PRIME WIRE & CABLE, INC.
`
` Petitioner,
`v.
`
`TELEBRANDS, CORP.,
`
` Patent owner
`
`
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`
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
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`PETITION FOR POST GRANT REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 9,752,761
`UNDER 35 U.S.C. §§ 321-328 AND 37 C.F.R. 42.200 et seq.
`The claims of Pat. No. 9,752,761 (issued Sep. 5, 2017) (“the ‘761 patent”)
`
`Case: PGR2017-
`Patent No.: 9,752,761
`
`
`
`(Ex. 1001) should be found invalid based on prior art and for claiming patent-
`
`ineligible subject matter. Accordingly, this Petition for Post Grant Review of
`
`claims 1 through 11 seeks cancelation of the claims. This petition is accompanied
`
`by a fee in the amount of $30,000 as required by 37 C.F.R. § 42.15(b)(1) and (2)
`
`and § 42.203. This petition is supported by Exhibits 1001 through 1054, including
`
`authenticating declarations of Joe Ferlauto (Ex. 1028) and Bryce A. Johnson (Ex.
`
`1054).
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`Filed on behalf of Prime Wire & Cable, Inc.
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`by:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`John K. Buche & Bryce A. Johnson
`Buche & Associates, P.C.
`875 Prospect, St., Ste 305
`La Jolla, CA 92037
`Tel: 858.459.9111
`
`
`i
`
`

`

`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ................................................................................... vi
`EXHIBIT LIST ...................................................................................................... viii
`I.
`INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1
`II. MANDATORY NOTICES [37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1)] .......................................... 2
`a.
`Real Party-in-interest [37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1)] ............................................. 3
`b. Related Matters [37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2)] ...................................................... 3
`c.
`Lead and Back-up Counsel [37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3)] .................................... 4
`d.
`Service Information [37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(4)] ............................................... 4
`III. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS .................................................................... 4
`a.
`Timing [37 C.F.R. § 42.202(a)] .................................................................... 5
`b. Grounds for Standing [37 C.F.R. § 42.201(a)] ............................................. 5
`IV. BACKGROUND: colorful lasers are an obvious choice for outdoor (i.e.,
`“landscape”) lights like Prime’s red and green Holiday themed LFLRG505
`light projector and, given the hazards of lasers, such lights must comply with
`several government imposed safety regulations. ................................................. 5
`a.
`Laser products are classified by U.S. regulatory agencies based on their
`potential to cause eye damage and the level of safety controls required
`for their operation. ......................................................................................... 7
`b. All laser projectors have safety regulations, but most general-consumer
`laser projectors employ lower-safety-risk lasers (i.e., less-than (<) Class
`B) to avoid government approval protocols mandated for high-risk
`lasers. ............................................................................................................. 9
`i. Lower-risk (i.e., < Class 3B) lasers are considered inherently safe for
`momentary (i.e., < 0.25 seconds) or accidental viewing of the direct
`beam. ...................................................................................................10
`ii. Diffused (“scattered”) Class 3B and lower-classed laser light is
`
`ii
`
`
`

`

`c.
`
`d.
`
`inherently safe unless a viewer intentionally stares at the scattered
`beam from a distance that is too close (i.e., < 5.1 inches) to the
`diffuser. ................................................................................................10
`iii. All laser projectors have mandatory safety controls under 21 CFR §§
`1040.10, including: (1) that a protective housing should be put
`around the lasers (§ 1040.10(f)(1)); and, (2) that optical elements,
`like diffractive optical elements, should be placed at the lasers’ exit
`port to reduce the beam power to the minimal useful level (§
`1040(f)(8)). ..........................................................................................11
`iv. Under 21 CFR § 1040.10, laser projectors must include a listing of
`safety controls (§ 1040.10,(h)(iv)) so that users will know safety
`features that should not be tampered with during use of the projector
`and, as a result, all laser projectors have boilerplate safety-listings in
`compliance with the statute. ................................................................13
`BlissLights used diffractive holographic optics on lasers at least by
`2008 and at least by June 27, 2014 was selling a single laser “Spright”
`landscape light with FDA compliant boilerplate safety control listings. ...17
`In 2013, Prime developed a two-laser Holiday themed (green & red)
`laser projector that (a) was exhibited at the 2014 C.E.S. tradeshow and
`(b) lead to the LFLRG505 laser projector by May 2014 with
`“diffractive holographic optics” and FDA compliant boilerplate safety
`control listings. ............................................................................................18
`V. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ‘760 PATENT AND CLAIMED “LAND SCAPE
`LIGHT” WITH PRIORITY ONLY GOING BACK TO JULY 16, 2014 ........21
`a.
`The provisional (Prov. App. Ser. No. 62/025,344 (filed Jul. 16, 2014)) ....22
`b.
`The specification (Ser. No. 15/142,789 (filed Apr. 29, 2016)) ...................24
`c.
`Claim prosecution history ...........................................................................25
`VI. IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGE AND STATEMENT OF THE
`PRECISE RELIEF REQUESTED ....................................................................31
`a.
`Claims for which PGR is requested and precise relief requested [37
`C.F.R. § 42.204(b)(1)] ................................................................................31
`The specific prior art and statutory grounds on which the challenge is
`
`b.
`
`iii
`
`
`

`

`based and identification and relevance of the supporting evidence [37
`C.F.R. § 42.204(b)(2),(5)] ...........................................................................31
`c. A person having skill in the art ...................................................................33
`d. Construction of key claim terms [37 C.F.R. § 42.204(b)(2),(5)] ................34
`VII. P.G.R SHOULD BE INSTITUTED BASED ON THE EVIDENCE
`PRESENTED BECAUSE IT IS MORE LIKELY THAN NOT THAT AT
`LEAST ONE OF THE CHALLENGED CLAIMS OF THE ‘761 PATENT IS
`UNPATENTABLE [37 C.F.R. §§ 42.208(c), 42.204(b)(4)] ............................34
`1. Claims 1 through 11 of the ‘761 patent are invalid under 35 U.S.C. §
`101 for failing to be directed toward patent-eligible subject matter
`because the claims just recite generic laser projector limitations
`alongside patent-ineligible principles of laser viewing safety ....................35
`2. Claims 1 through 11 of the ‘761 patent are invalid under 35 U.S.C. §
`102 for failing to be directed toward patentable subject matter under the
`In re King rule because the claims just provide a description of what
`happens when any Class 3 laser light is passed through a prior art
`structure of diffractive holographic optics. .................................................39
`3. Claims 1 through 11 of the ‘761 patent are invalid under 35 U.S.C. §
`102(a)1 for lack of novelty over Prime’s LFLRG505 holiday themed
`landscape light, related documents, and supporting declarations. ..............43
`a. The LFLRG505 predates the July 2014 priority of the ‘761 patent
`because it was available to the public via advertisement and sale in mid-
`May 2014 ....................................................................................................44
`b. The LFLRG505 anticipates the subject matter of claims 1 through 11 ......47
`Claim 1 ......................................................................................................47
`Claim 2 ......................................................................................................50
`Claim 3 ......................................................................................................52
`Claim 4 ......................................................................................................53
`Claim 5 ......................................................................................................53
`
`iv
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`

`

`Claim 6 ......................................................................................................55
`Claim 7 ......................................................................................................57
`Claim 8 ......................................................................................................58
`Claim 9 ......................................................................................................60
`Claim 10 ....................................................................................................63
`Claim 11 ....................................................................................................69
`c. It is more likely than not that the claims are unpatentable in view of the
`LFLRG505 ..................................................................................................71
`4. Claims 1 through 11 of the ‘761 patent are invalid under 35 U.S.C. §
`103 for being obvious over Prime’s LFLRG505 holiday themed
`landscape light, related documents, and supporting declarations. ..............73
`5. Claims 1, 2 and 9 of the ‘761 patent are invalid under 35 U.S.C. § 103
`for being obvious over Prime’s “Laser Light Projector” instruction
`manual and Prime’s 2014 CES flyer. ..........................................................76
`6. Claims 3 through 8, 10 & 11 of the ‘761 patent are invalid under 35
`U.S.C. § 103 for being obvious over Prime’s “Laser Light Projector”
`instruction manual, prime’s script for the vimeo.com video & 2014
`CES flyer in view of U.S. Pub. Pat. App. No. 2015/0260385 ....................80
`7. Claims 1, 2 and 9 of the ‘761 patent are invalid under 35 U.S.C. § 103
`for being obvious over Prime’s 2014 CES flyer in view of BlissLight’s
`Spright .........................................................................................................87
`8. Claims 3 through 8, 10 & 11 of the ‘761 patent are invalid under 35
`U.S.C. § 103 for being obvious over Prime’s 2014 CES flyer in view of
`BlissLight’s Spright and U.S. Pub. Pat. App. No. 2015/0260385. .............91
`VIII. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................... 96
`
`
`v
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`

`

`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
`Cases
`DDRholdings, LLC v. Hotels.com, L.P.,
` 773 F.3d 1245 (Fed Cir. 2014) ................................................................ 2, 35, 100
`Ex parte Masham,
` 2 USPQ2d 1647 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1987) ........................... 56, 58, 61, 73, 75
`Hewlett-Packard Co.v.Bausch & Lomb Inc.,
` 909 F.2d 1464 .................................................................................... 58, 61, 73, 75
`In re King,
` 801 F. 2d 1324, Fed. Cir. (1986) ........................................................... 40, 42, 101
`In re Translogic Tech., Inc.,
` 504 F.3d 1249 (Fed. Cir. 2007) ............................................................................34
`Mayo Collaborative Servs. v. Prometheus Labs, Inc.
` 132 S. Ct. 1289 (2012)..........................................................................................39
`
`Statutes
`35 U.S.C. § 103 ........................... 2, 26, 28, 32, 77, 78, 79, 81, 86, 90, 91, 92, 96, 97
`35 U.S.C. § 102 ................................................. 2, 28, 31, 34, 40, 42, 44, 78, 79, 101
`35 U.S.C. § 102(a)1 .................................................................................... 32, 43, 77
`35 U.S.C. § 101 ......................................................................... 1, 28, 31, 34, 42, 101
`35 U.S.C. § 112 ......................................................................................... 31, 34, 101
`35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(2) .............................................. 51, 52, 53, 56, 59, 61, 65, 72, 75
`
`Manual for Patent Practice & Procedure (MPEP)
`MPEP § 2106
`MPEP § 2114
`MPEP § 2131
`MPEP § 2131.01
`MPEP § 2154
`
`Other Authorities
`37 C.F.R. § 42.203 ..................................................................................................... i
`21 C.F.R. § 1040(f)(8) .............................................................................................12
`21 C.F.R. § 1040(h)(iv) ..................................................................................... 13, 37
`21 C.F.R. § 1040.10 .................................................................................... 11, 13, 29
`37 C.F.R. § 42.10(b) .................................................................................................. 4
`37 C.F.R. § 42.15 ....................................................................................................... i
`37 C.F.R. § 42.202(a) ................................................................................................. 5
`
`35
`55, 57, 60, 73, 75
`51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 58, 59, 61, 66, 72, 73, 75, 77
`44
`35
`
`vi
`
`
`

`

`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1) ................................................................................................ 2
`37 CPR. § 42.8(a)(1) ................................................................................................ 2
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1) ................................................................................................ 3
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1) ................................................................................................ 3
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2) ................................................................................................ 3
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2) ................................................................................................ 3
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3) ................................................................................................ 4
`37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3) ................................................................................................4
`37 C.F.R. § 42.204(b)(5) ..........................................................................................33
`37 C.F.R. § 42.204(b)(5) .......................................................................................... 33
`37 C.F.R. § 42.204(b)(4) ..........................................................................................33
`37 C.F.R. § 42.204(b)(4) .......................................................................................... 33
`37 C.F.R. § 42.200(b) ..............................................................................................34
`37 C.F.R. § 42.200(b) .............................................................................................. 34
`37 C.F.R. § 42.204(b)(1) ..........................................................................................31
`37 C.F.R. § 42.204(b)(1) .......................................................................................... 31
`37 C.F.R. § 42.204(b)(2) ................................................................................... 32, 34
`37 C.F.R. § 42.204(b)(2) ................................................................................... 32, 34
`37 C.F.R. § 42.204(b)(4) ..........................................................................................34
`37 C.F.R. § 42.204(b)(4) .......................................................................................... 34
`37 C.F.R. § 42.204(b)(5) ..........................................................................................34
`37 C.F.R. § 42.204(b)(5) .......................................................................................... 34
`37 C.F.R. § 42.208(c) ...............................................................................................34
`37 C.F.R. § 42.208(c) ............................................................................................... 34
`
`
`vii
`vii
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`

`

`
`
`EXHIBIT LIST
`
`Exhibit 1001 - U.S. Patent No. 9,752,761 (issued Sep. 05, 2017)
`Exhibit 1002 - File History, U.S. Prov. App. Ser. No. 62/025,344 (filed Jul. 16,
`2014)
`Exhibit 1003 - “Color Laser Light Instructions,” FIGS. 1 through 4, U.S. Prov.
`App. Ser. No. 62/025,344 (filed Jul. 16, 2014)
`Exhibit 1004 - Specification, U.S. Prov. App. Ser. No. 62/025,344 (filed Jul.
`16, 2014)
`Exhibit 1005 - File History, U.S. Pat. App. Ser. No. 14/801,458 (filed July 16,
`2015)
`Exhibit 1006 - File History, U.S. Pat. App. Ser. No. 15/142,789 (filed Apr. 29,
`2016)
`Exhibit 1007 - Office action dated Jul. 28, 2016, from File History, U.S. Pat.
`App. Ser. No. 15/142,789 (filed Apr. 29, 2016)
`Exhibit 1008 - Amendment dated Oct. 28, 2016, from File History, U.S. Pat.
`App. Ser. No. 15/142,789 (filed Apr. 29, 2016)
`Exhibit 1009 - Notice of Allowability dated Jan. 18, 2017, from File History,
`U.S. Pat. App. Ser. No. 15/142,789 (filed Apr. 29, 2016)
`Exhibit 1010 - Supplemental Notice of Allowability dated Aug. 2, 2017, from
`File History, U.S. Pat. App. Ser. No. 15/142,789 (filed Apr. 29,
`2016)
`Images of Prime Wire & Cable, Inc., LFLRG505 (dated May 7,
`2014)
`Exhibit 1012 - RESERVED
`Exhibit 1013 - Prime Wire & Cable, Inc., Laser Light Projector (rev. 01-
`05072014), (May 7, 2014)
`Exhibit 1014 - RESERVED
`
`Exhibit 1011 -
`
`viii
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`

`

`Inc., Packaging Specification:
`Exhibit 1015 - Prime Wire & Cable,
`LFLRG505, Rev. 0 (Jan. 29, 2014)
`Exhibit 1016 - RESERVED
`Exhibit 1017 - Screen captures from Vimeo.com video clip entitled "Laser
`Light Prime FINAL 14MAY2014" 6 pages, uploaded on “March
`14, 2014 at 9:11 AM EST” by user "Kencom" at
`https://vimeo.com/95281005.
`Exhibit 1018 - Prime Wire & Cable, Inc. Script of the Vimeo.com video
`Exhibit 1019 - Prime Wire & Cable, Inc., email thread exchanging script edits
`Exhibit 1020 - Prime Wire & Cable, Inc., email thread confirming upload of
`the video to Vimeo.com
`Exhibit 1021 - Prime Wire & Cable, Inc., Sales Order Form (Date May 15,
`2015; Print Date Sep. 20, 2017), page 1.
`Exhibit 1022 - RESERVED
`Exhibit 1023 - Prime Wire & Cable, Inc., Laser Projector Yard Stake (©
`notice 2011; actual Date May 2014), page 1.
`Exhibit 1024 - RESERVED
`Exhibit 1025 - Prime Wire & Cable, Inc., Purchase Product Specification, Rev.
`0 created 6/24/2014, Rev. 1 Sep. 12, 2014.
`Exhibit 1026 - RESERVED
`Exhibit 1027 - Prime Wire & Cable, Inc., 2014 C.E.S. show flyer (Jan. 7,
`2014)
`Exhibit 1028 - Declaration of Joe Ferlauto
`web
`Exhibit 1029 - “Spright
`Red,”
`<http;//www.blisslight.com:80/store/products/spright-
`red/1469> 2 pages, Jun. 27, 2014, retrieved from Internet
`Archive Wayback Machine <http://web.archive.org> on Sep.
`26, 2017
`Exhibit 1030 - “Spright
`
`green,”
`
`page
`
`web
`
`page
`
`ix
`
`
`

`

`<http;//www.blisslight.com:80/store/products/spright-
`green/1452> 2 pages, Apr. 12, 2014, retrieved from Internet
`Archive Wayback Machine <http://web.archive.org> on Oct.
`18, 2017
`page
`web
`Exhibit 1031 - “Technology,”
`<http;//www.blisslight.com:80/technology> 2 pages, Jun. 27,
`2014, retrieved from Internet Archive Wayback Machine
`<http://web.archive.org> on Sep. 27, 2017
`Exhibit 1032 - BlissLights, LLC, BlissLights Spright User’s Guide (published
`at
`least by Jul. 16, 2014); downloaded from website
`<http://web.archive.org/web/20140716191656/www.blisslights.
`com/data/store/tabs/53bd82d4a40a4.pdf> on Oct. 18, 2014
`Exhibit 1033 - Screen
`capture
`from
`<http://
`http://web.archive.org/web/20140716191656/www.blisslights.c
`om/data/store/tabs/53bd82d4a40a4.pdf> of "BlissLights Spright
`User’s Guide" 1 page, archived on “July 16, 2014”
`<http://web.archive.org>.
`Exhibit 1034 - <http://web.archive.org/web/20140716191656/
`3
`www.blisslights.com/data/store/tabs/53bd82d4a40a4.pdf>
`pages, saved July 16, 2014 and retrieved from Internet Archive
`Wayback Machine <http://web.archive.org> on Oct. 18, 2017
`Exhibit 1035 - U.S. Pat. No. 8,100,537 (issued Jan. 24, 2012)
`Exhibit 1036 - BlissLights, LLC, BlissLights SprightSMART User’s Guide
`Exhibit 1037 - “Radiation-Emitting Products Laser Products and Instruments”
`web
`page
`<https://www.fda.gov/Radiation-
`EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/Ho
`meBusinessandEntertainment/LaserProductsandInstruments/def
`ault.htm>, 4 pages, Feb. 21, 2014, retrieved from internet
`archive Wayback Machine <http://web.archive.org> on Sep. 28,
`2017
`Exhibit 1038 - “PART 1040.10 -- PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR
`LIGHT-EMITTING
`PRODUCTS”
`web
`page
`<
`http://www.accessdata.fda.gov:80/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCFR/C
`FRSearch.cfm?FR=1040.10>, 11 pages, Jul. 15, 2014, retrieved
`
`x
`
`
`

`

`Machine
`
`Wayback
`archive
`internet
`from
`<http://web.archive.org> on Oct. 23, 2017
`Exhibit 1039 - “PART 1040.11 -- PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR
`LIGHT-EMITTING
`PRODUCTS”
`web
`page
`<
`http://www.accessdata.fda.gov:80/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCFR/C
`FRSearch.cfm?FR=1040.11>, 3 pages, Jun. 7, 2014, retrieved
`from
`internet
`archive
`Wayback
`Machine
`<http://web.archive.org> on Oct. 23, 2017
`Exhibit 1040 - Food & Drug Administation, “Compliance Guide for Laser
`Products,” HHS Publication FDA 86-8260, June 1992.
`Exhibit 1041 - Sliney, David; Wolbarsht, Myron, Safety with Lasers and other
`Optical Sources, Chapter 1 (pages 1-11), ©Springer Science +
`Business Media, New York, 1980
`Exhibit 1042 - Sliney, David; Wolbarsht, Myron, Safety with Lasers and other
`Optical Sources, Chapter 20 (pages 625-654), ©Springer
`Science + Business Media, New York, 1980
`Exhibit 1043 - Barat, Ken, Laser Safety Management, Chapter 1 (pages 1-13),
`© CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, Florida, 2006
`Exhibit 1044 - Barat, Ken, Laser Safety Management, Chapter 4 (pages 45-56),
`© CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, Florida, 2006
`Exhibit 1045 - Barat, Ken, Laser Safety Management, Chapter 11 (pages 159-
`187), © CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, Florida,
`2006
`
`Exhibit 1046 - Barat, Ken, Laser Safety Management, Chapter 15 (pages 233-
`239), © CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, Florida,
`2006
`Exhibit 1047 - Barat, Ken, Laser Safety Management, Glossary (pages 241-
`252), © CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, Florida,
`2006
`Exhibit 1048 - - Henderson, Roy; Schulmeister, Karl, Laser Safety, page 366-
`368, © CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, Florida,
`2004
`
`xi
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`

`

`Exhibit 1049 - Diane H. Hochmuth et al., Diffractive Optics Gives Laser
`Pointers a New Twist, Photonics Spectra, Aug. 1995, page 95
`Exhibit 1050 - U.S. Pub. Pat. App. No. 2015/0260385 (published Sep. 17,
`2015)
`Exhibit 1051 - Herzig, Hans Peter; Dandliker, Rene, Diffractive components:
`holographic optical elements, Pages 43-44, ©ECSC-EEC-
`EAEC, Brussels – Luxembourg 1993
`Exhibit 1052 - “Laser Spectacular,” web page
`<http://www.pinkfloydlasershow.com/about> 2 pages, Nov. 7,
`2017
`Exhibit 1053 - “Pink Floyd,” web page
`<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Floyd_live_performances
`> 18 pages, Nov. 7, 2017
`Exhibit 1054 - Declaration of Bryce A. Johnson
`
`xii
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`
`

`

`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`Petitioner’s LFLRG505
`
`Telebrands’ alleged invention
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Table 1: Prime’s LFLRG505 packaging (Ex. 011) and instruction manual (Ex.
`1013) from early 2014 and before the priority of the ‘761 patent (excerpted on
`the left (highlight added)) has boilerplate FDA compliant (for ≤ Class 3B) laser
`safety descriptions that are tracked nearly verbatim by the ‘761 patent claims
`(e.g., claim 1 on the right (highlight added)).
`The claims of the ‘761 patent (Ex. 1001) should be found invalid under 35
`
`U.S.C. §§ 101, 102, and 103. The ‘761 patent has claimed priority to July 16, 2014
`
`and claims 1 through 11 for “a landscape light.” Telebrands, or its agents, have
`
`accused Prime’s outdoor (i.e., “landscape”) holiday-themed, Class 3R Laser Flood
`
`Light with Red and Green lasers (product no.: LFLRG505 (Ex. 1011)) of reading
`1
`
`
`
`

`

`on the claims of the ‘761 patent. However, the accused LFLRG505 landscape light
`
`predates the ‘761 priority because the light was marketed (Ex. 1017), offered for
`
`sale, and actually sold (Ex. 1021) in May of 2014 (i.e., more than two months
`
`before the alleged priority of the patent). See, e.g., Table 1. Therefore, the
`
`claimed subject matter is anticipated under § 102 and otherwise made obvious
`
`under § 103 by Petitioner’s LFLRG505 product, related sales activities, codified
`
`and boilerplate FDA safety standards for Class 3 laser products, and the related
`
`Exhibits accompanying this petition. The claims are also not patentable because
`
`the claims describe patent-ineligible subject matter. The claimed “landscape light”
`
`is simply a generic laser projector and the claims really just recite patent-ineligible
`
`principles and conventional practices of laser viewing safety. DDRholdings, LLC
`
`v. Hotels.com, L.P., .773 F.3d 1245, 1256 (Fed Cir. 2014) (“recitation of generic
`
`[machine] limitations does not make an otherwise ineligible claim patent-eligible.”
`
`(citation omitted)). Regardless of novelty or obviousness, the claims are wholly
`
`directed to patent-ineligible subject matter because the generic laser components
`
`recited in the claim do not provide any meaningful limits that would prevent
`
`exclusive ownership of what should be public-domain laser safety principles and
`
`codified safety practices.
`
`II. MANDATORY NOTICES [37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1)]
`
`The four mandatory notices under 37 C.F.R. § 42.8 are set forth below.
`
`2
`
`
`

`

`a. Real Party-in-interest [37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1)]
`
`Prime Wire & Cable, Inc. (hereinafter “Prime”) is the Petitioner. YFC-Bon
`
`Eagle is Prime’s parent company. Prime certifies that it is the real party-in-interest
`
`on the petitioner’s side of this proceeding.
`
`Telebrands Corp. (“Telebrands”) is the only owner of record for the ‘761
`
`patent (real/frame 041025/0090) and appears to be the real-party-in-interest on the
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`patent owner’s side of this proceeding. Prime notes that Telebrands is related to
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`LFL Investments, LLC dba “Viatek Consumer Products Group” (“Viatek”) and
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`that Lou Lentine (“Lentine”) is the alleged inventor of the ‘761 patent. These
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`relationships are noteworthy because Telebrands, Viatek, and the alleged inventor,
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`Lou Lentine, have each separately asserted rights and each separately approached
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`Prime’s laser projector-buying customers with allegations of infringement of the
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`‘761 patent. For purposes of this petition and efficiency, Prime will assume that
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`Telebrands is the only other real party-in-interest.
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`b. Related Matters [37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2)]
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`To the best of Prime’s knowledge, none of the three parties (Telebrands,
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`Viatek, or Lentine) has filed an action in court against Prime or its laser projector
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`buying customers.
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`Telebrands has at least five U.S. patents, applications, or reexaminations that
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`might affect or be affected by PGR of the ‘761 patent. Those patents or
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`3
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`applications are (1) U.S. Pat. App. Ser. No. 15/280,315 (filed Sep. 29, 2016), (2)
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`U.S. Pat. App. Ser. No. 15/449,549 (filed Mar. 3, 2017), (3) U.S. Pat. App. Ser.
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`No. 15/461,438 (filed Mar. 16, 2017), (4) U.S. Pat. App. Ser. No. 15/461,466 (filed
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`Mar. 16, 2017); and (5) Control. No. 90/014,044 (filed Nov. 06, 2017).
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`c. Lead and Back-up Counsel [37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3)]
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`Lead counsel:
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`
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`John K. Buche (Reg. No. 46,584)
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`Back-up or co-counsel: Bryce A. Johnson (Reg. No. 74,733)
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`Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.10(b), Prime submits herewith a power of
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`attorney as designated above.
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`d. Service Information [37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(4)]
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`Electronic service is agreeable. Designated counsel has the following
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`service information:
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`USPTO customer number:
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`
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`61226
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`
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`
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`
`
`
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`Buche & Associates, P.C.
`875 Prospect, Suite 305
`La Jolla, California 92037
`858.459.9111 (phone)
`858.459.9120 (fax)
`
`Mailing Address:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`John K. Buche (jbuche@buchelaw.com); or
`e-Contact information:
`Bryce A. Johnson (bjohnson@buchelaw.com)
`
`
`
`
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`III. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
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`Several additional requirements for compliant filing of this petition exist
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`4
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`under the patent rules.
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`a. Timing [37 C.F.R. § 42.202(a)]
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`The ‘761 patent recently issued on September 5, 2017 (Ex. 1001). This
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`petition for Post Grant Review (“PGR”) is therefore timely made within 9 months
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`(i.e., prior to June 5, 2018) of the ‘761 patent issue date.
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`b. Grounds for Standing [37 C.F.R. § 42.201(a)]
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`The ‘761 patent asserts priority to July 16, 2014 (Ex. 1001). Therefore, the
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`‘761 patent is a first-to-file patent. Prime certifies that it is not barred from
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`requesting PGR to challenge the claims on the grounds identified herein. Prime is
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`not the owner or assignee of the ‘761 patent.
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`IV. BACKGROUND: colorful lasers are an obvious choice for outdoor (i.e.,
`“landscape”) lights like Prime’s red and green Holiday themed
`LFLRG505 light projector and, given the hazards of lasers, such lights
`must comply with several government imposed safety regulations.
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`Lasers have been used to illuminate outdoor venues, planetariums, and
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`concerts for decades. Sliney et al., Ex. 1042, pg. 3 (original pg. 627). The rock
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`band, Pink Floyd, pioneered use of lasers for outdoor landscapes during concerts
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`and light shows from the 1980’s to today. Ex. 1052, pg. 1 (“Presented for the first
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`time in 1986…”); Ex. 1053. Eventually, outdoor (i.e., landscape) laser projectors
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`became popular general-consumer products for the Holidays because red and green
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`5
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`

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`laser beams can be diffracted into elaborate faux-Christmas-light patterns1 for
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`projection onto landscapes with minimal setup. For instance, Prime developed a
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`red and green holiday themed LFLRG505 landscape laser projector (Exs. 1011,
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`1028) by early 2014 that is setup with just a stake in the ground:
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`
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`Table 2: Excerpt from Prime’s May 7, 2014 LFLRG505 laser light projector
`packaging (Ex. 1011, pg. 3)
`Such laser projectors must comply with government safety regulations. See, e.g.,
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`Exs. 1037-1040; Barat, Ex. 1045, pg. 11 (original pg. 169).
`
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`1 Hachmuth et al., Ex. 1049, pg. 1 (original pg. 95) (it is “possible to create structured light patters in
`
`6
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`

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`a. Laser products are classified by U.S. regulatory agencies based
`on their potential to cause eye damage and the level of safety
`controls required for their operation.
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`The acronym LASER means “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission
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`of Radiation.” Barat, Ex. 1046, pg. 1 (original pg. 233); Barat, Ex. 1047, pg. 11
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`(original pg. 251); Ex. 1037, pg. 1. A “laser” is any generic device that projects
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`according to a LASER process and laser beams are defined by non-diverging
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`(collimated) and spatially concentrated rays of light. Sliney et al., Ex. 1041, pgs.
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`1-4; see also Barat, Ex. 1046, pgs. 1-7 (original pg. 233-239). Laser beams can be
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`visible to the human eye in various colors. Id. So, colorful lasers are obviously
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`incorporated into viewer-oriented lighting products and applications. Sliney et al.,
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`Ex. 1042, pgs. 1-7 (original pgs. 625-631); Hochmuth et al., Ex. 1049, pg. 1
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`(original pg. 95).
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`Lasers can be problematic for human eyes because the organs are designed
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`to focus light. Sliney et al, Ex. 1041, pgs. 1-4. The hazard is that a laser’s
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`collimated and spatially concentrated beam can be focused to too small of an area
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`within the eye and “cause the [eye] to be burned in much the same way that a piece
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`of paper can be set ablaze when a magnifying glass focuses the rays of the sun.”
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`Id. 2, pg. 1. See Table 3:
`
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`practically any shape with any laser pointer system using diffractive optical elements”).
`2 The sun is a visible and collimated light source that is focused to an image area of the retina that is
`160 µm (micrometers) in diameter (ten times (10x) the diameter of an image area for a laser). Id.
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`7
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`Table 3: Figure 1-1 of Sliney et al., Ex. 1041, pg. 2.
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`Recognizing the eye-hazards posed by lasers, the Center for Devices and