IPR2019-01421 (P.T.A.B. Nov. 24, 2020)

Rovi Guides, Inc.

Patent Trials and Appeals BoardNov 24, 2020

IPR2019-01421 (P.T.A.B. Nov. 24, 2020)

Trials@uspto.gov Paper 42 571-272-7822 Date: November 24, 2020 UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE ____________ BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD ____________ COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC, Petitioner, v. ROVI GUIDES, INC., Patent Owner. ____________ IPR2019-01421 Patent 9,118,948 B2 _______________ Before KARL D. EASTHOM, ROBERT J. WEINSCHENK, and CHRISTOPHER L. OGDEN, Administrative Patent Judges. WEINSCHENK, Administrative Patent Judge. TERMINATION Due to Settlement After Institution of Trial 35 U.S.C. § 317; 37 C.F.R. § 42.74 IPR2019-01421 Patent 9,118,948 B2 2 I. INTRODUCTION The parties filed a Joint Motion to Terminate Inter Partes Review. Paper 40 (“Motion” or “Mot.”). The parties also filed what they indicate are true and correct copies of Settlement and License Agreements (Exs. 2008, 2009) (collectively, “Agreements”). In a Joint Request, the parties identified the Agreements as business confidential information and requested that the Agreements be kept separate from the patent file. Paper 41 (“Joint Request”). For the reasons discussed below, the Motion and Joint Request are granted. II. ANALYSIS We have not decided the merits of this proceeding. The parties indicate that they have settled their disputes regarding U.S. Patent No. 9,118,948 B2. Mot. 1. The parties represent that they submitted “any agreement or understanding . . . between Petitioner and Patent Owner made in connection with, or in contemplation of, the termination of the proceeding.” Id. Under these circumstances, we determine that it is appropriate to terminate this proceeding. See 37 C.F.R. § 42.72. We also determine that it is appropriate to treat the Agreements as business confidential information to be kept separate from the patent file. See 37 C.F.R. § 42.74(c). III. ORDER It is hereby ORDERED that the Joint Motion to Terminate Inter Partes Review is granted; FURTHER ORDERED that this proceeding is terminated as to all parties; and IPR2019-01421 Patent 9,118,948 B2 3 FURTHER ORDERED that the Joint Request to treat the Settlement and License Agreements (Exs. 2008, 2009) as business confidential information to be kept separate from the patent file is granted. IPR2019-01421 Patent 9,118,948 B2 4 PETITIONER: Frederic M. Meeker Bradley C. Wright Blair A. Silver J. Pieter van Es Justin M. Philpott Kerry T. Creeron BANNER & WITCOFF, LTD. fmeeker@bannerwitcoff.com bwright@bannerwitcoff.com bsilver@bannerwitcoff.com pvanes@bannerwitcoff.com jphilpott@bannerwitcoff.com kcreeron@bannerwitcoff.com PATENT OWNER: Jason D. Eisenberg Jon E. Wright David Haars Todd C. Thurheimer STERNE, KESSLER, GOLDSTEIN & FOX P.L.L.C. jasone-PTAB@sternekessler.com jwright-PTAB@sternekessler.com dhaars-ptab@sternekessler.com tthurheimer-ptab@sternekessler.com