IPR2021-00804 (P.T.A.B. Oct. 7, 2021)

Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC

Patent Trials and Appeals BoardOct 7, 2021

IPR2021-00804 (P.T.A.B. Oct. 7, 2021)

Trials@uspto.gov Paper No. 7 571-272-7882 Date: October 7, 2021 UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE ____________ BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD ____________ GOOGLE LLC, Petitioner, v. SOVEREIGN PEAK VENTURES, LLC Patent Owner. ____________ IPR2021-00804 Patent 9,431,017 B2 ____________ Before KEVIN F. TURNER, GARTH D. BAER, and JOHN R. KENNY, Administrative Patent Judges. KENNY Administrative Patent Judge. DECISION Denying Institution of Inter Partes Review 35 U.S.C. § 314 IPR2021-00804 Patent 9,431,017 B2 2 I. INTRODUCTION Google LLC (“Petitioner”) filed a Petition to institute an inter partes review of claims 1–7 (the “challenged claims”) of U.S. Patent 9,431,017 B2 (Ex. 1001, the “’017 patent”) pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 311 et seq. Paper 1 (“Petition” or “Pet.”). Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC (“Patent Owner”) filed a Preliminary Response. Paper 5 (“Prelim. Resp.”). For the reasons discussed below, we deny the Petition and do not institute inter partes review. II. DISCUSSION Petitioner challenges claims 1–7 of the ’017 patent. Pet. 10. On July 20, 2021, after Petitioner filed its Petition, Patent Owner filed a statutory disclaimer, disclaiming all claims of the ’017 patent. Ex. 2001. In light of its disclaimer, Patent Owner asserts we should deny the Petition. Prelim. Resp. 1. We agree with Patent Owner. Under our rules, “[n]o inter partes review will be instituted based on disclaimed claims.” 37 C.F.R. § 42.107(e). Because we cannot institute trial on disclaimed claims, we do not institute an inter partes review of claims 1–7. III. ORDER Accordingly, it is: ORDERED that the Petition is denied as to the challenged claims of the ʼ017 patent; and FURTHER ORDERED that no inter partes review is instituted. IPR2021-00804 Patent 9,431,017 B2 3 PETITIONER: David Cochran Matthew Johnson Marlee Hartenstein JONES DAY dcochran@jonesday.com mwjohnson@jonesday.com mhartenstein@jonesday.com PATENT OWNER: Tarek Fahmi Holly Atkinson Jonathan Tsao ASCENDA LAW GROUP, PC Tarek.fahmi@ascendalaw.com Holly.atkinson@ascendalaw.com Jonathan.tsao@ascendalaw.com