Trials@uspto.gov
`571-272-7822
`
`Paper 30
`Date: October 25, 2023
`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`
`GOOGLE LLC,
`Petitioner,
`v.
`DDC TECHNOLOGY, LLC,
`Patent Owner.
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00707 (Patent 9,420,075 B2)
`IPR2023-00708 (Patent 9,811,184 B2)1
`____________
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Before KALYAN K. DESHPANDE, Acting Deputy Chief Administrative
`Patent Judge, PATRICK M. BOUCHER, and JULIET MITCHELL DIRBA,
`Administrative Patent Judges.
`
`DIRBA, Administrative Patent Judge.
`
`
`SCHEDULING ORDER
`
`
`
`
`
`1 This Decision addresses issues common to these proceedings, so we
`exercise our discretion to issue one Order to be docketed in each. The
`parties are not authorized to use this caption.
`
`
`571-272-7822
`
`Paper 30
`Date: October 25, 2023
`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`
`GOOGLE LLC,
`Petitioner,
`v.
`DDC TECHNOLOGY, LLC,
`Patent Owner.
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00707 (Patent 9,420,075 B2)
`IPR2023-00708 (Patent 9,811,184 B2)1
`____________
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Before KALYAN K. DESHPANDE, Acting Deputy Chief Administrative
`Patent Judge, PATRICK M. BOUCHER, and JULIET MITCHELL DIRBA,
`Administrative Patent Judges.
`
`DIRBA, Administrative Patent Judge.
`
`
`SCHEDULING ORDER
`
`
`
`
`
`1 This Decision addresses issues common to these proceedings, so we
`exercise our discretion to issue one Order to be docketed in each. The
`parties are not authorized to use this caption.
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00707 (Patent 9,420,075 B2)
`IPR2023-00708 (Patent 9,811,184 B2)
`
`A. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
`Initial and Additional Conference Calls
`1.
`The parties are directed to contact the Board within a month of this
`Order if there is a need to discuss proposed changes to this Scheduling Order
`or proposed motions that have not been authorized in this Order or other
`prior Order or Notice. See PTAB Consolidated Trial Practice Guide (“Trial
`Practice Guide”)2 9–10, 65 (guidance in preparing for a conference call); see
`also 84 Fed. Reg. 64,280 (Nov. 21, 2019). A request for an initial
`conference call shall include a list of proposed motions, if any, to be
`discussed during the call.
`The parties may request additional conference calls as needed. Any
`email requesting a conference call with the Board should: (a) copy all
`parties, (b) indicate generally the relief being requested or the subject matter
`of the conference call, (c) include multiple times when all parties are
`available, (d) state whether the opposing party opposes any relief requested,
`and (e) if opposed, either certify that the parties have met and conferred
`telephonically or in person to attempt to reach agreement, or explain why
`such meet and confer did not occur. The email may not contain substantive
`argument and, unless otherwise authorized, may not include attachments.
`See Trial Practice Guide 9–10.
`Protective Order
`2.
`Confidential information shall be handled in accordance with the
`Protective Order concurrently entered by the Board. When confidential
`information is to be entered into the record, it is the responsibility of the
`
`
`2 Available at https://www.uspto.gov/TrialPracticeGuideConsolidated.
`
`2
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00707 (Patent 9,420,075 B2)
`IPR2023-00708 (Patent 9,811,184 B2)
`
`party whose confidential information is at issue, not necessarily the
`proffering party, to file the motion to seal. 3 The Board has a strong interest
`in the public availability of trial proceedings. Redactions to documents filed
`in these proceedings should be limited to the minimum amount necessary to
`protect confidential information, and the thrust of the underlying argument
`or evidence must be clearly discernible from the redacted versions. We also
`advise the parties that information subject to a protective order may become
`public if identified in a final written decision in these proceedings, and that a
`motion to expunge the information will not necessarily prevail over the
`public interest in maintaining a complete and understandable file history.
`See Trial Practice Guide 21–22.
`3.
`Discovery Disputes
`The Board encourages parties to resolve disputes relating to discovery
`on their own. To the extent that a dispute arises between the parties relating
`to discovery, the parties must meet and confer to resolve such a dispute
`before contacting the Board. If attempts to resolve the dispute fail, a party
`may request a conference call with the Board.
`4.
`Testimony
`The parties are reminded that the Testimony Guidelines appended to
`the Trial Practice Guide at 127–130 (App. D, Testimony Guidelines) apply
`to these proceedings. The Board may impose an appropriate sanction for
`failure to adhere to the Testimony Guidelines. 37 C.F.R. § 42.12. For
`example, reasonable expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred by any party may
`
`
`3 If the entity whose confidential information is at issue is not a party to the
`proceeding, please contact the Board.
`
`3
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00707 (Patent 9,420,075 B2)
`IPR2023-00708 (Patent 9,811,184 B2)
`
`be levied on a person who impedes, delays, or frustrates the fair examination
`of a witness.
`
`Cross-Examination
`5.
`Except as the parties might otherwise agree, for each due date:
`Cross-examination ordinarily takes place after any supplemental evidence is
`due. 37 C.F.R. § 42.53(d)(2).
`Cross-examination ordinarily ends no later than a week before the
`filing date for any paper in which the cross-examination testimony is
`expected to be used. Id.
`
`6. Motion to Amend
`Patent Owner may file a motion to amend without prior authorization
`from the Board. Nevertheless, Patent Owner must confer with the Board
`before filing such a motion. 37 C.F.R. § 42.121(a). To satisfy this
`requirement, Patent Owner should request a conference call with the Board
`no later than two weeks prior to DUE DATE 1. See Section B below
`regarding DUE DATES.
`Patent Owner has the option to receive preliminary guidance from the
`Board on its motion to amend. See Notice Regarding a New Pilot Program
`Concerning Motion to Amend Practice and Procedures in Trial Proceedings
`under the America Invents Act before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, 84
`Fed. Reg. 9497 (Mar. 15, 2019) (“MTA Pilot Program Notice”); see also
`Trial Practice Guide 67. If Patent Owner elects to request preliminary
`guidance from the Board on its motion, it must do so in its motion to amend
`filed on DUE DATE 1.
`Any motion to amend and briefing related to such a motion shall
`generally follow the practices and procedures described in MTA Pilot
`
`4
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00707 (Patent 9,420,075 B2)
`IPR2023-00708 (Patent 9,811,184 B2)
`
`Program Notice unless otherwise ordered by the Board in these proceedings.
`The parties are further directed to Lectrosonics, Inc. v. Zaxcom, Inc.,
`IPR2018-01129, Paper 15 (PTAB Feb. 25, 2019) (precedential), and Rules
`of Practice To Allocate the Burden of Persuasion on Motions To Amend in
`Trial Proceedings Before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board,
`85 Fed. Reg. 82923 (Dec. 21, 2020).
`At DUE DATE 3, Patent Owner has the option to file a reply to the
`opposition to the motion to amend and preliminary guidance, or a revised
`motion to amend. See MTA Pilot Program Notice at 9500–01. Patent
`Owner may elect to file a revised motion to amend even if Patent Owner did
`not request to receive preliminary guidance on its motion to amend. A
`revised motion to amend must provide amendments, arguments, and/or
`evidence in a manner that is responsive to issues raised in the preliminary
`guidance and/or Petitioner’s opposition.
`If Patent Owner files a revised motion to amend, the Board shall enter
`a revised scheduling order setting the briefing schedule for that revised
`motion and adjusting other due dates as needed. See MTA Pilot Program
`Notice at 9501, App. 1B.
`As also discussed in the MTA Pilot Program Notice, if the Board
`issues preliminary guidance on the motion to amend, and Patent Owner files
`neither a reply to the opposition to the motion to amend nor a revised motion
`to amend at DUE DATE 3, Petitioner may file a reply to the Board’s
`preliminary guidance, no later than three (3) weeks after DUE DATE 3. The
`reply may only respond to the preliminary guidance. Patent Owner may file
`a sur-reply in response to Petitioner’s reply to the Board’s preliminary
`guidance. The sur-reply may only respond to arguments made in the reply
`
`5
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00707 (Patent 9,420,075 B2)
`IPR2023-00708 (Patent 9,811,184 B2)
`
`and must be filed no later than three (3) weeks after Petitioner’s reply. See
`MTA Pilot Program Notice at 9502. No new evidence may accompany the
`reply or the sur-reply in this situation.
`7.
`Oral Argument
`Requests for oral argument must comply with 37 C.F.R. § 42.70(a).
`To permit the Board sufficient time to schedule the oral argument, the
`parties may not stipulate to an extension of the request for oral argument
`beyond the date set forth in the Due Date Appendix.
`The parties may request that the oral argument be held at the USPTO
`headquarters in Alexandria or the Denver, Colorado, USPTO Regional
`Office. The parties may also request that the oral argument instead be held
`virtually by videoconference. For the parties’ information in making this
`decision one judge will appear in-person from the USPTO headquarters in
`Alexandria, one judge will appear in-person from the Denver, Colorado,
`USPTO Regional Office, and one judge will appear remotely by video. The
`parties should state in the request for oral argument, DUE DATE 4, (1)
`whether the parties would prefer either a video hearing or an in-person
`hearing and (2) for in-person hearings, which of the locations named above
`the parties would prefer. To the extent the parties disagree, they should meet
`and confer; if the dispute cannot be resolved by meeting and conferring, the
`parties should inform the Board of each party’s individual preferences.
`PTAB will only conduct an in-person hearing when requested by all parties.
`Note that the Board may not be able to honor the parties’ preferences
`due to, among other things, the availability of hearing room resources, the
`needs of the panel, and USPTO policy at the time of the hearing. The Board
`
`6
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00707 (Patent 9,420,075 B2)
`IPR2023-00708 (Patent 9,811,184 B2)
`
`will consider the parties’ request and notify the parties of how and where the
`hearing will be conducted.
`For in-person hearings, seating in the Board’s hearing rooms may be
`limited, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. If either
`party anticipates that more than five (5) individuals will attend the argument
`on its behalf, the party should notify the Board as soon as possible, and no
`later than the request for oral argument. Parties should note that the earlier a
`request for accommodation is made, the more likely the Board will be able
`to accommodate additional individuals.
`The Board has established the “Legal Experience and Advancement
`Program,” or “LEAP,” to encourage advocates before the Board to develop
`their skills and to aid in succession planning for the next generation. The
`Board defines a LEAP practitioner as a patent agent or attorney having
`three (3) or fewer substantive oral arguments in any federal tribunal,
`including PTAB. Parties are encouraged to participate in the Board’s LEAP
`program.4 The Board will grant up to fifteen (15) minutes of additional
`argument time to that party, depending on the length of the proceeding and
`the PTAB’s hearing schedule. A party should submit a request, no later than
`at least five (5) business days before the oral hearing, by email to the Board
`at PTABHearings@uspto.gov.5
`All practitioners appearing before the Board shall demonstrate the
`highest professional standards. All practitioners are expected to have a
`
`4 Information about the LEAP program can be found at www.uspto.gov/leap.
`5 Additionally, a LEAP Verification Form shall be submitted by the LEAP
`practitioner, confirming eligibility for the program. A combined LEAP
`Practitioner Request for Oral Hearing Participation and Verification Form is
`available at www.uspto.gov/leap.
`
`7
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00707 (Patent 9,420,075 B2)
`IPR2023-00708 (Patent 9,811,184 B2)
`
`command of the factual record, the applicable law, and Board procedures, as
`well as the authority to commit the party they represent. The Board discerns
`that it is often LEAP practitioners who have the best understanding of the
`facts of the case and the evidence of record, and the Board encourages their
`participation.
`
`B. DUE DATES
`This Order sets due dates for the parties to take action after institution
`of the proceedings. The parties may stipulate different dates for DUE
`DATES 1, 5, and 6, as well as the portion of DUE DATE 2 related to
`Petitioner’s reply (earlier or later, but no later than DUE DATE 3 for Patent
`Owner’s sur-reply) and the portion of DUE DATE 3 related to Patent
`Owner’s sur-reply (earlier or later, but no later than DUE DATE 7). The
`parties may not stipulate to a different date for the portion of DUE DATE 2
`related to Petitioner’s opposition to a motion to amend, or for the portion of
`DUE DATE 3 related to Patent Owner’s reply to an opposition to a motion
`to amend (or Patent Owner’s revised motion to amend) without prior
`authorization from the Board. In stipulating to move any due dates in the
`scheduling order, the parties must be cognizant that the Board requires four
`weeks after the filing of an opposition to the motion to amend (or the due
`date for the opposition, if none is filed) for the Board to issue its preliminary
`guidance, if requested by Patent Owner. A notice of the stipulation,
`specifically identifying the changed due dates, must be promptly filed. The
`parties may not stipulate an extension of DUE DATES 4, 7, and 8.
`In stipulating different times, the parties should consider the effect of
`the stipulation on times to object to evidence (37 C.F.R. § 42.64(b)(1)), to
`supplement evidence (§ 42.64(b)(2)), to conduct cross-examination
`
`8
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00707 (Patent 9,420,075 B2)
`IPR2023-00708 (Patent 9,811,184 B2)
`
`(§ 42.53(d)(2)), and to draft papers depending on the evidence and cross-
`examination testimony.
`
`DUE DATE 1
`
`1.
`Patent Owner may file—
`a. A response to the petition (37 C.F.R. § 42.120). If Patent Owner
`elects not to file a response, Patent Owner must arrange a conference call
`with the parties and the Board. Patent Owner is cautioned that any
`arguments not raised in the response may be deemed waived.
`b. A motion to amend the patent (37 C.F.R. § 42.121).
`DUE DATE 2
`2.
`Petitioner may file a reply to the Patent Owner’s response.
`Petitioner may file an opposition to the motion to amend.
`DUE DATE 3
`3.
`Patent Owner may file a sur-reply to Petitioner’s reply.
`Patent Owner may also file either:
`a. a reply to the opposition to the motion to amend and/or preliminary
`guidance (if provided); or
`b. a revised motion to amend.
`NOTE: If Patent Owner files neither of the above papers (a reply to
`the opposition or a revised motion to amend), and the Board has issued
`preliminary guidance, Petitioner may file a reply to the preliminary
`guidance, no later than three (3) weeks after DUE DATE 3. Patent Owner
`may file a sur-reply to Petitioner’s reply to the preliminary guidance no later
`than three (3) weeks after Petitioner’s reply.
`
`9
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00707 (Patent 9,420,075 B2)
`IPR2023-00708 (Patent 9,811,184 B2)
`
`DUE DATE 4
`4.
`Either party may file a request for oral argument (may not be extended
`by stipulation).
`
`DUE DATE 5
`5.
`Petitioner may file a sur-reply to Patent Owner’s reply to the
`opposition to the motion to amend.
`Either party may file a motion to exclude evidence (37 C.F.R.
`§ 42.64(c)).
`
`DUE DATE 6
`6.
`Either party may file an opposition to a motion to exclude evidence.
`Either party may request that the Board hold a pre-hearing conference.
`DUE DATE 7
`7.
`Either party may file a reply to an opposition to a motion to exclude
`evidence.
`
`DUE DATE 8
`8.
`The oral argument (if requested by either party) shall be held on this
`date. Approximately one month prior to the argument, the Board will issue
`an order setting the start time of the hearing and the procedures that will
`govern the parties’ arguments.
`
`10
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00707 (Patent 9,420,075 B2)
`IPR2023-00708 (Patent 9,811,184 B2)
`
`DUE DATE APPENDIX
`
`DUE DATE 1 ............................................................. January 31, 2024
`Patent Owner’s response to the petition
`Patent Owner’s motion to amend the patent
`DUE DATE 2 ................................................................. April 24, 2024
`Petitioner’s reply to Patent Owner’s response to petition
`Petitioner’s opposition to motion to amend
`DUE DATE 3 ................................................................... June 5, 2024
`Patent Owner’s sur-reply to reply
`Patent Owner’s reply to opposition to motion to amend
`(or Patent Owner’s revised motion to amend)6
`DUE DATE 4 ................................................................. June 26, 2024
`Request for oral argument (may not be extended by stipulation)
`DUE DATE 5 .................................................................. July 17, 2024
`Petitioner’s sur-reply to reply to opposition to motion to amend
`Motion to exclude evidence
`DUE DATE 6 .................................................................. July 24, 2024
`Opposition to motion to exclude
`Request for prehearing conference
`DUE DATE 7 .................................................................. July 31, 2024
`Reply to opposition to motion to exclude
`DUE DATE 8 ............................................................... August 7, 2024
`Oral argument (if requested)
`
`
`
`6 If Patent Owner files neither a reply to Petitioner’s opposition to the MTA
`nor a revised MTA, the parties are directed to Section B(3) above.
`
`11
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00707 (Patent 9,420,075 B2)
`IPR2023-00708 (Patent 9,811,184 B2)
`
`
`FOR PETITIONER:
`
`Michael L. Kiklis
`Kimani P. Clark
`KIKLIS AND CLARK, PLLC
`michael@kiklisclark.com
`kimani@kiklisclark.com
`
`
`FOR PATENT OWNER:
`
`Matthew C. Holohan
`Robert R. Brunelli
`SHERIDAN ROSS P.C.
`mholohan@sheridanross.com
`rbrunelli@sheridanross.com
`
`12
`
`
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