LinkedIn Challenges to Instant Messaging Patents Fail at Board

Two instant messaging patents survived an administrative challenge from Microsoft Corp. unit LinkedIn.

The US Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board issued separate decisions Friday that US Patent Nos. 8,230,135 and 8,402,179—which cover message notifications—are neither obvious nor anticipated in light of previously issued US patent and patent applications published in the US and South Korea.

The patents are two of four being asserted by privately held Dutch company eBuddy Technologies BV in federal litigation in the US District Court for the District of Delaware.

Previous LinkedIn challenges to the other two asserted patents, which related ...