Judge Profile

CARL M. DeFRANCO

34 IP cases indexed. Covers patent matters.

Cases Presided Over

34 cases indexed | Page 1 of 2

patent instituted · Jun 2, 2025

GD Energy Products, LLC v.Kerr Machine Company

· PGR2025-00031

GD Energy Products successfully petitioned the PTAB to institute an IPR against Kerr Machine Company's pump patent, alleging obviousness under 35 U.S.C. § 103. The Board found it more likely than not that at least one claim would be unpatentable over various prior art references related to fluid end assemblies.

patent instituted · Apr 21, 2025

Clearwater Paper Corporation v.--

· IPR2025-00878

The PTAB granted institution of IPR for Clearwater Paper Corporation against Graphic Packaging International LLC, challenging claims related to biodegradable paper cups based on prior art references Cleveland and Nakagawa.

patent instituted · Nov 14, 2024

Intelligent Wellhead Systems, Inc. et al. v.Downing Wellhead Equipment, LLC et al.

· PGR2025-00002

The PTAB instituted PGR on claims 1-78 of the '952 patent after reviewing multiple grounds, including eligibility (§ 101), obviousness (§ 103), and written description/enablement (§ 112). The Board found a likelihood of success for Petitioner despite arguments from Patent Owner regarding prior art limitations.

patent instituted · Oct 18, 2024

Tesla Inc. v.Charge Fusion Technologies, LLC

· IPR2025-00032

Tesla Inc. successfully secured institution in this IPR against Charge Fusion Technologies, LLC for battery charging system claims. The Board found a reasonable likelihood of unpatentability under 35 U.S.C. § 103 based on combinations of prior art references.

patent denied · Sep 30, 2024

Trove Brands, LLC v.CamelBak Products, LLC

· IPR2024-01501

Trove Brands' IPR challenge against CamelBak Products regarding a drinkware patent was denied by the PTAB. The Board found that the Petitioner failed to establish a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on any ground, despite arguments concerning functional equivalence in user release mechanisms over prior art like Kiyota and Ribarits.

patent instituted · Sep 17, 2024

Klein Tools, Inc. v.Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation et al.

· IPR2024-01401

The PTAB granted institution for a petition challenging 23 claims related to container assembly mechanisms, finding a reasonable likelihood of success on at least one ground. The Board found that the combination of multiple prior art references rendered the patent obvious, despite challenges from the Patent Owner regarding prior art consideration and lack of rationale.

patent terminated or settled · Sep 1, 2024

Jeisys Medical Inc. et al. v.Serendia, LLC

· IPR2024-00383

EndyMed Medical and Serendia settled their inter partes review disputes over U.S. Patent 9,775,774, leading the PTAB to terminate the proceedings and keep the settlement confidential.

patent terminated or settled · Sep 1, 2024

Jeisys Medical Inc. et al. v.Serendia, LLC

· IPR2024-00383

The PTAB granted a settlement‑based termination for Jeisys Medical in three IPRs while allowing the proceedings to continue for EndyMed. The settlement agreement was ordered to be kept confidential.

patent instituted · Sep 1, 2024

Jeisys Medical Inc. et al. v.Serendia, LLC

· IPR2024-00383

The PTAB instituted an IPR challenging claims 13 and 14 of Serendia's patent, finding a reasonable likelihood of anticipation by the prior art reference Mehta. The case moves to trial phase after rejecting arguments for discretionary denial based on competitor relationships.

patent terminated or settled · Aug 27, 2024

EndyMed Medical Ltd. et al. v.Serendia, LLC

· IPR2024-00845

EndyMed Medical and Serendia reached a settlement that resolved all disputes over U.S. Patent No. 10,869,812. The Board granted a joint motion to terminate the instituted IPRs and treated the settlement agreement as confidential business information.

patent terminated or settled · Aug 26, 2024

Pascal Technologies v.Cambridge Enterprise Limited et al.

· IPR2024-01235

Pascal Technologies and Cambridge Enterprise Limited, along with two universities, settled their IPR dispute over U.S. Patent 11,230,656. The Board terminated the proceeding and treated the settlement agreement as confidential business information.

patent instituted · Aug 26, 2024

Pascal Technologies v.Cambridge Enterprise Limited et al.

· IPR2024-01235

Pascal Technologies successfully secured institution of its Inter Partes Review (IPR) against the '656 patent, challenging claims related to barocaloric cooling agents. The Board adopted a broad interpretation of 'organic material,' supporting the Petitioner's argument that the claimed invention is unpatentable over prior art references like Mañosa and Patel.

patent instituted · Aug 11, 2024

Tesla, Inc. v.Charge Fusion Technologies, LLC

· IPR2025-00152

Tesla successfully challenged Charge Fusion Technologies' patent claims in a PTAB institution decision. The Board found sufficient motivation to combine prior art references, rendering numerous independent and dependent claims obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103. This outcome significantly weakens the asserted patent portfolio for Charge Fusion.

patent terminated or settled · Aug 1, 2024

Ilooda Co., Ltd. et al. v.Serendia, LLC

· IPR2024-00386

Endymed Medical and Serendia settled their inter partes review of U.S. Patent 9,480,836, leading the PTAB to terminate the proceeding under 35 U.S.C. § 317.

patent terminated or settled · Aug 1, 2024

Ilooda Co., Ltd. et al. v.Serendia, LLC

· IPR2024-00386

The PTAB granted a joint motion to terminate the IPR for Jeisys Medical Inc. after the parties settled their dispute. The settlement agreement was ordered to be kept confidential, and the proceeding remains open only for EndyMed petitioners.

patent terminated or settled · Aug 1, 2024

Jeisys Medical Inc. et al. v.Serendia, LLC

· IPR2024-00384

Serendia and Jeisys Medical settled their IPR dispute over U.S. Patent 9,320,536, leading the PTAB to terminate the proceeding.

patent terminated or settled · Aug 1, 2024

Jeisys Medical Inc. et al. v.Serendia, LLC

· IPR2024-00384

The Board granted a joint motion to terminate the IPR only for Jeisys Medical Inc. after a settlement with Serendia, while EndyMed remains as a petitioner. The settlement agreement was ordered confidential.

patent instituted · Aug 1, 2024

Ilooda Co., Ltd. et al. v.Serendia, LLC

· IPR2024-00386

Jeisys Medical Inc.'s IPR challenge against Serendia, LLC's '836 patent was instituted by the PTAB. The Board determined that the Petitioner's grounds of obviousness over prior art like Ganz were plausible and warranted further proceedings. This decision moves the dispute toward a trial phase in the medical device technology space.

patent final · Aug 1, 2024

Bowmar Archery LLC v.Futtere, Matthew

· IPR2024-00401

The PTAB issued a Final Written Decision rejecting all unpatentability challenges against the broadhead patent. The Board upheld the patent owner's position on claim construction, specifically defining 'blade member' as having a cutting surface. Despite detailed arguments regarding anticipation and obviousness using multiple prior art references, the Petitioner failed to meet its burden of proof.

patent terminated or settled · Jul 31, 2024

EndyMed Medical Ltd. et al. v.Serendia, LLC

· IPR2024-00842

EndyMed Medical and Serendia settled their inter partes review of U.S. Patent 9,480,836, leading the PTAB to terminate the proceeding. The settlement agreement is treated as confidential business information.

patent instituted · Jul 19, 2024

Solaris Oilfield Site Services Operating, LLC et al. v.Masaba, Inc.

· IPR2024-01179

The PTAB granted institution of IPR for Solaris against Masaba's aggregate handling patent (11780689), finding a reasonable likelihood that key claims are obvious over Waldner and Dynatek.

patent final · Jul 19, 2024

Solaris Oilfield Site Services Operating, LLC et al. v.Masaba, Inc.

· IPR2024-01179

The PTAB found all 25 challenged claims unpatentable as obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103. The Board determined that the combination of prior art references Waldner and Dynatek, along with others like Auld and McIver, rendered the claimed aggregate transferring apparatus predictable engineering.

patent terminated or settled · Jul 17, 2024

Nike, Inc. v.SherryWear, LLC

· IPR2024-01127

Nike and SherryWear reached a confidential settlement, leading the PTAB to terminate a series of inter partes reviews, including the one covering patent 10,219,551. The termination was entered under 35 U.S.C. §317 after the trials had already been instituted.

patent denied · Jun 2, 2024

Delta Power Equipment Corporation et al. v.P & F Brother Industrial Corporation

· IPR2024-00347

Petitioner's attempt to invalidate a cutting machine safety device patent was denied by the PTAB. The Board found that key biasing elements in the prior art did not match the specific limitations of the claims.

patent denied · May 11, 2024

TROVE BRANDS, LLC v.CamelBak Products, LLC

· IPR2025-00146

The PTAB denied TROVE BRANDS' request to institute IPR against CamelBak Products regarding drinkware cap mechanisms. The Board found that the Petitioner failed to show a reasonable likelihood of unpatentability over combinations of prior art references like Kiyota, Choi, Park, and Ribarits.

patent instituted · May 11, 2024

TROVE BRANDS, LLC v.CamelBak Products, LLC

· IPR2025-00140

TROVE BRANDS successfully convinced the PTAB to institute an IPR against CamelBak Products' drinkware patent. The Board found a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on obviousness grounds (103) over prior art references including Nakajima and Ribarits. This decision sets up a detailed examination of complex mechanical features in beverage containers.

patent instituted · Apr 29, 2024

Trove Brands, LLC et al. v.Vista Outdoor Operations LLC

· IPR2024-00858

The PTAB granted institution of IPR for Trove Brands against CamelBak's patent 8905252, finding that the petitioner demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of proving unpatentability over Samartgis and Leoncavallo.

patent terminated or settled · Apr 22, 2024

Applied Concepts Inc. v.Kustom Signals Inc.

· IPR2024-00829

Applied Concepts and Kustom Signals jointly moved to terminate two inter partes review proceedings after reaching a settlement. The Board granted the termination, citing good cause and public policy favoring settlement.

patent instituted · Apr 22, 2024

Applied Concepts Inc. v.Kustom Signals Inc.

· IPR2024-00829

The PTAB granted institution of IPR for 15 claims in a traffic radar system patent (11,194,039) after finding the petitioner demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of proving obviousness over prior art references like Aker and Thomas.

patent instituted · Apr 11, 2024

Skechers U.S.A., Inc. v.Nike, Inc.

· IPR2025-00142

The PTAB granted institution of Inter Partes Review for Skechers against Nike regarding a footwear patent (9730484). The Board determined that Skechers met the threshold by showing a reasonable likelihood of unpatentability over prior art references like Dua and Hong.

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