Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. v. HEADWATER RESEARCH LLC

IPR2025-00482

Samsung has filed a Petition for Director Review challenging the USPTO’s denial of institution for IPR 2025‑00482, arguing the agency’s retroactive policy change violates due process, the APA, and statutory limits.

Jurisdiction
US PTAB
Case Number
IPR2025-00482
Decision Date
28 January 2025
Filing Date
28 January 2025

Detailed Summary

In Petition for Director Review, Samsung Electronics contests the USPTO’s denial of institution for IPR 2025‑00482 covering patent 11,405,429. Samsung contends that the Acting Director’s retroactive rescission of the 2022 Vidal Memo— which had limited discretionary denial based on parallel litigation— violates the Fifth Amendment due process rights and the Administrative Procedure Act. The petition further asserts that the rescission breaches the change‑in‑position doctrine, unlawfully rewrites statutory deadlines and estoppel provisions, and is unconstitutionally vague. Samsung also argues that the rescission should have been subject to notice‑and‑comment rulemaking. The petitioner seeks reversal of the denial and a merits review of the IPR.

Practitioner Note

This case demonstrates the evidentiary and procedural standards applied in patent matters before local courts. Understanding the court's reasoning in Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. vs HEADWATER RESEARCH LLC is valuable context for structuring arguments or assessing risk in similar proceedings.

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