Lockable Smartphone Pouch Maker Sues to Invalidate New Patent

The maker of magnetically locked smartphone pouches asked a federal judge to declare its products don’t infringe a newly issued patent, which it also says is invalid and was improperly granted.

Yondr Inc.'s US Patent No. 12,133,078, which was issued Tuesday and describes a lockable container for cell phones, is invalid under several provisions of the Patent Act, according to the Win Elements LLC’s complaint filed Tuesday in the US District Court for the Central District of California.

Win Elements contends that Yondr’s patent is invalid because it covers ineligible subject matter and is anticipated and obvious in light ...