`571-272-7822
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` Paper 44
` Entered: July 1, 2014
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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`_____________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`____________
`
`AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY, AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL
`RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC., EXPEDIA, INC.,
`HOTELS.COM LP, HOTELS.COM GP, LLC, HOTWIRE, INC.,
`ORBITZ WORLDWIDE, INC., PRICELINE.COM, INC.,
`TRAVELOCITY.COM LP, and YAHOO! INC.
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`
`METASEARCH SYSTEMS, LLC
`Patent Owner
`____________
`
`Case CBM2014-00001
`Patent 8,326,924 B1
`____________
`
`
`Before HOWARD B. BLANKENSHIP, KARL D. EASTHOM, and
`BARBARA A. BENOIT, Administrative Patent Judges.
`
`EASTHOM, Administrative Patent Judge.
`
`
`DECISION
`Patent Owner’s Motion for Pro Hac Vice Admission of Richard M. Martinez
`37 C.F.R. § 42.10
`
`
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`
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`
`
`CBM2014-00001
`Patent 8,326,924 B1
`
`
`Patent Owner filed a motion for pro hac vice admission of Richard M.
`Martinez. Paper 39. The motion is unopposed. Paper 43. For the reasons
`provided below, the motion is granted.
`As set forth in 37 C.F.R. § 42.10(c), the Board may recognize counsel
`pro hac vice during a proceeding upon a showing of good cause, subject to
`the condition that lead counsel be a registered practitioner. For example,
`where the lead counsel is a registered practitioner, a non-registered
`practitioner may be permitted to appear pro hac vice “upon showing that
`counsel is an experienced litigating attorney and has an established
`familiarity with the subject matter at issue in the proceeding.” 37 C.F.R. §
`42.10(c). In authorizing motions for pro hac vice admission, the Board also
`requires a statement of facts showing there is good cause to recognize
`counsel pro hac vice, and an affidavit or declaration of the individual
`seeking to appear in this proceeding. See Paper 19 (Notice listing
`requirements).
`In its motion, Patent Owner asserts that there is good cause for Mr.
`Martinez’s pro hac vice admission, as follows: (1) Mr. Martinez has litigated
`patent disputes for at least seventeen years, including patent infringement
`matters before Federal district courts and the United States Court of Appeals
`for the Federal Circuit; and (2) Mr. Martinez has an established familiarity
`with the relevant technology, as he is involved actively in parallel litigations
`in co-pending district court litigation involving the ’924 Patent. Paper 39, 3.
`In support of the motion, Mr. Martinez attests to these facts in a
`declaration with sufficient explanations, attests to being a member in good
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`2
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`CBM2014-00001
`Patent 8,326,924 B1
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`standing of the state bar of Minnesota, and otherwise attests to the
`requirements outlined in Paper 16 for pro hac vice admission. See Ex. 2003.
`The record shows that Mr. Martinez has sufficient legal and technical
`qualifications to represent Patent Owner in this proceeding and that good
`cause exists for Mr. Martinez’s admission. Mr. Martinez will be permitted
`to appear pro hac vice in this proceeding as back-up counsel only. See 37
`C.F.R. § 42.10(c).
`For the foregoing reasons, it is
`ORDERED that Patent Owner’s motion for pro hac vice admission of
`Richard M. Martinez for this proceeding is granted;
`FURTHER ORDERED that Patent Owner is to continue to have a
`registered practitioner represent it as lead counsel for this proceeding;
`FURTHER ORDERED that Mr. Martinez is to comply with the
`Office Patent Trial Practice Guide and the Board’s Rules of Practice for
`Trials, as set forth in Part 42 of Title 37, Code of Federal Regulations;
`FURTHER ORDERED that Mr. Martinez is subject to the Office’s
`disciplinary jurisdiction under 37 C.F.R. § 11.19(a), and the USPTO Rules
`of Professional Conduct set forth in 37 C.F.R. §§ 11.101 et seq.
`
`For PETITIONER:
`
`John D. Vandenberg
`Kristen L. Reichenbach
`KLARQUIST SPARKMAN, LLP
`john.vandenberg@klarquist.com
`kristen.reichenbach@klarquist.com
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`3
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`
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`CBM2014-00001
`Patent 8,326,924 B1
`
`
`For PATENT OWNER:
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`Cyrus A. Morton
`Ryan M. Schultz
`ROBINS, KAPLAN, MILLER, & CIRESI LLP
`CAMorton@rkmc.com
`RMSchultz@rkmc.com
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`4
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