Xerox, Others Slam Scanner “Patent Troll” IP in PTAB Review

Law360 reports on PTAB proceedings pitting Lexmark Corp., Ricoh Americas Corp., and Xerox Corp against MPHJ Technology Investments, LLC over two scanner patents. During the proceedings, the three petitioners criticized MPHJ’s defense as “nonsensical,” arguing that the claimed inventions simply combine decades-old prior art.

Arguing that the PTAB should build on a decision from last year, Sterne Kessler Director, Michael D. Specht, lead counsel for the petitioners, told the Board, “You have a blueprint here for a decision in these two cases based on what you have decided before.” Specht goes on to argue that both scanner patents are anticipated by prior art, saying, ” All of the claims are clearly unpatentable, and the record speaks for itself.”

Michael D. Specht and Richard M. Bemben, both members of Sterne Kessler’s Electronics Group, are counsel for the petitioners in this case involving U.S. Patent Numbers 8,488,173 and 7,477,410.