Judge Profile

Michelle N. Ankenbrand

40 IP cases indexed. Covers patent matters.

Cases Presided Over

40 cases indexed | Page 1 of 2

patent denied · Jan 15, 2026

Google LLC et al. v.HEADWATER RESEARCH LLC

· IPR2026-00137

The PTAB, in a Director Review, denied institution of Samsung's inter partes review against Headwater's patent, citing the timing of a parallel court proceeding as a decisive discretionary factor.

patent denied · Jan 15, 2026

Google LLC et al. v.HEADWATER RESEARCH LLC

· IPR2026-00138

The Director Review denied institution of two IPRs against Headwater Research, finding that discretionary factors—particularly the timing of a parallel proceeding—outweighed the petitioner's merits. Samsung Electronics (as petitioner) and Headwater Research presented opposing arguments on the strength of the petition and the proper weighing of Fintiv factors.

patent denied · Jan 15, 2026

Google LLC et al. v.HEADWATER RESEARCH LLC

· IPR2026-00137

The PTAB Director Review denied institution of the IPRs against Headwater Research’s patents, finding the parallel proceeding’s trial date too close to the expected final decision.

patent denied · Oct 31, 2025

Google LLC et al. v.HEADWATER RESEARCH LLC

· IPR2026-00049

The PTAB Director Review denied institution of Samsung's IPR against Headwater's patent, citing the parallel proceeding's trial date as a decisive discretionary factor.

patent denied · Oct 14, 2025

Apple Inc. et al. v.HEADWATER RESEARCH LLC

· IPR2025-01571

The PTAB denied Samsung, Google and other petitioners' request for Director Review of the Final Written Decision in IPR2024-00341, leaving the original decision in place.

patent instituted · Mar 24, 2025

Google LLC et al. v.Withrow Networks Inc.

· IPR2025-00775

The PTAB denied Google’s request for Director Review of the institution decision in IPR2025-00775, leaving Withrow Networks’ patent 10,771,849 B2 instituted.

patent denied · Feb 20, 2025

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. et al. v.OS - NEW HORIZON PERSONAL COMPUTING SOLUTIONS LTD.

· IPR2025-00613

The PTAB denied Samsung's request for Director Review of the institution decision in IPR2025-00613, leaving the IPR uninstituted.

patent · Nov 18, 2024

Yangtze Memory Technologies Company, Ltd. v.Micron Technology, Inc. et al.

· IPR2025-00098

The PTAB granted a Director Review of the institution decision in Micron's IPR against Yangtze Memory, staying the proceedings while the Board reconsidered challenges related to foreign sovereign control and RPI disclosure.

patent denied · Nov 15, 2024

Ericsson Inc. et al. v.Pegasus Wireless Innovation LLC

· IPR2025-00083

The PTAB denied a Director Review request by Ericsson and other petitioners, leaving the institution of Pegasus Wireless Innovation's patent 10,638,463 intact.

patent denied · Nov 15, 2024

Ericsson Inc. et al. v.Pegasus Wireless Innovation LLC

· IPR2025-00084

The PTAB denied Ericsson and co‑petitioners' request for Director Review of the institution decision in IPR2025-00084, leaving the institution of the challenge to Pegasus Wireless Innovation's patent intact.

patent denied · Nov 10, 2024

Micron Technology, Inc. et al. v.Yangtze Memory Technologies Company, Ltd.

· IPR2025-00034

The PTAB denied institution of an IPR for Micron against Yangtze Memory Technologies because the petitioner failed to show a reasonable likelihood of success on any remaining claims after several key claims were disclaimed.

patent denied · Nov 9, 2024

Google LLC v.DH International Ltd.

· IPR2024-01322

The PTAB denied Google LLC's request for Director Review of the institution decision in IPR2024-01322, leaving the institution of patent 9,022,294 B2 in place.

patent denied · Oct 24, 2024

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. v.Netlist, Inc.

· IPR2025-00002

The PTAB denied Samsung’s request for Director Review of the institution decisions in two IPRs against Netlist’s memory‑module patents, keeping the institution rulings in place.

patent denied · Oct 17, 2024

Google LLC et al. v.Cerence Operating Company et al.

· IPR2024-01465

The PTAB denied Google’s request for Director Review of the institution decisions in two IPRs challenging Cerence’s voice‑assistant patent, leaving the institution denials in place.

patent denied · Oct 16, 2024

Google LLC et al. v.Cerence Operating Company et al.

· IPR2024-01464

The PTAB denied Google and co‑petitioners' request for Director Review of a denied institution decision concerning Cerence's in‑car voice‑assistant patent.

patent denied · Sep 30, 2024

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. v.Mullen Industries LLC

· IPR2024-01472

The Director denied institution of an Inter Partes Review (IPR) in a dispute involving Samsung and Mullen Industries. The decision relied on the Fintiv factors, finding that procedural concerns outweighed the merits.

patent denied · Sep 24, 2024

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. v.Harbor Island Dynamic, LLC

· IPR2024-01402

The PTAB denied Samsung’s petitions for Director Review of the institution decisions in four IPRs, including IPR2024-01402 covering patent 7,745,886, leaving the institution decisions unchanged.

patent denied · Sep 24, 2024

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. v.Harbor Island Dynamic, LLC

· IPR2024-01404

The PTAB denied Samsung's petitions for Director Review of institution decisions in four IPRs, leaving the institution rulings in place.

patent denied · Sep 20, 2024

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. v.Harbor Island Dynamic, LLC

· IPR2024-01405

Samsung's request for Director Review of PTAB institution decisions in four IPRs, including the 9,245,826 patent, was denied. The institution decisions therefore remain in effect.

patent denied · Sep 20, 2024

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. v.Harbor Island Dynamic, LLC

· IPR2024-01403

The PTAB denied Samsung's petitions for Director Review of institution decisions in four IPRs, keeping the institution rulings intact.

patent denied · Sep 9, 2024

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. v.Headwater Research LLC

· IPR2024-01396

The Director denied institution of an Inter Partes Review, vacating the Board's decision and favoring Headwater Research LLC over Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. based on procedural timing factors.

patent denied · Aug 10, 2024

Google LLC et al. v.Mullen Industries LLC

· IPR2025-00021

Google and Samsung’s petition to institute an IPR against Mullen Industries’ patent was denied. The Patent Owner’s response emphasized the Director’s discretionary authority, the parallel district‑court trial, and weak petition merits.

patent denied · Aug 10, 2024

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. v.Netlist, Inc.

· IPR2025-00001

The PTAB denied Samsung’s request for Director Review of the institution decision in Netlist’s memory‑module patent case, leaving the institution in place.

patent denied · Aug 10, 2024

Google LLC et al. v.Mullen Industries LLC

· IPR2025-00021

The Director denied institution of IPR for Mullen Industries against Google LLC et al., vacating the prior decision. The denial was based on a holistic Fintiv analysis where procedural factors outweighed the merits.

patent denied · Jul 11, 2024

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. v.KP INNOVATIONS 2, LLC

· IPR2025-00101

The PTAB denied Samsung’s request for Director Review of the institution denial in IPR2025-00101, leaving the original decision unchanged.

patent denied · Jul 10, 2024

Google LLC et al. v.Mullen Industries LLC

· IPR2025-00019

The PTAB upheld the Director’s denial of institution in an IPR against Mullen Industries, finding that parallel district‑court litigation and weak petition merits justified the discretionary denial.

patent denied · Jul 10, 2024

Google LLC et al. v.Mullen Industries LLC

· IPR2025-00018

The PTAB upheld its denial of institution in IPR2025-00018, finding that a parallel district‑court trial and weak petition merits justified the decision. Patent Owner’s response reinforces the Director’s discretionary authority under § 314(d).

patent denied · Jul 10, 2024

Google LLC et al. v.Mullen Industries LLC

· IPR2025-00019

The Director denied institution of an IPR for Mullen Industries against Google LLC et al.'s patent 9204283, vacating the initial Board decision based on Fintiv factors.

patent denied · Jul 10, 2024

Google LLC et al. v.Mullen Industries LLC

· IPR2025-00018

The Director denied institution of an Inter Partes Review (IPR) involving Google and Mullen Industries. The decision vacated the initial grant of institution based on a holistic review of Fintiv factors.

patent denied · Jul 6, 2024

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. v.Empire Technology Development LLC

· IPR2024-00897

Samsung’s request for Director Review of the USPTO’s denial to institute an IPR against Empire Technology’s patent was denied. The Board, led by Judge Ankenbrand, found the petition did not meet the required standards.

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