LiTL LLCDownload PDFPatent Trials and Appeals BoardNov 29, 2021IPR2021-01011 (P.T.A.B. Nov. 29, 2021) Copy Citation Trials@uspto.gov Paper No. 9 571-272-7882 Date: November 29, 2021 UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE ____________ BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD ____________ MICROSOFT CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. LITL, LLC Patent Owner. ____________ IPR2021-01011 Patent 8,577,957 B2 ____________ Before MICHELLE N. ANKENBRAND, GARTH D. BAER, and BRIAN D. RANGE, Administrative Patent Judges. BAER, Administrative Patent Judge. DECISION Denying Institution of Inter Partes Review 35 U.S.C. § 314 IPR2021-01011 Patent 8,577,957 B2 2 I. INTRODUCTION Microsoft Corp. (“Petitioner”) filed a Petition to institute an inter partes review of claims 1–36 (the “challenged claims”) of U.S. Patent No. 8,577,957 B2 (Ex. 1001, the ’957 patent) pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 311 et seq. Paper 2 (“Petition” or “Pet.”). LiTL LLC (“Patent Owner”) filed a Preliminary Response. Paper 5 (“Prelim. Resp.”). For the reasons discussed below, we deny the Petition and do not institute an inter partes review. II. DISCUSSION Petitioner challenges claims 1–36 of the ’957 patent. Pet. 1. On November 22, 2021, after Petitioner filed its Petition, Patent Owner filed a statutory disclaimer, disclaiming claims 1–36 of the ’957 patent. Ex. 2008. Under our rules, “[n]o inter partes review will be instituted based on disclaimed claims.” 37 C.F.R. § 42.107(e); see Gen. Elec. Co. v. United Techs. Corp., IPR2017-00491, Paper 9 (PTAB July 6, 2017) (explaining how Rule 42.107(e) operates in the case of a pre-institution disclaimer of all claims) (precedential). Because we cannot institute trial on disclaimed claims and Patent Owner has disclaimed all of the challenged claims, we do not institute an inter partes review of claims 1–36. III. ORDER Accordingly, it is: ORDERED that the Petition is denied as to the challenged claims of the ʼ957 patent; and FURTHER ORDERED that no inter partes review is instituted. IPR2021-01011 Patent 8,577,957 B2 3 PETITIONER: Christina McCullough mccullough-ptab@perkinscoie.com Patrick McKeever mckeever-ptab@perkinscoie.com Jassiem Moore moore-ptab@perkinscoie.com PATENT OWNER: Elisabeth Hunt ehunt-ptab@wolfgreenfield.com Gerald Hrycyszyn ghrycyszyn-ptab@wolfgreenfield.com Jason Balich jbalich-ptab@wolfgreenfield.com Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation
