Judge Profile

Grace Karaffa Obermann

70 IP cases indexed. Covers patent matters.

Cases Presided Over

70 cases indexed | Page 2 of 3

patent instituted · Dec 23, 2024

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. v.Molecular Rebar Design, LLC

· IPR2025-00357

The Board instituted an inter partes review of Samsung's petition covering claims 1‑5 of patent 8,968,924 and granted Samsung’s motion to join an existing IPR, terminating the separate proceeding.

patent instituted · Dec 23, 2024

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. v.Molecular Rebar Design, LLC

· IPR2025-00356

The PTAB instituted an inter partes review of Samsung's challenge to claims 1‑8 of U.S. Patent 8,808,909 and granted Samsung’s motion to join the earlier IPR filed by LG Energy Solution, consolidating the disputes.

patent all challenged claims upheld · Dec 23, 2024

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. v.Molecular Rebar Design, LLC

· IPR2025-00359

Samsung’s IPR challenge to Molecular Rebar Design’s lithium‑ion battery patent was rejected; the Board found no unpatentable claims after concluding the petitioner’s obviousness arguments were unsupported.

patent all challenged claims upheld · Dec 6, 2024

LG Energy Solution, Ltd. v.Molecular Rebar Design, LLC

· IPR2024-01013

The PTAB affirmed all claims of LG Energy Solution’s lithium‑ion battery patent after finding the challenger’s obviousness arguments unsupported. The Board emphasized that Ohata’s masterbatch embeds carbon nanotubes, preventing the required ionic attachment, and rejected the petitioner’s speculation about resin removal.

patent all challenged claims upheld · Dec 6, 2024

LG Energy Solution, Ltd. v.Molecular Rebar Design, LLC

· IPR2024-01011

LG Energy Solution’s challenge to the ’924 lithium‑ion battery patent was rejected. The Board found no sufficient evidence of obviousness over the cited prior art, leaving all five claims intact.

patent denied · Oct 28, 2024

Cipla Limited v.Gilead Sciences, Inc.

· IPR2025-00033

The PTAB denied Cipla Limited's IPR petition against Gilead Sciences regarding patent 11,744,802, citing the advanced stage of parallel district court litigation and lack of compelling merits.

patent terminated or settled · Sep 16, 2024

Aputure Imaging Industries Co., Ltd. v.--

· IPR2024-01424

Aputure Imaging and Rotolight settled their IPR disputes covering four patents, leading the PTAB to terminate the proceedings and keep the settlement confidential.

patent terminated or settled · Sep 16, 2024

Aputure Imaging Industries Co., Ltd. v.--

· IPR2024-01422

Aputure Imaging and Rotolight settled their dispute over four USPTO patents, leading the Board to terminate four IPRs before any merits were decided and to keep the settlement confidential.

patent instituted · Sep 16, 2024

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. v.California Institute of Technology et al.

· IPR2024-01451

Bio-Rad Laboratories successfully secured the institution of its IPR against California Institute of Technology's patent, challenging claims based on anticipation and obviousness. The Board found that Bio-Rad demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of prevailing regarding Claim 1 over Larson.

patent final · Sep 16, 2024

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. v.California Institute of Technology et al.

· IPR2024-01451

The PTAB issued a Final Written Decision rejecting all claims (1-19) of the '921 patent. The Board rejected arguments based on obviousness and novelty, particularly concerning multi-occupancy droplet detection in multiplexed biochemical assays.

patent denied · Aug 28, 2024

Cargill, Incorporated v.Bunge Loders Croklaan USA, LLC

· IPR2024-01360

The PTAB denied institution of an IPR challenge brought by Cargill against Bunge Loders Croklaan regarding vegetable fat composition claims. The Board found that the petitioner failed to overcome obviousness grounds, specifically rejecting arguments based on hindsight bias when converting prior art data.

patent denied · Aug 28, 2024

Cargill, Incorporated v.Bunge Loders Croklaan USA, LLC

· IPR2024-01360

Cargill's request for rehearing was denied after the PTAB previously denied institution of IPR against Bunge Loders Croklaan USA regarding a vegetable fat composition patent. The Board found that Cargill’s arguments relied on hindsight bias, specifically in selecting prior art examples to meet claimed triglyceride ranges.

patent instituted · Aug 14, 2024

Shenzhen Root Technology Co., Ltd. et al. v.Chiaro Technology Ltd.

· IPR2024-01296

The PTAB instituted the IPR, finding that Petitioner demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of prevailing on at least one challenged claim. The Board declined discretionary denial despite arguments regarding parallel litigation and prior art cumulative nature.

patent final · Aug 14, 2024

Shenzhen Root Technology Co., Ltd. et al. v.Chiaro Technology Ltd.

· IPR2024-01296

The PTAB issued a Final Written Decision determining that all 46 challenged claims of the '380 patent were unpatentable. The petitioner successfully argued obviousness (103) over various prior art references, including Chang, Fang, and Yuen, concerning breast pump systems.

patent terminated or settled · Aug 5, 2024

Recycled Plastics Industries, LLC et al. v.Tangent Technologies LLC et al.

· IPR2024-00898

Recycled Plastics Industries and Tangent Technologies settled their dispute over U.S. Patent 10,981,350 B1, prompting the PTAB to terminate the IPR before it was instituted.

patent denied · Jul 15, 2024

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. v.California Institute of Technology et al.

· IPR2024-01178

The PTAB denied Bio-Rad Laboratories' request for rehearing regarding the denial of institution in IPR2024-01178, upholding its finding that the petitioner failed to meet the burden of proving unpatentability.

patent denied · Jul 15, 2024

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. v.California Institute of Technology et al.

· IPR2024-01178

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.'s IPR challenge against California Institute of Technology et al. was denied by the PTAB. The Board found that the Petitioner failed to demonstrate sufficient support for key prior art disclosures in Saxonov from the provisional application, leading to a failure to establish unpatentability under 35 U.S.C. 103(a).

patent denied · Jul 15, 2024

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. v.California Institute of Technology et al.

· IPR2024-01177

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. failed to institute an IPR against California Institute of Technology et al.'s patent covering multiplexed analyte detection. The Board found that the Petitioner did not provide sufficient support for key disclosures in the asserted prior art (Saxonov) during the initial petition phase.

patent denied · Jul 5, 2024

Samsung Display Co., Ltd. et al. v.Pictiva Displays International Ltd.

· IPR2024-00855

Samsung Display Co., Ltd.'s IPR petition against Pictiva Displays International Ltd. was denied by the PTAB. The Board found that the petition lacked compelling merits and determined the dispute was better suited for District Court resolution due to complex claim construction issues.

patent instituted · Jun 28, 2024

Samsung Display Co., Ltd. et al. v.Pictiva Displays International Ltd. et al.

· IPR2024-01093

Samsung Display Co., Ltd. successfully petitioned the PTAB against Pictiva Displays International Ltd.'s OLED patents, leading to an Institution Decision on all claims. The dispute centers on whether specific materials qualify as 'matrix material' in Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs).

patent Final Written Decision · Jun 28, 2024

Samsung Display Co., Ltd. et al. v.Pictiva Displays International Ltd. et al.

· IPR2024-01093

The Petitioner successfully demonstrated that the claims are unpatentable over prior art references Choulis, Sugiura, and Thompson. The Board adopted a broad construction of 'matrix material' and found multiple grounds for anticipation (102) and obviousness (103).

patent denied · Jun 6, 2024

BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. v.138 East LCD Advancements Limited et al.

· IPR2024-00977

The PTAB denied institution of the IPR petition filed by BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. against 138 East LCD Advancements Limited. The denial was based on Petitioner's failure to provide sufficient evidence for grounds of anticipation and obviousness over Fujikawa, Kang, and Ikeguchi.

patent denied · May 31, 2024

SHENZHEN ROOT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. et al. v.Chiaro Technology Ltd.

· IPR2024-00953

The PTAB denied institution of an IPR challenge against Chiaro Technology's breast pump patent (11413380) because the petitioner had filed a parallel petition in another proceeding.

patent instituted · May 6, 2024

BOE Technology Group, Co. Ltd. v.138 East LCD Advancements Limited et al.

· IPR2024-00973

BOE Technology Group successfully navigated the initial hurdles in its IPR against 138 East LCD Advancements Limited, leading to the Board instituting the challenge. The Board found sufficient preliminary evidence across multiple grounds of obviousness (102 and 103) concerning liquid crystal display protective circuits.

patent final · May 6, 2024

BOE Technology Group, Co. Ltd. v.138 East LCD Advancements Limited et al.

· IPR2024-00973

The Board found that the majority of claims (1, 3–7, 9–13, 15–18) were unpatentable over Reiner and Takahara based on obviousness. However, Claims 2, 8, and 14 survived the challenge, indicating a mixed outcome for the Petitioner.

patent Final Written Decision · Apr 10, 2024

Runergy Alabama Inc et al. v.Trina Solar Co. Ltd.

· IPR2025-00007

The PTAB issued a Final Written Decision finding all 11 challenged claims unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a). The Board found that the Petitioner successfully demonstrated obviousness over combinations of prior art, specifically involving Chang and Jin for isolation regions in solar cells.

patent denied · Apr 6, 2024

BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. v.138 East LCD Advancements Limited et al.

· IPR2024-00976

BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.'s IPR challenge against the LCD display patent was denied by the PTAB, finding that the petitioner failed to provide sufficient rationale for combining prior art references. The Board determined the obviousness arguments were conclusory and lacked objective support.

patent · Mar 25, 2024

Kohler Co. v.Delta Faucet Company et al.

· IPR2024-00700

The PTAB issued an order extending by 30 days the deadline to issue a decision on remand in the IPR between Kohler and Delta Faucet over U.S. Patent 10,393,363. The extension is justified by the volume of grounds and claims raised in the parties' briefs.

patent final · Mar 25, 2024

Kohler Co. v.Delta Faucet Company et al.

· IPR2024-00700

The Petitioner successfully demonstrated that all 24 claims of the patent were unpatentable over various combinations of prior art references. The Board adopted a broad construction for key terms like 'outer illumination surface' and 'translucent light pipe,' supporting the finding of obviousness across multiple grounds.

patent final · Mar 25, 2024

Kohler Co. v.Delta Faucet Company et al.

· IPR2024-00700

The Board found that claims 1, 2, and 9 were unpatentable over prior art references Tseng and Mizuno based on obviousness. The remaining claims (3-8 and 10-24) were deemed patentable.

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