow, Cloud Natural Language and Firebase.
January 2018 PTAB Activity Spans Several Market Sectors and Includes Challenges Against Frequent Litigants
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) saw petitions for inter partes review (IPR) filed in large campaigns affecting a variety of market sectors in January, including the automotive campaign waged by Intellectual Ventures LLC; frequent plaintiff Realtime Data LLC's long-running data compression and media streaming campaign; the USB device charging campaign brought by Fundamental Innovation Systems International LLC; and the mobile device campaign run by IPA Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of publicly traded Quarterhill Inc. The Board instituted trial in January for petitions against Realtime Data and in the sprawling, 12-year anti-malware campaign still being litigated by publicly traded Finjan Holdings, Inc. The PTAB also issued final decisions in January in IPRs against Realtime Data; ChriMar Systems, Inc.; and IP Bridge, Inc.
PTAB Saw Continued Debate over Tribal Sovereign Immunity in December 2017
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) remained at the center of a heated public debate over the issue of tribal sovereign immunity in December 2017. Motions to dismiss filed by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in IPRs against several Allergan patents—acquired by the tribe and licensed back to their original owner to shield them through sovereign immunity—remain pending as the PTAB considers a wave of amicus briefs filed on both sides of the issue. The Board has since denied the tribe's motion for an oral hearing on discovery related to alleged bias held by the USPTO and its leadership, and that bias's effect on the selection of judges for the tribe's case. Meanwhile, among the petitions for inter partes review (IPR) filed in December was one brought by Apple against MEC Resources, LLC, an entity owned by another Native American tribe, which took over an existing lawsuit asserting the challenged patent against Apple in the fall. Also in December, the Board issued institution decisions in petitions against Iridescent Networks, Inc.; Lone Star Silicon Innovations LLC; and publicly traded Quarterhill Inc.; while an IPR against Packet Intelligence LLC ended in an adverse judgment after petitioner Sandvine prevailed in a November trial.
PTAB Petition Filings Hold Steady in November as Supreme Court Considers IPR Constitutionality
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) saw the number of petitions for AIA review in November hold fairly steady at 111 (compared to October's 128) as the US Supreme Court continued its review of the constitutionality of inter partes review (IPR) in Oil States v. Greene's Energy Services, for which oral arguments were held on November 27. Among the NPEs targeted by petitions brought in November were publicly traded Quarterhill Inc. and Xperi Corporation, prolific litigant Brian Yates, and several privately held NPEs waging networking campaigns, including Alacritech, Inc.; Iridescent Networks, Inc.; Monument Patent Holdings, LLC; MyMail Ltd.; and Oyster Optics LLC. The PTAB also instituted trial in November for other IPRs against Alacritech and Quarterhill and for an IPR against Plectrum LLC. Final decisions issued by the Board in November include one in the automotive campaign waged by Paice LLC and in IPRs against InfoGation Corporation and VoIP-Pal.com, Inc., both of which saw their patents survive review.
Quarterhill Hires Acquisitions Expert as New CEO
Quarterhill Inc. announced on December 4 that it has appointed Douglas Parker as president and CEO, effective January 1. Prior to joining Quarterhill, Parker served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, at Open Text Corp., a publicly traded enterprise information management company based in Waterloo, Canada. Parker is taking the reins from Shaun McEwan, who has served as interim CEO since Quarterhill's April unveiling of plans to restructure its business model, de-emphasizing patent licensing and refocusing on the acquisition of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) businesses; McEwan will return to his position as CFO of Quarterhill effective January 1, according to the company. James Skippen remains as acting CEO of WiLAN, the patent licensing portion of Quarterhill's business, while a search continues for his permanent replacement.
Patents Germaine to Content Delivery and Mobile Devices Seen in Recent USPTO Assignment Records
During the third week of November, the USPTO made public an assignment to Quarterhill Inc., shedding light on a transaction touted in a July press release that appeared to threaten "major players" in the content delivery network market. Also of note in recently posted transactions is a transfer from a Swiss holding company to Red Dragon Innovations, LLC, involving a patent previously asserted in litigation against mobile device makers.
Q3 Sees Quarterhill and Finjan Both Complete Deals with OpCos and Initiate New Litigation
Quarterhill Inc. and Finjan Holdings, Inc. reported their Q3 2017 earnings on November 9. Both completed deals with operating companies during the quarter and reached the end of Q3 with upwards of $30M in cash on hand. Quarterhill and Finjan each also have active litigation campaigns, including new suits filed during Q3, with Finjan bringing three actions to trial in the current quarter.
Quarterhill's Polaris Innovations Hits Etron over Patents Acquired from Infineon
Etron (5:17-cv-06547) is the second defendant to be added to a semiconductor campaign begun last month by Polaris Innovations Limited. The NPE (a subsidiary of Wi-LAN Inc., itself controlled by Quarterhill Inc.), filed its first case last month, suing Integrated Silicon Solution (3:17-cv-05846) for alleged infringement of two former Infineon patents. Those same two patents are at issue in the Etron suit, as well as two additional patents originating with Qimonda (a spinoff of Infineon); Etron is accused of infringement through various computer memory products, including the DDR3 SDRAM.
October PTAB Activity Includes Petitions Against Repeat Players and Cancellation of Claims from Realtime Data Patent
In October 2017, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) saw the filing of petitions for inter partes review (IPR) against a variety of frequent litigants, including publicly traded NPEs Acacia Research Corporation and Xperi Corporation, as well as privately held Monument Patent Holdings, LLC and Uniloc Corporation Pty. Limited. The Board also instituted trial in October for IPRs against multiple Acacia subsidiaries, Uniloc, and Papst Licensing GmbH & Company Kg. In addition, the PTAB issued an IPR final decision cancelling multiple claims from a data compression patent held by prolific plaintiff Realtime Data LLC, including the single claim that Riverbed Technology (one of the petitioners for the IPR) was found to infringe in a $4.3M verdict in May, with other final decisions issued in campaigns waged by TQ Delta LLC and publicly traded Quarterhill Inc. IPRs against IP Bridge, Inc. and Mobile Telecommunications Technologies, LLC also ended in termination in October after the patent owners requested adverse judgments.
Quarterhill's Anton Innovations Adds MSI Computer to Wireless Campaign
Anton Innovations Inc., a subsidiary of Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.), has sued Micro-Star (MSI Computer) (8:17-cv-01880) over the provision of laptops and tablets with wireless transceivers that can connect to Wi-Fi through multiple wireless protocols (e.g., 802.11a, b, g, and/or n) and to cellular broadband networks (e.g., GSM and UMTS). Wireless modules made by Intel and Qualcomm and broadband connection manager software made by Google are implicated, in various combinations, by the NPE's complaint. The new case reopens Anton's campaign after a short hiatus following dismissals in each of June, July, and August of this year; all four wireless communications patents previously at issue in the campaign are asserted against MSI Computer.
ANDSF Server Products at Issue in New Quarterhill Suit
Mobile Data Off-Loading Inc. (MDO) has filed its first litigation to date, suing Amdocs (1:17-cv-07106) over a wireless communications patent that issued last year. MDO, which is a subsidiary of Wi-LAN Technologies Inc. (itself controlled by Quarterhill Inc.), is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Costa Mesa, California; it has sued Amdocs in the District of Illinois, alleging proper venue in part because the defendant—a multinational company with headquarters in Chesterfield, Missouri—maintains an office in Chicago. Amdocs is accused of infringement through the provision of Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) server products.
Another Case in Quarterhill's Speech Recognition Campaign Moves from Delaware to Southern California
IPA Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.), has stipulated to the transfer of another case out of District of Delaware to the Southern District of California in light of the US Supreme Court's TC Heartland case on proper venue in patent cases. In June, IPA agreed to move its March 2017 case against Kyocera to the Southern District, and now in September, it has done the same in its case against ZTE (3:17-cv-01858). This additional transfer comes as the court considers multiple motions challenging the patents asserted, broadly related to speech recognition technology, as patent-ineligibly directed to the abstract idea of "responding to a spoken request" under Alice. IPA opposed the motions by touting parallel development of Apple's digital assistant Siri, identifying the alleged technical aspects of the recited claims, and contending that claim construction is required to decide the pending motions.
August PTAB Activity Includes Fifty-Five Percent Drop in Petitions Against NPEs
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) saw the number of petitions for AIA review filed against NPEs drop by more than half in August 2017, down to 30 petitions from 68 in July. Petitions were brought in August against publicly traded Finjan Holdings, Inc., inventor Leigh M. Rothschild, and a mix of prolific private litigants, including Blackbird Tech LLC, Realtime Data LLC, and Uniloc Corporation Pty. Limited. Meanwhile, the Board instituted trial in August for petitions against a variety of entities, including the California Institute of Technology and publicly traded Quarterhill Inc. as well as IP Bridge, Inc.; Realtime Data; and Uniloc. The PTAB also issued final decisions throughout August in campaigns waged by publicly traded Acacia Research Corporation; Advanced Touchscreen and Gesture Technologies, LLC; Elm 3DS Innovations LLC; and Rosetta-Wireless Corporation.
Judge Bounces Quarterhill Cases out of Virginia After TC Heartland, Ruled an Intervening Change in the Law
Cases filed by Smart Wearable Technologies Inc. (SWTI), a subsidiary of publicly traded Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.), against Fitbit (5:17-cv-05068) and TomTom (1:17-cv-11652) have been opened in the Northern District of California and the District of Massachusetts, respectively. Both were transferred out of the Western District of Virginia where they were originally brought, along with cases against six other defendants, and where the court ruled that venue was improper under the US Supreme Court's TC Heartland decision. In granting the transfers, the court denied SWTI's argument that the defendants waived the right to contest venue by failing to plead improper venue as an affirmative defense, ruling that TC Heartland presented a significant change in the law, allowing defendants "for the first time in three decades" to "successfully argue that venue is improper in a district where it is subject to personal jurisdiction but is not incorporated and has no regular and established place of business".
FRAND Spotlight in Europe Shifts to UK, While NPE Plaintiffs Seeking German Injunctions See Mixed Results
European NPE litigation has begun to see a shift toward the UK for litigation of standard essential patents (SEPs) and fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing disputes in the wake of the UK High Court of Justice's decision in Unwired Planet v. Huawei. Meanwhile, NPEs litigating in Germany have seen mixed success in their pursuit of injunctive relief, against frequent defendants, in recent weeks, with multiple German NPE suits also ending in settlement in campaigns waged by publicly traded American NPEs.
Quarterhill Posts a Profit Following IIoT Acquisitions
Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.) reported its Q2 earnings on August 10, which saw a 16% increase in revenue due to contributions from two Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) businesses that it acquired during the quarter. However, while the company heralds its recent strategic refocus, calling investors' attention to its business diversification efforts, it continues to purchase, and litigate, patents.
Another IIoT Acquisition Aside, It Appears to Be Business as Usual at Quarterhill
Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.) announced on July 18 that it had completed another deal in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) space, acquiring iCOMS Detections S.A., an intelligent transportation systems company based in Belgium. This is Quarterhill's third such deal since unveiling plans in April to de-emphasize the patent licensing portion of its business. Nonetheless, Quarterhill still has multiple ongoing patent litigation campaigns, including one launched on July 20 (through Reversible Connections LLC), which hit Toshiba and four others. Also on July 20, Quarterhill disclosed a purchase of a portfolio of content delivery network patents.
June Sees PTAB Petitions and Decisions in Large and Long-Running Campaigns
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) saw petitions for AIA review filed against a variety of prolific litigants in June 2017, including General Patent Corporation, Intellectual Ventures LLC (IV), Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.), Realtime Data LLC, Uniloc Corporation Pty. Limited, and Xperi Corporation (f/k/a Tessera Holding Corporation). Also in June, the PTAB instituted trial for petitions brought against patents asserted in a variety of sprawling campaigns, including some waged by Acacia Research Corporation, IV, Papst Licensing, Quarterhill, and VirnetX Inc. The Board further issued final decisions throughout June in AIA reviews against patents involved in several notable campaigns, including some waged by Document Security Systems, Inc., Elm 3DS Innovations LLC, Empire IP LLC, and Quarterhill.
RPX Blog: As Expected, TC Heartland Decision Triggers Flurry of Venue Filings
Since the US Supreme Court issued its decision in TC Heartland v. Kraft Foods Group Brands, RPX has seen an upswing in venue-related filings by both plaintiffs and defendants—with indications that some NPEs may be throwing in the towel on Texas, while others are seemingly digging in. Defendants have also begun to adapt their defensive strategies, asserting more comprehensive interpretations of the patent venue statute and proactively maintaining their right to bring venue challenges down the road.
May Sees PTAB Petitions Against NPEs More than Double
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) saw 54 petitions for AIA review brought against NPEs in May, up from 20 such petitions filed in April. May PTAB filings included a resurgence in petitions against publicly traded NPEs, including Acacia Research Corporation; Pendrell Corporation; Quest Patent Research Corporation; VoIP-Pal.com, Inc.; Xperi Corporation (f/k/a Tessera Holding Corporation); and Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN) (which was renamed to Quarterhill Inc. on June 1). A variety of private litigants were also hit by PTAB petitions in May, including Blackbird Tech LLC, Global Equity Management (SA) Pty. Ltd., General Patent Corporation, Realtime Data LLC, and Uniloc Corporation Pty. Limited.
Finjan Reports $24.7M Revenue in Q1 and a New Product Partnership in Q2
While most of the public NPEs that RPX follows are struggling—see Marathon Patent Group, Inc.'s unfortunate Q1 results—Finjan Holdings, Inc. reported record-breaking revenue for the first quarter of 2017. Yet, despite big wins in court last year, multiple ongoing litigation campaigns in the US and Germany, and several large recent settlements, Finjan, like Wi-LAN Inc. and Acacia Research Corporation, continues to expand its business beyond patent assertion.
WiLAN Directly Targets MediaTek Chipsets in Digital Television Campaign
Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN) has filed suit against MediaTek (1:17-cv-00554), asserting a single patent (6,359,654) already at issue in the publicly traded NPE's five-year-old, digital television campaign. The complaint targets MediaTek- and MStar-branded image/video processing chips and chipsets that allegedly implement the "MDDi de-interlacing process" purportedly claimed in the '654 patent. WiLAN contends that MediaTek became aware of that patent at least as early as May 2015 because Sharp, a campaign defendant at that time, requested indemnification from MediaTek for the Sharp accused products that incorporated MediaTek chips.
WiLAN to Acquire a Second IIoT Company
Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN) has announced another acquisition in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) space—its second since recently unveiling plans to restructure its business model. WiLAN's agreement to acquire VIZIYA comes as several other public NPEs, including Acacia Research Corporation and Finjan Holdings, Inc., have made attempts to diversify their business activities and move beyond patent assertion alone.
​Finjan Forms Product Partnership with Security Company Avira Following $4.9M License Agreement
Publicly traded NPE Finjan Holdings, Inc. has announced a product partnership with German security software provider Avira, the same day that the two companies entered into an apparently separate $4.9M patent license agreement. Under the terms of the partnership, formed on April 21 and revealed in an April 26 press release, Finjan subsidiary Finjan Mobile, Inc. will integrate Avira's Virtual Private Network (VPN) platform into its own VitalSecurity mobile browser suite. This deal is the first of its kind for Finjan, which continues to wage a decade-long litigation campaign that has seen multiple trials and settlements, and comes as other publicly traded NPEs have signaled that they intend to diversify their activities and move beyond patent assertion alone.
Large OpCos Among the Assignors in Patent Transfers Seen During the First Half of April
RPX took notice, among the USPTO assignment records made available during the first part of April, of the transfer of patents from operating companies including GlobalFoundries, NXP Semiconductors, Panasonic, and Toshiba. Also noted was an assignment of nearly 950 patents from Intellectual Ventures LLC to Monument Patent Holdings, LLC (one of the Top Ten NPEs in 2016, by defendants added and new campaigns filed). While some of April's transactions involved patents that have already been litigated, most involve assets not yet seen in litigation, suggesting that the launch of several new campaigns is imminent.
March PTAB Petitions Take Aim at Frequent Plaintiffs, Both Publicly Traded and Private
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) continued to see the filing of petitions for inter partes review (IPR) against publicly traded NPEs in March 2017, including Acacia Research Corporation; Finjan Holdings, Inc.; Pendrell Corporation; TiVo Corporation (formerly known as Rovi Corporation); and Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN). A variety of prolific, privately held NPEs were also targeted for IPR throughout March, including Blackbird Tech LLC, General Patent Corporation, IP Edge LLC, Realtime Data LLC, and Papst Licensing GmbH & Company Kg, along with several inventors and inventor-controlled NPEs and an assortment of other plaintiffs.
Two Large Assignments to WiLAN Among the Patent Transfers Seen in the Second Half of March
RPX took note, among the USPTO assignment records made available during the second half of March 2017, of the transfer of hundreds of patents to two Wi-LAN Inc. subsidiaries, one of which has not yet filed suit. Also noted are assignments of patents to Monument Patent Holdings, LLC, to Intellectual Ventures LLC, and to Xperi Corporation, among others.
Huawei, LG Electronics, and Motorola Mobility Added to WiLAN Wearables Campaign
Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN) subsidiary Smart Wearable Technologies Inc. (SWTI) has added another round of companies to the litigation campaign that it began last July. The new defendants are Huawei (3:17-cv-00020), Lenovo (Motorola Mobility) (3:17-cv-00022), and LG Electronics (3:17-cv-00021), each accused of infringing the sole patent-in-suit (6,997,882). The '882 patent generally relates to monitoring a subject based on physiological and six degree-of-freedom ("6-DOF") data, and the accused products are Android Wear-based smartwatches offering fitness and sleep tracking.
WiLAN Kicks Off Ink and Printer Campaign with Recently Acquired, Former Kodak Patents
Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN) subsidiary Commercial Copy Innovations Inc. (CCI) has now asserted four (6,197,466; 6,453,127; 6,773,102; 6,848,777) of the dozen former Eastman Kodak patents that it received in assignments executed in November and December 2016. The patents generally relate to various printing techniques, including methods and materials used for printing on challenging surfaces, termed "non-absorbing substrates" (the '102 and '777 patents); the use of toners treated with metal oxides (the '466 patent); and remote printing (the '127 patent). CCI has accused Ricoh and Mimaki (8:17-cv-00437) of infringement, in a single complaint, through the manufacture and sale of various printer and ink products.
February PTAB Petitions Include Challenges Against Publicly Traded NPEs and Frequent Filers
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board saw the filing of petitions against a host of publicly traded NPEs in February, including Acacia Research Corporation, Pendrell Corporation, Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN), and Xperi Corporation (f/k/a Tessera Holding Corporation), with challenges also filed in campaigns waged by Intellectual Ventures LLC (IV); IP Bridge, Inc.; Uniloc Corporation Pty. Limited; and Monument Patent Holdings, LLC.
WiLAN Hits Ericsson and Four Wireless Carriers over LTE Base Stations
Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN) has added another lawsuit to the wireless networking campaign that it began in November 2007. Roughly ten days ago, the publicly traded NPE filed two lawsuits, one each accusing LG Electronics and Lenovo of infringing four patents (8,787,924; 8,867,351; 9,226,320; 9,497,743) through various mobile devices and laptops offering LTE connectivity. WiLAN has now added a suit asserting five different patents (8,457,061; 8,532,052; 9,332,572; 9,380,607; 9,420,573), not previously seen in litigation but from two families with other patent members asserted against other defendants in the campaign, against Ericsson (2:17-cv-00181), together with four wireless carriers: AT&T (AT&T Mobility), Softbank Group (Sprint, Boost Mobile), T-Mobile, and Verizon (Cellco Partnership). Infringement allegations focus on Ericsson base station equipment that supports LTE connectivity, identifying the Ericsson RBS 6000 series and the Ericsson Radio System series by name.
WiLAN's Speech Recognition Campaign Grows for Fourth Month in a Row
Lenovo (Motorola Mobility) (1:17-cv-00235) and Huawei (1:17-cv-00248) are the latest defendants to be added to the voice recognition campaign of Wi-LAN, Inc. (WiLAN) subsidiary IPA Technologies Inc. Like the complaints filed last month against Acer, ASUS, and LG Electronics, the new ones assert two of the three patents already at issue in the campaign (6,523,061; 6,742,021) against mobile phones and tablet computers equipped with Google Voice Actions, which IPA alleges is a rebranding of the Google Now digital assistant in place since July 2012. All cases in the campaign, which began with a false start in October 2016, are in the earliest stages in Delaware.
WiLAN Files New Suits Against LG Electronics and Lenovo in Wireless Networking Campaign
Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN) has added new lawsuits against LG Electronics (LGE) (3:17-cv-00358) and Lenovo (3:17-cv-00365) to its long-running wireless networking campaign, accusing the two companies of infringing four patents (8,787,924; 8,867,351; 9,226,320; 9,497,743) through various mobile devices and laptops offering LTE connectivity. These newest complaints come roughly five weeks after WiLAN subsidiary Wireless Protocol Innovations, Inc. dismissed its suit against campaign co-defendant ZTE (6:15-cv-00919) in light of an apparent settlement.
WiLAN Profits Jump in Q4 2016 Despite Year-End Revenue Decline
On February 9, Wi-LAN, Inc. (WiLAN) announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year of 2016. The Canadian NPE reported net earnings of $8.6M for Q4, up from $3M during the same quarter last year. Quarterly revenue was $30.2M, compared to $26M during the same period in 2015. However, the company's overall revenue for 2016 was $92.9M, down from $102.9M in the previous year.
WiLAN Sub Accuses More Devices with Google Now/Voice Actions Feature of Infringement
Wi-LAN, Inc. (WiLAN) subsidiary IPA Technologies Inc. has filed new cases in its speech recognition campaign against Acer (1:17-cv-00119), ASUS (1:17-cv-00120), and LG Electronics (LGE) (1:17-cv-00121). The complaints assert two of the three patents already at issue in the campaign (6,523,061; 6,742,021) against the defendants' mobile phones and tablet computers equipped with Google Voice Actions, which IPA alleges is a rebranding of the Google Now digital assistant, in place since July 2012. The Acer and ASUS cases are the second filed in the campaign against each of those two defendants, while the suit against LGE is the first.
Amazon Added to WiLAN Wireless Communications Campaign
Wi-LAN, Inc. (WiLAN) subsidiary Anton Innovations Inc. has filed suit against Amazon (8:17-cv-00216), asserting four wireless communications patents (5,854,985; 6,134,453; 6,934,558; 7,386,322) against the company's Fire OS tablets, including the Fire HD. Anton alleges infringement through the tablets' use of Wi-Fi modules capable of accessing multiple wireless protocols (e.g. 802.11a, b, g, and/or n) and frequencies, with exemplary chipsets made by Broadcom. Also at issue are the frequency- and protocol-agile cellular networking hardware utilized by certain Amazon tablets, such as 3G modules made by AnyData.
Ford Becomes Second Defendant, after Toyota, in WiLAN Campaign
Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN) subsidiary Collision Avoidance Technologies Inc. has filed a second suit asserting a single patent (6,268,803) generally related to a system that uses multiple sensors to detect the distance and location of objects near a vehicle. The new defendant is Ford, which is accused of infringement through the manufacture and sale of various Ford and Lincoln cars, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), minivans, and pickup trucks that offer Ford's "Active Parking Assist" feature. Collision Avoidance filed the first case in this campaign, against Toyota, in late June 2016; little appears to have happened since then other than the August 2016 filing of Toyota's answer, which alleges both that the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction because the right to sue for patent infringement was not conveyed to Collision Avoidance and that the '803 patent expired for intentional non-payment of maintenance fees on August 1, 2013.
WiLAN Sub Adds Sony to Speech Recognition Campaign
Wi-LAN, Inc. (WiLAN) subsidiary IPA Technologies Inc. has added Sony (1:17-cv-00055) to its speech recognition campaign, accusing the company of infringing three patents (6,523,061; 6,742,021; 6,757,718) through various Android-based products offering Google's Now virtual assistant, including smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs, as well as through its Android Wear smartwatches. This latest case follows another filed on January 10 against ZTE (1:17-cv-00025), which is alleged to infringe the '061 and '021 patents through its own Android smartphones and tablets with Google Now.
WiLAN Continues Revival of Speech Recognition Campaign with Suit Against ZTE
Wi-LAN, Inc. (WiLAN) subsidiary IPA Technologies Inc. has added ZTE (1:17-cv-00025) to its speech recognition campaign, following a wave of December filings against Alco Electronics (1:16-cv-01169), Amazon (1:16-cv-01266), DISH Network (1:16-cv-01170), HTC (1:16-cv-01171), and TCL (1:16-cv-01236). ZTE is accused of infringing two patents (6,523,061; 6,742,021) generally related to speech recognition and the "navigation" of "electronic data sources" through the provision of Android smartphones and tablets offering Google's Now virtual assistant.
WiLAN Sub Adds Shaghal to Wireless Communications Campaign
Anton Innovations Inc., a subsidiary of Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN), has added Shaghal (d/b/a Ematic) (8:17-cv-00043) to its sole litigation campaign, accusing the company of infringing four wireless communication patents (5,854,985; 6,134,453; 6,934,558; 7,386,322). At issue in the complaint are various Ematic e-book readers and tablets with Wi-Fi modules that utilize multiple wireless protocols (e.g. 802.11a, b, g, and/or n) and frequencies, including chipsets made by Realtek. This is the NPE's first new litigation since it began the campaign in October with a suit against MiTAC (Getac) (8:16-cv-01850), asserting the same four patents against the company's notebooks and tablets. That lawsuit remains in initial pleadings.
WiLAN Continues December Revival of Speech Recognition Campaign with Amazon and TCL Suits
Wi-LAN, Inc. (WiLAN) subsidiary IPA Technologies Inc. has continued the December reboot of its speech recognition campaign with the filing of new complaints against Amazon (1:16-cv-01266) and TCL (1:16-cv-01236). Amazon is accused of infringing three patents (6,523,061; 6,742,021; 6,757,718) that generally relate to speech recognition and the "navigation" of "electronic data sources" through devices offering its Alexa assistant. TCL, meanwhile, is alleged to infringe the '061 and '021 patents through its Android-based mobile devices that include Google's Now assistant.
WiLAN Reboots Its October Speech Recognition Campaign
In late October, the sole litigation campaign of Wi-LAN, Inc. (WiLAN) subsidiary IPA Technologies Inc. came to an abrupt halt when the NPE voluntarily dismissed, without prejudice, cases that it had filed two weeks earlier against Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Toshiba. Two patents (6,523,061; 6,742,021) from a family of nine generally related to speech recognition and operation of "electronic data sources" had been asserted against the defendants' manufacture and sale of various desktop, laptop, and/or tablet computers that use Microsoft's Windows 10 and include the company's Cortana digital assistant. IPA has now rebooted the campaign with three new suits, one each against Alco Electronics (1:16-cv-01169), DISH Network (1:16-cv-01170), and HTC (1:16-cv-01171).
North Star Asserts New Patent Against Xilinx, Familiar Patent Against Seiko Epson
North Star Innovations Inc., a subsidiary of publicly traded NPE Wi-LAN, Inc. (WiLAN), has filed yet more cases asserting former Motorola patents, received from Freescale in a large October 2015 transaction. After dropping a case that asserted two such patents (5,961,373; 6,013,571) against Xilinx (1:16-cv-00773) in early September, North Star has filed a new suit against the company (1:16-cv-01182), alleging that Xilinx infringes a different patent (7,617,437). The '437 patent generally relates to error correction; Xilinx is accused of infringement through the provision of certain systems-on-a-chip (SOCs) that utilize error correction code (ECC) memory, including the Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC. North Star has also filed a new case against Seiko Epson (1:16-cv-01196), asserting a single patent (6,465,743), generally related to ball-grid array (BGA) chip packages, already at issue in earlier cases filed against ASE, Cypress Semiconductor, IDT, and TI.
WiLAN's North Star Opens Up a Second Front Against Toshiba
Wi-LAN, Inc., through its subsidiary North Star Innovations Inc., has filed a second case against Toshiba (1:16-cv-01113) in 2016, again asserting patents (7,171,526; 7,573,416) received from Freescale in a much larger transfer in October 2015. In February of this year, North Star asserted other former Motorola/Freescale patents against Toshiba as part of a larger string of litigation that has now hit two dozen defendants, including Amazon, Canon, Fujitsu, HP, HTC, Microsoft, Sharp, and UMC, among others. The '526 patent generally relates to memory controllers and is asserted against Toshiba laptops (e.g. Protégé Z30 Ultrabook Laptop). The '416 patent generally relates to signal conversion with low power control and is asserted against Toshiba memory products (e.g. THGBX6T0T8LLFXF 15nm TLC 128 Gbit NAND Flash).
WiLAN's North Star and Smart Wearable Campaigns Steadily Grow
Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN) subs North Star Innovations Inc. and Smart Wearable Technologies Inc. continue to add new defendants to their respective campaigns. On November 14, North Star filed suit against Integrated Device Technology (IDT) (8:16-cv-02055 ), accusing the company of infringing a group of patents acquired from Freescale. The accused products include various semiconductor memory devices. Also on November 14, Smart Wearable Technologies sued Fitbit (3:16-cv-00077) over a former Barron Associates patent. These latest suits follow WiLAN's recent announcement of disappointing Q3 earnings.
Assignments Recorded During the First Half of November 2016 Involve Familiar Faces in NPE Litigation
RPX took note of eleven patent transfers to NPEs recorded during the first half of November 2016. Assignees included entities controlled by Wi-LAN, Inc.; Marathon Patent Holdings, LLC; or IP Valuation Partners LLC; NPEs apparently affiliated with Intellectual Ventures LLC or Equitable IP Corporation; and entities managed by Erik Stamell, Leigh M. Rothschild, or Nicolas J. Labbit. Also this month, BlackBird Tech LLC, which has waged 11 litigation campaigns to date, acquired a patent that was asserted against 70 companies in a large NPE campaign that closed earlier this year.
Acacia's Revenue Soars, and WiLAN's Slumps, in Q3 2016
In the third quarter of last year, Wi-LAN, Inc. joined Acacia Research Corporation to become one of the two most active publicly traded NPEs in patent litigation (among the over 20 publicly traded NPEs that RPX monitors). But while Acacia and WiLAN have continued to share that distinction over the past year, according to the NPEs' recent earnings reports, they ended Q3 2016 with markedly different overall results.
WiLAN Aims Voice Recognition Patents Associated with Siri at Computers Running Microsoft Windows 10 with Cortana
IPA Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN), has kicked off a new litigation campaign, filing separate complaints against Acer (1:16-cv-00945), ASUS (1:16-cv-00946), Dell (1:16-cv-00947), HP Inc. (1:16-cv-00948), and Toshiba (1:16-cv-00949). Two patents (6,523,061; 6,742,021) from a family of nine generally related to speech recognition and operation of "electronic data sources" are at issue. IPA accuses the defendants of infringement through the manufacture and sale of various desktop, laptop, and/or tablet computers using Microsoft's Windows 10 and having Microsoft's Cortana digital assistant.
North Star Moves Infringement Claims Against UMC from Delaware to California
In May 2016, North Star Innovations Inc., a subsidiary of publicly traded Wi-LAN, Inc. (WiLAN), filed a single case (1:16-cv-00368) accusing both Cypress Semiconductor and UMC of infringing a semiconductor fabrication patent (5,961,373) through the manufacture and sale of memory devices made via a CMP (chemical-mechanical polish) process using an Applied Materials tool. Both defendants filed motions to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction over them in Delaware. North Star responded by opposing Cypress's motion and by dismissing the claims against UMC without prejudice. The NPE has now filed a standalone case (8:16-cv-01721) against UMC, again asserting the '373 patent, but this time in the Central District of California.
North Star Draws Xilinx into Campaign Litigating Former Freescale Patents
North Star Innovations Inc., a subsidiary of publicly traded Wi-LAN, Inc. (WiLAN), has added another Delaware case to its steadily expanding campaign by filing a complaint against Xilinx (1:16-cv-00773). The NPE asserts one patent (5,961,373) already familiar in the campaign, as well as one (6,013,571) asserted for the first time. Both were developed at Motorola and were received by WiLAN from Freescale in a large assignment of rights in October 2015; they generally relate to semiconductor fabrication and assembly, respectively. Certain Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) products of Xilinx are the accused products in the new case.
Patent Transfers Recorded During the Second Half of August 2016 Involve Familiar Faces in NPE Litigation
During the second half of August 2016, RPX saw five patent transfers to NPEs recorded with the USPTO. The assignees were Virtual Immersion Technologies LLC (controlled by Erik Stamell, of Equitable IP Corporation); Clean Energy Management Solutions, LLC (a subsidiary of Monument Patent Holdings, LLC); an NPE created by IP Valuation Partners LLC; and subsidiaries of two publicly traded NPEs—Wi-LAN, Inc. and Pendrell Corporation.
Nanya Files IPRs and Seeks Delaware Stay, North Star Hits Back in California
Nanya, the first defendant named in the ever-growing litigation campaign of North Star Innovations Inc., recently filed petitions for inter partes review (IPR) of two of three former Motorola/Freescale patents asserted against it. Shortly thereafter, Nanya moved to stay the underlying district court case in Delaware. North Star, a subsidiary of publicly traded Canadian NPE Wi-LAN, Inc. (WiLAN), has both opposed that motion to stay and filed a second case (8:16-cv-01591) in a different forum, the Central District of California, asserting three different patents (5,893,752; 6,043,146; 6,127,875) acquired from Freescale.
WiLAN's North Star Adds Three More Defendants to Sprawling Campaign
North Star Innovations Inc. has filed three more cases in a large litigation campaign primarily asserting patents in which it received rights from Freescale in October 2015. The plaintiff asserts a single patent (5,892,777), already in suit in cases filed against Amazon, Canon, GoPro, Integrated Silicon Solution, Microsoft, and Nanya, against new defendants HP (1:16-cv-00728), HTC (1:16-cv-00729), and Nikon (1:16-cv-00730). The '777 patent generally relates to the operation of a memory device, and the complaints focus infringement accusations on HP's ElitePad (identifying an Elpida memory product and an Intel Atom processor), HTC's One M9 smartphone (identifying a Samsung memory product and a Qualcomm processor), and Nikon's SDLR Camera (identifying a Samsung memory product and Nikon image processor).
Patent Assignment Report for the Second Half of July 2016
In the second half of July 2016, RPX saw 13 patent transfers to NPEs recorded with the USPTO. A number of those transactions involved patents that have already been asserted in litigation against operating companies.
North Star Sweeps Canon and Microsoft into Expanded Campaign, Asserting Patents Acquired from Freescale
Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN) subsidiary North Star Innovations Inc. has added Canon (1:16-cv-00651) and Microsoft (1:16-cv-00655) to its steadily expanding semiconductor, mobile device, and media hardware campaign, accusing the two companies of infringing multiple combinations of three patents acquired in October 2015 from Freescale before its acquisition by NXP Semiconductors in December 2015. Both are alleged to infringe a single patent (5,892,777, issued in 1999 to Motorola) that generally relates to memory circuit design and architecture. Canon is also accused of infringing another patent (6,903,004, issued in 2005 to Freescale) generally related to forming semiconductor layers with low K dielectrics, with the memory and image processor chips found in its consumer and DSLR cameras alleged to infringe both the '777 and '004 patents. Microsoft, meanwhile, is also targeted over an additional patent (5,893,752, issued in 1999 to Motorola) generally related to forming semiconductor layers using multiple conductive films. The Microsoft products at issue include its Surface Pro 4 tablet and Xbox One console.
WiLAN's Digital Televisions Campaign Continues to Grow
Wi-LAN Inc. (WiLAN) expanded its litigation campaign targeting digital televisions, filing three suits against ON Corporation (1:15-cv-00786), Sansui (1:15-cv-00787), and Vizio (1:15-cv-00788). The complaints against ON and Vizio assert three patents concerning image display (5,847,774; 6,359,654; 6,490,250). Only the '654 patent is asserted against Sansui. In all three cases, the defendants' digital televisions and display components are at issue.