Askeladden Challenges Validity of Lightwire’s Patent Related to Privacy Protection in Online Transactions
Seeks cancellation of all claims in view of known privacy and security technologies.
For Immediate Release:
Date: August 10, 2020
Contact: Press@patentqualityinitiative.com
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New York, NY -- Askeladden, as part of its Patent Quality Initiative, petitioned the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) on Friday for inter partes review (IPR) of U.S. Patent No. 8,112,405 (the ‘405 Patent’) assigned to Lightwire, LLC. The ’405 patent is directed to a system for creating a “virtual entity” that shields the identity of a user for completing online transactions.
Askeladden asserts that the ’405 Patent’s technology was well-known as demonstrated by the prior art documents cited in the petition:
The ’405 patent claims an anonymous “virtual entity” (i.e., fake identity) provided to a real user for completing transactions over the Internet without disclosing personal information. However, as the Internet rose in popularity, systems like that described in the ’405 patent were well-known. Service providers quickly recognized the efficiencies for performing transactions over the web, and bad actors similarly recognized the opportunity to capture users’ personal information for illicit purposes. The solution of intermediate, dedicated online personas with accompanying proxy transaction information grew naturally from these competing circumstances.
The prior art references cited in this petition plainly demonstrate this fact.
“Ensuring a standard of patent quality upholds the reputation of the entire patent system as well as the value of legitimate patents,” said Sean Reilly, General Counsel for Askeladden. “This IPR petition is Askeladden’s most recent effort to promote reliable patent quality.”
Askeladden’s Patent Challenge Committee—a group of well-respected experts in the area of patent law—chose to petition the PTAB for review of the ’405 patent as part of the Patent Quality Initiative.
Askeladden is represented by David Cavanaugh, Greg Lantier, and Jeff Soller of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP.
About the Patent Quality Initiative
Askeladden is an education, information and advocacy organization with the goal of improving the understanding, use and reliability of patents in financial services and other industries. As part of its Patent Quality Initiative, Askeladden strives to promote better patents and patent holder behaviors by regularly filing amicus briefs, Inter Partes Reviews (IPRs) and engaging in educational activities.