`Trials@uspto.gov
`Entered: April 18, 2024
`571-272-7822
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`____________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`____________
`
`ZOHO CORPORATION and
`ZOHO CORPORATION PVT., LTD.,
`Petitioner,
`
`v.
`
`MEETRIX IP, LLC,
`Patent Owner.
`____________
`
`IPR2023-00371 (Patent 8,339,997 B2)
`IPR2023-00377 (Patent 9,253,332 B2)
`IPR2023-00378 (Patent 9,094,525 B2)
`IPR2023-00379 (Patent 9,094,525 B2)
`IPR2023-00380 (Patent 9,843,612 B2)
`IPR2023-00382 (Patent 9,843,612 B2)
`____________
`Before KARL D. EASTHOM, BRIAN J. MCNAMARA,
`CHARLES J. BOUDREAU, and KARA L. SZPONDOWSKI,
`Administrative Patent Judges.1
`
`PER CURIAM.
`
`ORDER2
`Conditionally Granting Patent Owner’s Motions for
`Pro Hac Vice Admission of Michael D. French
`37 C.F.R. § 42.10
`
`
`
`
`1 This listing of Administrative Patent Judges does not reflect an expanded
`panel under SOP 1 § III.M. Rather, this Order addresses multiple
`proceedings, each of which involves only three Administrative Patent
`Judges.
`2 This Order applies to each of the listed cases. The parties must obtain prior
`approval to use this caption style.
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00371 (Patent 8,339,997 B2)
`IPR2023-00377 (Patent 9,253,332 B2)
`IPR2023-00378 (Patent 9,094,525 B2)
`IPR2023-00379 (Patent 9,094,525 B2)
`IPR2023-00380 (Patent 9,843,612 B2)
`IPR2023-00382 (Patent 9,843,612 B2)
`
`
`Patent Owner filed Motions requesting pro hac vice admission of
`Michael D. French in each of the above-identified proceedings. Paper 21.3
`Patent Owner also submitted Declarations from Mr. French in support of the
`Motions. Ex. 2003. Petitioner states in an email dated April 15, 2024 that it
`does not oppose the Motions.
`For the reasons provided below, the Motions are granted.
`In accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 42.10(c), the Board may recognize
`counsel pro hac vice during a proceeding upon a showing of good cause,
`subject to the condition that lead counsel be a registered practitioner. In
`authorizing a motion for pro hac vice admission, the Board requires the
`moving party to provide a statement of facts showing there is good cause for
`the Board to recognize counsel pro hac vice and an affidavit or declaration
`of the individual seeking to appear in the proceeding. See Unified Patents,
`Inc. v. Parallel Iron, LLC, IPR2013-00639 (PTAB Oct. 15, 2013) (Paper 7)
`(representative “Order – Authorizing Motion for Pro Hac Vice Admission”).
`Based on the facts set forth in the Motions and the accompanying
`Declarations, we conclude that Mr. French has sufficient legal and technical
`qualifications to represent Patent Owner in these proceedings, has
`demonstrated sufficient litigation experience and familiarity with the subject
`matter of these proceedings, and meets all other requirements for admission
`
`
`3 For purposes of expediency, we cite to Papers and Exhibits filed in
`IPR2023-00371. Patent Owner filed similar Papers and Exhibits in
`IPR2023-00377, IPR2023-00378, IPR2023-00379, IPR2023-00380, and
`IPR2023-00382.
`
`
`
`2
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00371 (Patent 8,339,997 B2)
`IPR2023-00377 (Patent 9,253,332 B2)
`IPR2023-00378 (Patent 9,094,525 B2)
`IPR2023-00379 (Patent 9,094,525 B2)
`IPR2023-00380 (Patent 9,843,612 B2)
`IPR2023-00382 (Patent 9,843,612 B2)
`
`pro hac vice. See Declarations. Accordingly, Patent Owner has established
`good cause for pro hac vice admission of Mr. French.
`Upon review of the record before us, we note that a Power of Attorney
`in accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 42.10(b) has not been submitted for Mr.
`French. In view thereof, and for the reasons set forth below, Patent Owner’s
`Motions are conditionally granted and are to be effective after Patent Owner
`files the aforementioned Power of Attorney in each of the above-identified
`proceedings.
`In addition, Patent Owner has not filed updated mandatory notices
`identifying Mr. French as back-up attorney. Therefore, Patent Owner must
`file updated mandatory notices in each of the above-identified proceedings
`identifying Mr. French as back-up counsel in accordance with 37 C.F.R.
`§ 42.8(b)(3).
`In consideration of the foregoing, it is hereby
`ORDERED that Patent Owner’s Motions for pro hac vice admission
`of Michael D. French are conditionally granted, provided that within ten
`(10) business days of the date of this order, Patent Owner must submit a
`Power of Attorney for Mr. French in each of the above-identified
`proceedings in accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 42.10(b);
`FURTHER ORDERED that Patent Owner shall submit an updated
`mandatory notice identifying Mr. French as back-up counsel in each of the
`above-identified proceedings, in accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3);
`
`
`
`3
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00371 (Patent 8,339,997 B2)
`IPR2023-00377 (Patent 9,253,332 B2)
`IPR2023-00378 (Patent 9,094,525 B2)
`IPR2023-00379 (Patent 9,094,525 B2)
`IPR2023-00380 (Patent 9,843,612 B2)
`IPR2023-00382 (Patent 9,843,612 B2)
`
`
`FURTHER ORDERED that Patent Owner is to continue to have a
`registered practitioner represent it as lead counsel for the above-identified
`proceedings;
`FURTHER ORDERED that Mr. French is authorized to represent
`Patent Owner as back-up counsel only in the above-identified proceedings;
`FURTHER ORDERED that Mr. French comply with the Patent Trial
`and Appeal Board Consolidated Trial Practice Guide4 (84 Fed. Reg. 64,280
`(Nov. 21, 2019)), and the Board’s Rules of Practice for Trials, as set forth in
`Part 42 of Title 37, Code of Federal Regulations; and
`FURTHER ORDERED that Mr. French is subject to the Office’s
`disciplinary jurisdiction under 37 C.F.R. § 11.19(a), and the USPTO Rules
`of Professional Conduct set forth in 37 C.F.R. §§ 11.101 et. seq.
`
`
`
`
`4 Available at https://www.uspto.gov/TrialPracticeGuideConsolidated.
`4
`
`
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00371 (Patent 8,339,997 B2)
`IPR2023-00377 (Patent 9,253,332 B2)
`IPR2023-00378 (Patent 9,094,525 B2)
`IPR2023-00379 (Patent 9,094,525 B2)
`IPR2023-00380 (Patent 9,843,612 B2)
`IPR2023-00382 (Patent 9,843,612 B2)
`
`FOR PETITIONER:
`
`Hector J. Ribera
`C.J. Alice Chuang
`MARTON RIBERA SCHUMANN & CHANG LLP
`hector@martonribera.com
`cjalice@martonribera.com
`
`
`FOR PATENT OWNER:
`
`Gregory S. Donahue
`Andrew G. DiNovo
`DINOVO PRICE LLP
`gdonahue@dinovoprice.com
`adinovo@dinovoprice.com
`
`
`
`
`
`
`5
`
`