$3,000 for Valtrus data security patent prior art

Unified Patents added a new PATROLL contest, with a $3,000 cash prize, seeking prior art on at least claim 1 of U.S. Patent 7,904,686, owned and asserted by Valtrus Innovations Ltd., an NPE. The '686 patent describes a method and apparatus for enhancing data security within a file system. The invention addresses shortcomings in existing data security by offering an alternative to traditional encryption-decryption methods and online licensing checks, which can be time-consuming, confusing, or insufficient for preventing unauthorized file reconstruction. The patent has been asserted against Apache Hadoop implementations within applications owned or created by The Home Depot, NetApp, and FedEx.

The contest will expire on December 1, 2025. Please visit PATROLL for more information and to submit an entry for the contest. PATROLL researchers are required to use Pearl to generate claim charts. Submitted invalidity charts must address every limitation of the challenged claim. This may require using more than one prior art reference. PATROLL researchers are required to use Pearl to initially generate claim charts, and then researchers must add relevant figures and highlighting before submitting each chart. Each PATROLL researcher can generate up to 30 invalidity claim charts per month using Pearl. These charts can be downloaded then submitted to PATROLL.

This PATROLL contest is co-sponsored by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) and is a part of a continuing series of contests in their Cloud Native Heroes Challenge program. Cloud native developers can earn swag and prizes by helping us defeat patent trolls. Find more information on CNCF and the challenges within the links below:

Wilus Wi-Fi patent challenge instituted

On October 7, 2025, six weeks after Unified filed an ex parte reexamination, the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) granted Unified’s request, finding substantial new questions of patentability on the challenged claims of U.S. Patent 10,820,233, owned and asserted by Wilus Institute of Standards & Technology, Inc., an entity of Good Day to Invent, Inc.

The '233 patent is generally directed to wireless terminals that receive an A-MPDU (aggregated MAC protocol data unit) that includes a MSDU (MAC service data unit) or A-MSDU (aggregated MSDU) from multiple users and transmits back a block ACK (block acknowledgement) to at least some of those users, where the block ACK has a particular format dictated by the numerous elements of the claims. It has been asserted against Askey Computer Corporation and its routers, which are Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) enabled devices.

View district court litigations by Wilus. Unified is represented by Michael Jones and Jake Rosvold of Rothwell Figg, and by in-house counsel, Jessica L.A. Marks and Vinu Raj, in this proceeding.

To view the reexamination request, visit Unified’s Portal: https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/exparte/90015487

Malikie email patent challenged

On October 3, 2025, Unified filed an ex parte reexamination proceeding against U.S. Patent 10,779,156, another patent owned and asserted by Malikie Innovations Limited, an NPE and entity of Key Patent Innovations Limited. The ‘156 patent, formerly assigned to Blackberry Ltd., is directed to a mobile device communicating with a server to retrieve a pending data message (i.e., email) after the device receives an enable message, which indicates that the pending data message is available. It has been asserted against Match and Bumble. Malikie Innovations has filed several other litigations funded by Key Patent Innovations Limited against networking communications, apps, and Wi-Fi devices.

View district court litigations by Malikie. Unified is represented by Chris Schmidt and Eric Buresh of Erise IP, and by in-house counsel, David Seastrunk and Jordan Rossen, in this proceeding.

Unified is hiring for full-time Senior Patent Counsel - Apply Today!

Click HERE to apply

Unified Patents is again growing its legal department, and seeks to add an experienced, registered patent attorney. Applicants should have at least 5 years of law firm or other relevant experience before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), in particular working on ex parte reexamination proceedings, post-grant petitions (IPR, PGR, and CBM), or other administrative drafting and litigation experience.

Applicants should have a strong technical background and be willing to explore diverse new technologies; experience with video codecs, coding, cryptography, compression, signals, wireless communications, or other algorithmic subject matter is a plus. Patent examination experience is a plus; clerking experience is a plus; familiarity with ongoing appellate issues affecting PTAB practice is a plus. Must be willing to work within a team, work well independently, and enjoy writing and editing. Preference for candidates located in the Washington, DC area; remote officing is possible. Diversity is prized in our team and among our candidates. Please be prepared to discuss the administrative matters you have been involved in and be ready to provide examples.

Duties

Managing patent office proceedings internally

Drafting, filing, and litigating patent office proceedings, e.g., ex parte reexaminations

Handling calls with decision makers

Drafting motions and briefs

Supporting senior attorneys with management of ongoing matters

Support docketing, e-filing, deposit account, budgeting, and other IP functions

Editing work product of colleagues, outside counsel

Amicus curiae drafting and support; comment drafting and support

Contract, licensing, and other legal support services

Legal writing, support, and other various legal duties

Requirements

5 years of PTAB (drafting petitions, filing, litigating, deposition) or relevant reexamination experience

State Bar and Patent Registration Examination passage

Ability to work independently and in a team

Excellent English written and oral communication skills

Preferred Additional Qualities

Patent Office examination experience

Algorithmic, codec, and other code-based subject matter experience

Semiconductor, analog and integrated circuit, and fabrication experience

Appellate and/or clerking experience

EE or CS undergraduate degree

Graduate Technical (MS, MA, or PhD) degree

Willing to work from DC preferred

Benefits

Aggressive, competitive benefits, with generous vacation and paid-for health insurance and profit-sharing; freedom to work from home when appropriate; maternity and paternity leave; financial support for bar associations and continuing legal education.

DynaIP entity, Random Chat, chat patent challenged

On October 4, 2025, Unified Patents filed an ex parte reexamination proceeding against U.S. Patent 8,402,099, owned and asserted by Random Chat LLC, an NPE and entity of Dynamic IP Deals LLC (d/b/a DynaIP). The '099 patent is generally related to a method for setting up multimedia connections between users. It has been asserted against 29 defendants, 11 of whom are still in suit including Samsung, LG, Zebra Technologies, and others.

View district court litigations by Random Chat. Unified is represented by in-house counsel, Vinu Raj and Jessica L.A. Marks, in this proceeding.