Amazon Can’t Challenge Patent at PTAB After $5 Million Loss

A U.S. Patent and Trademark Office tribunal denied Amazon.com Inc.’s challenge to a microphone array system patent Wednesday, three weeks after a verdict that the tech giant’s Echo smart speakers infringed the patent.

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board cited concerns about inefficiencies and conflicting decisions after jurors in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas said Amazon owed Vocalife LLC $5 million.

Amazon argued the trial focused on two of the patent’s claims, while its validity challenge targeted a number of additional claims. Amazon also said Vocalife hasn’t guaranteed it won’t sue over those other ...