What if I told you the patent wars never ended—they just moved to a quieter battlefield called the PTAB?
And here’s the kicker: in the latest filings roundup, it’s not scrappy inventors duking it out. No, it’s a who’s-who of patent trolls—Fortress IP with SoftBank cash, Scramoge fueled by Magnetar Capital—filing IPR after IPR against Samsung, Google, Nokia.
Look at IPR2022-00639: Netlist, Inc. (that’s Fortress IP territory) versus Samsung Electronics. Patent 10949339. Or IPR2022-00653, Scramoge Technology Ltd. against Samsung again, patent 10199876. Samsung’s name pops up like whack-a-mole.
Fortress IP strikes first.
These aren’t random shots. Fortress IP—SoftBank’s pet project—drops IPR2022-00630 on Google LLC over patent 8280072 via Jawbone Innovations. Jawbone? The fitness tracker bust? Yeah, they’re licensing out old tech now. Cynical? You bet. It’s the classic troll playbook: scoop up distressed patents, assert against deep pockets.
But wait—Samsung’s not alone. TQ Delta, backed by Techquity Capital, hammers Nokia of America with three filings: IPR2022-00640 (7453881), IPR2022-00664 (7844882), IPR2022-00666 (8276048). Telecom patents from the DSL era? Who knew copper wires could fund VC returns.
Why Is Samsung the Favorite Punching Bag?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. show up in at least five new petitions. IPR2022-00653, IPR2022-00613 (XR Communications), IPR2022-00643 (Scramoge again). It’s relentless.
Here’s my unique take, one you won’t find in the dockets: this echoes the 2012 “smartphone patent wars,” but stealthier. Back then, Apple and Samsung bled billions in court. Now, with Alice Corp. gutting software patents post-2014, trolls pivot to PTAB for invalidation challenges—cheaper for defendants, but trolls file preemptively to pressure settlements. Prediction? Expect 20% more IPRs by Q4, as PE firms like Magnetar double down. They’re not building products; they’re harvesting royalties.
A single line from the filings stands out—though it’s dry docket speak, it screams volume:
IPR2022-00637 | Filed | Abbott Diabetes Care Inc [Abbott Laboratories Inc.] | Dexcom, Inc. | 11013440
That’s diabetes tech, but multiply by 25 others. Heavy docket indeed.
Continuous Composites files twice against Markforged (IPR2022-00652 and 00548, patent 9511543)—3D printing turf war. Small fry compared to the giants, but tells you: no sector’s safe.
Who’s Actually Cashing In Here?
Follow the money. Fortress IP (SoftBank), Atlantic IP Services (Magnetar via Scramoge and Arigna), Techquity (TQ Delta), RAK Investments (Proven Networks). These aren’t mom-and-pops; they’re monetization machines. SoftBank? The Vision Fund flop king, now pivoting to IP arbitrage.
Take Proven Networks, IPR2022-00644 against NetApp (8687573). Owners: RAK Investments III, LLC, with lawyers Russ August & Kabat—patent lit kingpins. It’s a racket.
Not all doom. Some instituted: IPR2021-01445 on Swarm Technology vs. Juniper (9852004). Or IPR2021-01349, Ocean Semiconductor (Fullbrite Capital) vs. STMicro. But “Not Instituted – Merits” hits like IPR2021-01444 (Proxense vs. Samsung). Trolls lose some, but volume wins.
PPG Industries (Akzo Nobel) vs. Axalta Coating—chemicals, IPR2022-00676. Arla Foods vs. Fonterra—dairy patents? IPR2022-00662. Ocado vs. Autostore (robot warehouses). Eclectic mix, but pattern’s clear: trolls thrive on volume.
Videolabs (VL Collective) vs. Dell (7769238). U.S. Well Services vs. Halliburton (fracking tech). Even governments: US Dept of Health vs. Janssen.
So, Big Tech lawyers are earning overtime. But users? Developers? Stuck with higher costs passed down.
The original title hints at district court and Fortress Biotech ANDA lit—but this PTAB dump shows the real action’s administrative. ANDA? Hatch-Waxman pharma fights. WePay GUI patents? Stripe subsidiary expanding assertions. But PTAB’s where patents go to die—or survive for settlement.
Novo Nordisk vs. Fresenius Kabi (insulin patents). Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson vs. Apple (9860044). Titans clashing too.
Will PTAB Reforms Stop This Madness?
Short answer: doubtful. Congress tried with TC Heartland (venue), but trolls adapt. PTAB’s fee structure favors volume filers. My bold call: without patent box reforms or loser-pays fully, expect Magnetar et al. to IPO an IP fund by 2025.
Historical parallel? NTP vs. RIM (BlackBerry)—$600M settlement. Today’s version: distributed, PAE-powered.
Tech giants settle quietly. Public? We get spin: “protecting innovation.” Baloney. It’s rent-seeking.
🧬 Related Insights
- Read more: From Sick Bed to 36-Hour Days: The Lawyer Who Bent Time — And Why AI Might Finally Break the Billable Hour
- Read more: EU AI Sandboxes: Denmark Races Ahead While Others Scramble
Frequently Asked Questions
What are IPR filings at PTAB?
IPR (Inter Partes Review) lets anyone challenge patent validity at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board—faster, cheaper than court, post-grant review for some.
Who is Fortress IP and why target Samsung?
Fortress IP, SoftBank-backed PAE, buys portfolios to assert against infringers. Samsung’s Android empire makes it a juicy target—phones, chips, everything.
Are patent trolls winning these PTAB battles?
Mixed bag: some instituted, many not. But filing barrage pressures settlements before trial.
