Why the Unified Patents Model Would Not Work in China - IPWatchdog.com | Patents &...
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`Why the Unified Patents Model Would Not Work in
`China
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`By Erick Robinson
`April 26, 2017
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`Print Art
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`I have received a number of inquiries from friends and readers recently
`regarding Unified Patents and whether their model of attacking patents would
`be welcome in China.  I do not represent Unified Patents or any party that has
`been attacked by Unified, but I do have some thoughts on this issue.
`
`Unified Patents is a relatively new form of patent troll that works as a “Troll of
`Trolls” or “ToT.”  They file IPRs (inter-partes reexamination requests) to kill
`patents.  While they purport to only attack “bad patents,” their definition of a
`“bad patent” is simply any patent asserted against their clients.  So who are
`their clients?  Good question – that is a large part of the problem.  They keep
`most of their clients’ identities secret.  Unified does identify a handful of their
`members on their website such as Adobe, Google, NetApp, Roku, and Salesforce.
`
`However, in litigation before the PTAB Unified has (so far successfully) claimed that its member list is a trade secret and should not be
`disclosed, even in IPR proceedings and even to the owner of the patent Unified is seeking to invalidate.  The only persons allowed to see the
`member list in the Dragon IP LLC Case before the PTAB were experts not employed by the patent owner.  It seems remarkably unfair for a
`patent owner to not even know who is the funding source behind an effort to kill their patents that they rightfully obtained.  But that is the
`state of the US patent system right now.
`
`So while no one knows the list of members, it is likely to include many of Silicon Valley’s largest companies.  How is this different from what
`Kingston has asserted Samsung and WiLAN are doing in the US?  Good question.  Kingston’s main assertion appears to be that NPEs can
`provide “shade” for Samsung’s patent attacks against Kingston.  While my understanding is that the assertions underlying Kingston’s
`complaint is nonsense, Unified Patents is, in fact, working for secret clients to attack patents held by competitors and litigation opponents.
`
`Why do these companies not want to file IPRs on their own?  Another good question, and another problem.  Among other reasons, Unified
`Patents’ clients do not want to be seen as killing innovation via attacking patents.  Rather, they pay Unified Patents to do their dirty work. 
`Plus, if Google files an IPR on a particular patent and is unsuccessful (unlikely given the PTAB’s “death squad for patents” label) then it would
`look bad for Google (notwithstanding the Federal Circuit’s ruling in Shaw Industries) to again challenge the patent in litigation.  Unlike an
`administrative PTAB judge who likely will eventually go back to private practice (to represent the large companies filing the IPRs), a jury would
`see that “a second bite at the apple” is unfair.  That is why Unified Patents’ clients are so scared of juries.
`
`In short, Unified Patents makes money by attacking innovation.  Unified would say it is trying to defeat the so-called “patent trolls” (see the
`pitch on their website).  But even when true “trolls” – which I define as parties that filed suspect lawsuits seeking damage amounts far less
`than litigation costs – existed, at least they were on the side of innovators.  The troll entities may have been problematic, but they were
`representing inventors.  The original “patent troll” definition was non-practicing entities, or NPEs.  Unified and their supporters would say that
`any company that does not produce any actual product should not be involved in the patent system.  But this is exactly what Unified does!
`
`Unified Patents is an NPE.  It creates nothing and produces no hard product.  Worse yet, it is on the wrong side of innovation. When Unified
`Patents kills patents in the name of the biggest of the big corporations, they are siding against innovation.  This makes them worse than the
`patent trolls ever were.  Thus, the term Troll of Trolls or ToT.  For those who are upset by this, recall that when Kyle Bass attacked pharma
`patents to lower costs of prescription drugs, he was maligned as a troll.  But Bass was targeting large companies that have on their side billions
`of dollars and significant market leverage.  The reason so many large tech companies are anti-patent is that they simply do not need patents
`since they can squash small inventors with their cash reserves and cross-license with other tech behemoths.
`
`Voip-Pal Ex. 2085
`IPR2016-01198 and IPR2016-01201
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`http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/04/26/unified-patents-model-would-not-work-in-china/i...
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`Why the Unified Patents Model Would Not Work in China - IPWatchdog.com | Patents &...
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`As you can tell, I am not a fan of what Unified Patents is doing:  killing innovation on behalf of huge companies and allowing such companies to
`remain anonymous.  The U.S. has been killing patent rights for the last ten years, and Unified Patents’ existence is merely symbolic of the
`stance that our government has taken:  for them, BigCo pays better than small inventors.
`
`But China is different.  Here, a mercenary third party attacking innovation via patents is problematic.  China, unlike America, has made
`innovation a top priority.  China’s government has also, over the last few years, created the best patent enforcement environment in the
`world.  Unlike the U.S., that makes decisions based on the next fiscal quarter, the Chinese government plays a long game.  They make plans of
`5, 10, and 25 years.  For instance, while China’s economic growth has “slowed” (the quotation marks are because the United States would be
`euphoric with half of China’s 6.5% growth), this is because such a lull is a natural consequence of a shift from a manufacturing-based to an
`innovation- and consumer-based economy.
`
`Because China thinks long-term, its government will be very unlikely to accept attacks on patents by proxy – especially by a foreign company
`such as Unified.  First, patents are essential to China’s growth as a technology powerhouse.  Chinese companies are no longer the copycat
`wannabes of yesteryear.  They are leading the world in many areas of technology.  Not only are they now directly competing with foreign
`companies, they are beating their foreign competitors. Huawei, ZTE, Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Haier, and many others are
`not just more more efficient, they are better.  These new hometown heroes need patent protection, as do the next generation of Chinese
`innovators yet to be created.  The Chinese government is not going to be happy if a foreign Troll of Trolls comes in to kill patents on behalf of
`American companies.
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`I can hear you thinking, “But what about NPEs in China?”  Well, for one thing, NPEs are absolutely necessary to China’s continued tech growth
`and dominance (see my additional articles describing this here and here).  China’s government and courts are not likely to take kindly to any
`action by a foreign ToT, at least regarding NPEs that are doing the right thing and are acting as a Friend of China.  Additionally, the large
`Chinese tech companies in China are already working with the “evil” NPEs that Unified Patents and its clients want to destroy in several ways. 
`Further, although there are no major Chinese-owned NPEs at present, that will change within the next year.
`
`Most important, though, is the very nature of the Unified Patents Model.  The Chinese Anti-Monopoly Law and China’s Anti-Monopoly Agencies
`forbid unfair manipulation of markets via misuse of patents.   Unified Patents’ refusal to name its clients and funding while attacking patents
`would likely be considered to be prima facie unreasonable.  If Unified Patents were to file a validity challenge in China, it would probably be
`required to turn over its client list to the court (and possibly to the anti-monopoly agencies) and these clients would quickly become public.  In
`fact, Unified would probably be required to inform the court for which party or parties it is acting. If Unified tried to be cute and say no one, the
`court could assume that it was acting for all of its clients.  Then not only would Unified Patents itself be ripe for an antitrust and potential
`criminal investigation, but so would its then-public clients.
`
`My guess is that clients of Unified Patents would not be interested in taking a risk of getting on the wrong side of the Chinese government (and
`possibly going to prison).  While certainly none of these consequences are guaranteed, they are a plausible risk.
`
`In the end, Unified Patents would probably fail miserably in China.  If they – or other ToTs do engage the Chinese market, it will be interesting
`to see their executives (and possibly executives of their clients) threatened with prison.  I’m always a fan of a little schadenfreude, so I hope
`they come on over.  China is waiting.
`
`The ideas and opinions expressed in this article are my own as of the time of posting, have not been vetted with my firm or its clients, and
`do not necessarily represent the positions of the firm, its lawyers, or any of its clients.
`
`Tags: anti-monopoly, CAFC, China, doing business in china, doing business with china, Federal Circuit, inter partes, inter partes reexamination,
`inter partes review, IPR, Kingston, non-practicing entities, npe, NPE's, patent, Patent Litigation, patent troll, Patent Trolls, patents, PTAB, Shaw
`Industries, trade secret trolls, Troll of Trolls, Unified Patents, Unified Patents v. Dragon IP, US Patent System, WiLAN
`Posted In: China, Government, Guest Contributors, International, IP News, IPWatchdog Articles, IPWatchdog.com Articles, Patent Trial and
`Appeal Board, Patent Trolls, Patents, USPTO
`There are currently 18 Comments comments.
`
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`EPA April 26, 2017 10:42 am
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`In Europe, at the EPO, opposition by a strawman is explicitly allowed (G4/97).
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`You write: “In short, Unified Patents makes money by attacking innovation”. But UP makes money by attacking patents. If they are succesful, it didn’t
`describe an innovation. If they fail, they wasted a lot of money.
`
`Of course, an incorrectly revoked patent is as bad for innovation as an incorrectly granted one. But it’s the government organization making the wrong
`decision that is to blame there.
`
`UP has a right (and to it’s clients an obligation) to attack patents. Just like a ‘normal’ NPE has the right to sue patent infringers. It only becomes trolling
`when they threaten to attack a perfectly valid patent with the intention to settle for an amount of money smaller than the expected litigation costs. For
`what I’m aware of, that’s not what UP does.
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`Why the Unified Patents Model Would Not Work in China - IPWatchdog.com | Patents &...
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`Erick Robinson April 26, 2017 11:55 am
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`1. I never said what UP does is not technically allowed. As in the US and EU, third parties can challenge patents. My point is that China and its government
`place more emphasis on innovation and invention than protecting large companies than does the US these days.
`
`2. The idea that a successful IPR at the “Patent Death Panel” means the patent was guaranteed to be bad is as silly as saying any patents that brought about
`litigation settlements were guaranteed to be good. The problem is with the IPR process and UP’s abuse, much like typical trolls operated in the mid-2000s.
`
`3. In effect, UP is. It spending its own money. It is spending its clients’ money. Worse, it hides its clients from the public, including the owner of the patent it
`is trying to kill. That will not fly in China.
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`Gene Quinn April 26, 2017 2:19 pm
`
`EPA-
`
`You say: “It only becomes trolling when they threaten to attack a perfectly valid patent…”
`
`I’ll push back here. According to Unified Patents any patent owner who enforces a patent is a patent troll regardless of whether the patent is good, bad or
`ugly. They characterize independent inventors, universities, R&D companies, everyone as an NPE and then define NPEs as patent trolls. So if every patent
`owner who seeks to enforce a patent through licensing or litigation is a troll, then what Unified Patents is doing would seem to properly be characterized as
`its own form of trolling using their own standard… at least in my opinion.
`
`-Gene
`
`Kevin Rieffel April 26, 2017 5:10 pm
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`When did China get IPRs? Sounds like they ripped off the AIA’s greatest innovation in troll fighting…and apparently added government threats of prison!
`What a great foundation for the next generation of IP and innovation policy!
`
`All kidding aside, if there are no IPRs, then a “Troll of Trolls” model would be moot in that jurisdiction. Innovators need to fix our system, not pack up and
`head for China.
`
`This editorial should have been about US deficiencies and Chinese policy strengths rather than speculation
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`Jeff Lindsay April 26, 2017 9:21 pm
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`Thank you for an accurate assessment of what is happening here in China, Eric. The rise of China’s IP system and the momentum behind its rush to innovate
`will catch many in the West completely off guard as the fruits of China’s long-term vision grow. The rapid decline of IP in the West is a reason why some
`innovators and financial backers of innovation in the US are calling it quits and looking to other nations to have a fighting chance. There is hope for change
`in the US, but it will take persistent grassroots efforts and a long time as gargantuan companies get their way in Washington. Sadly, Trump shows no
`interest in fixing the patent system and seems unaware of how severe the problem is. When it comes to IP, now it’s time for the US to learn from China, not
`the other way around. Ironic but not inaccurate.
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`Erick Robinson April 26, 2017 11:06 pm
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`Kevin,
`
`I’m not advocating that anyone be sent to prison and honestly doubt it would happen. But when GSK and IDC got on the wrong side of the patent world in
`China, bad things happened. This is more advice.
`
`Further, this is China They get to make the rules they want to protect their people and industry as they see fit. I have not been asked to opine nor will I. I am
`a guest of this great nation.
`
`To assert that the PTAB is the only problem and not the ToTs such as UP is as silly as saying that the patent system in the mid-2000s was the only problem
`and the trolls (who would settle for far less than litigation costs) were blameless. Abuse is abuse.
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`As for the SME argument, there is no possibility that NPEs or anyone else suing small companies for pocket change in china will be successful. In most ways,
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`EPA April 27, 2017 10:00 am Kevin Rieffel April 27, 2017 11:11 am
`Anon April 27, 2017 9:31 am
`EPA April 27, 2017 7:57 am
`
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`Shawn Ambwani April 28, 2017 11:52 am Erick Robinson April 28, 2017 12:05 pm Shawn Ambwani April 29, 2017 2:06 pm
`Anon April 27, 2017 7:36 am
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`Anon April 27, 2017 11:23 am Benny April 27, 2017 11:42 am Anon April 27, 2017 12:06 pm
`Don Latham April 30, 2017 3:13 pm
`the Chinese system makes a lot more sense than the US system. It is based largely on the German system but with a healthy dose of common sense thrown
`
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`“before” the patent, there is NO “the patented technology” FOR anyone to use.Anon,Benny,
`
`@8 Before and after the patent, everyone has the right to use the patented technology. During its lifetime, they don’t. Hence, the restriction. (a) The ToT model would not work but for the existence of IPRs (i.e., inexpensive alternative to invalidity litigation, w/ a lesser standard and minimal
`EPA,
`@Erick
`
`
`Love the article Erick and thanks for the warning. We will take it to heart! Unified Patents and I loved it so much that I shared it in LinkedIn to make sure as American arrogance is the root of much failure in China. If only it were true in the US.Here is the link btw to your article I shared Erick with my commentary. Your articles are always great.
`This is a great follow-up article and it should be noted that the “follow-up” is in relation to an exchange between Mr. Quinn and one Shawn Ambwani.
`Won’t work. The Chinese simply don’t give a damn re patents.
`in. There is uncertainty as within any legal system. But some things are clear, and one is that ToTs killing patents on behalf of unknown large companies
`discovery and construction)
`1. I never said you said that.
`
`many people will take a look at it. Rest assured if we were ever to file in China it will be with the backing of many innovative Chinese companies.https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6263514233540091904/
`at 12. You appear to assume that the USPTO has never granted a claim for innovation which was public prior to filing the application. I can easily prove that
`would not fly. That’s the point of my article.
`Before the patent, this right to use the technology may sound somewhat hypothetical, but especially in the event of an invalid patent that right does exist.
`It is a subtle twist – but a twist nonetheless to speak of “restricting rights of others” as if there was an actual right that infringers have.
`Mr. Ambwani provided his perspective in the comment section of a recent thread, and I could not help but notice that his perspective appeared to be a
`
`The attempt to weasel with “in the event of an invalid patent” is thus rejected.Your characterization is patently false.
`(b) What makes Chinese patent protection allegedly strong is the lack of IPRs–not the lack of ToTs–and certainly not an ability for a government to strong-
`2. Blame the PTAB (based on facts and arguments, not mere assertions), not the companies who use the PTAB for what it was designed for.
`assumption to be false.
`“professional” one aligned with the mission of Unified Patents.
`3. It is up to UP and their clients whether they want to waste money and whose money they want to waste. A patent (rightfully) restricts the rights of
`arm and pierce the veil.
`When you consider the patent invalid and the restrictions it causes unjust, you can challenge it. If you want to use the technology before you have
`Methinks that the kool-aid of “efficient infringement” stains thy lips.
`
`The notion of “when you consider” places an untoward – and legally nonsensical – “right” where one just does not exist. One can challenge anything, It simply is not a matter that improvident patents have been granted – and no one is arguing thusly.
`everyone except the patent proprietor himself. Why should then not everyone be allowed to challenge its validity? All companies invest money without
`(c) Are we presuming that banning the “ToT” model would reduce patent deaths at the PTAB? Like 90% of asserted patents are thrown into IPR.
`I also could not help but notice that this mission goes against one of the original core beliefs that our founding fathers had in relation to patents: the
`successfully challenged the patent, you can only do so on your own risk.
`whether or not the item being challenged is valid. And it is merely a truism unrelated to any desired state of “right” that using a technology prior to a
`Quite in fact, my response elucidates that such a charge is nothing but a smokescreen, and attempts to place on “equal footing” a non (legal) right and an
`wanting the whole world to know what they are investing their money in. Why shouldn’t it be allowed to invest in a third party who wants to invalidate a
`property aspect of full alienability of a granted patent.
`successful challenge is done so at one’s own risk. The use of the truism is merely an attempt to lend some “credibility” to the first part of your response, and
`Doesn’t this post lose sight of the real issues? Is IP Watchdog giving up on advocating to alter/eliminate IPRs?
`expressly written legal right.
`patent?
`that too is rejected.
`The ability to be solely (or even merely mainly) an innovator and NOT an innovator and the one who put that innovation into the market with goods that
`Please pay better attention.
`@Gene
`reflect the innovation is a critical pillar of the US patent system.
`“restriction” simply does not fit for what you want it to fit. As I stated – this is a subtle but nonetheless real manipulation and it is one that seeks to avoid the
`I cannot speak for UP and am not going to defend or even confirm their definition of what a troll is. You appear to assume that I share an opinion that “every
`actual state of law of a granted patent (the presumption of validity) with somehow placing on “equal footing” the mere possibility of an improvident grant –
`We should not allow ourselves to be shackled to a “tyranny of the makers” view that innovation divorced from those putting something into the market is
`patent owner who seeks to enforce a patent through licensing or litigation is a troll”, but in my original comment I say the opposite; An NPE is only a troll
`and the “right” of an infringer thereof – and the actual right – by law – that a patent creates.
`somehow a “bad thing.”
`when it threatens with expensive lawsuits using clearly invalid and/or not infringed patents.
`Your spiel comes across as a script from the “efficient infringement” lobby.
`Quite the opposite should be our diligent aim – to make sure that the full alienability aspect of the property of a granted patent is maintained.
`TL;DR – In my opinion, a good functioning patent system can have (and maybe even needs) NPEs that enforce valid patents as well as NPEs that invalidate
`I will have none of it, as I know better.
`invalid patents. Both types of NPEs should refrain from trolling PEs by threatening them into needless and expensive litigation. But do you have any
`examples in which Unified Patents has shown such behaviour?
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