Google Keeps Administrative Victory Over Device-Locating Patent

The Federal Circuit upheld a Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision invalidating an inventor’s patent that was challenged by Google LLC and Microsoft Corp.

The appeals court separately ruled that inventor Carolyn Hafeman couldn’t appeal the board’s “institution” ruling where it decided to scrutinize her patents.

Hafeman sued LG Electronics Inc. in 2021 for selling allegedly infringing phones, laptops, and tablets with pre-loaded Google or Microsoft “find my device” features.

Hafeman argued the administrative reviews should’ve been terminated because the challengers made arguments that duplicated those made by LG in district court.

But a challenge to PTAB “institution-related determinations, even ...