UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`
`
`
`
`MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC., MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS,
`INC., and MICRON TECHNOLOGY TEXAS LLC,
`Petitioners,
`v.
`NETLIST, INC.,
`Patent Owner.
`
`
`Case IPR2024-00370
`
`Patent 10,268,608
`
`Inventors: Hyun Lee and Jayesh R. Bhakta
`
`Title: MEMORY MODULE WITH TIMING-CONTROLLED DATA PATHS IN
`DISTRIBUTED DATA BUFFERS
`
`PETITIONERS’ MOTION FOR JOINDER
`UNDER 35 U.S.C. §315(c) AND 37 CFR § 42.122(b)
`
`
`
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`
`
`
`
`MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC., MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS,
`INC., and MICRON TECHNOLOGY TEXAS LLC,
`Petitioners,
`v.
`NETLIST, INC.,
`Patent Owner.
`
`
`Case IPR2024-00370
`
`Patent 10,268,608
`
`Inventors: Hyun Lee and Jayesh R. Bhakta
`
`Title: MEMORY MODULE WITH TIMING-CONTROLLED DATA PATHS IN
`DISTRIBUTED DATA BUFFERS
`
`PETITIONERS’ MOTION FOR JOINDER
`UNDER 35 U.S.C. §315(c) AND 37 CFR § 42.122(b)
`
`
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`Introduction .................................................................................................... 1
`I.
`Background and Related Proceedings ......................................................... 2
`II.
`III. Arguments ...................................................................................................... 3
`A.
`Joinder Is Warranted under Kyocera ..................................................... 4
`1.
`Factor 1: Joinder is appropriate................................................... 4
`2.
`Factor 2: Micron’s petition proposes no new grounds for
`unpatentability ............................................................................. 5
`Factor 3: Joinder will not unduly burden or negatively
`impact the Samsung IPR trial schedule ...................................... 5
`Factor 4: Procedure to simplify briefing and discovery ............. 7
`4.
`IV. Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 9
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3.
`
`
`
`i
`
`
`
`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
` Page(s)
`
`Cases
`Apple Inc. v. INVT SPE LLC,
`IPR2019-00958, Paper 9 (PTAB May 30, 2019) ............................................. 6, 9
`AT&T Servs., Inc. v. Convergent Media Solutions, LLC,
`IPR2017-01235, Paper 11 (PTAB May 9, 2017) ................................................. 8
`BlackBerry Corp. v. Uniloc 2017 LLC,
`IPR2019-01283, Paper 10 (PTAB Nov. 5, 2019) ................................................. 5
`Celltrion, Inc. v. Genentech, Inc.,
`IPR2018-01019, Paper 11 (PTAB Oct. 30, 2018) ................................................ 7
`Ericsson Inc. v. Uniloc 2017 LLC,
`IPR2020-00376, Paper 16 (PTAB May 22, 2020) ............................................... 8
`Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd.,
`IPR2018-01260, Paper 12 (PTAB Nov. 14, 2018) ............................................... 7
`Intel Corp. v. Alacritech, Inc.,
`IPR2018-01352, Paper 11 (PTAB Jan. 8, 2019) .............................................. 6, 9
`Kyocera Corp. v. Softview LLC,
`IPR2013-00004, Paper 15 (PTAB Apr. 24, 2013) ............................................... 4
`Lear, Inc. v. Adkins,
`395 U.S. 653 (1969) .............................................................................................. 5
`Pfizer Inc. v. Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH,
`IPR2019-00980, Paper 12 (PTAB Aug. 15, 2019) ............................................... 7
`Samsung Elecs., Co. v. Raytheon Co.,
`IPR2016-00962, Paper 12 (PTAB Aug. 24, 2016) ........................................... 3, 5
`Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. v. Netlist, Inc.
`IPR2023-00847, Paper 13 (PTAB Dec. 12, 2023) ............................................... 1
`Sony Corp. v. Memory Integrity, LLC,
`IPR2015-01353, Paper 11 (PTAB Oct. 15, 2015) ............................................ 6, 9
`ii
`
`
`
`
`
`Statutes
`35 U.S.C. § 315(b) ..................................................................................................... 3
`35 U.S.C. § 315(c) ................................................................................................. 1, 3
`Other Authorities
`37 C.F.R. § 42.122(b) ............................................................................................ 1, 3
`
`
`
`
`iii
`
`
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`Petitioners Micron Technology, Inc.; Micron Semiconductor Products, Inc.;
`
`and Micron Technology Texas LLC (collectively “Micron”), respectfully submit this
`
`Motion for Joinder (“Motion”) together with a Petition (“Micron Petition”) for Inter
`
`Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 10,268,608 (“’608 Patent”). The Board instituted
`
`inter partes review of claims 1-12 of the ’608 Patent in Samsung Electronics Co.,
`
`Ltd. v. Netlist, Inc., IPR2023-00847 (“Samsung IPR”) on December 12, 2023. Paper
`
`13. Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 315(c) and 37 C.F.R. § 42.122(b), Micron respectfully
`
`requests institution of inter partes review of the same claims of the ’608 Patent based
`
`on the same grounds presented in the Samsung IPR and further requests joinder with
`
`the Samsung IPR.
`
`Micron’s request for joinder is timely because it is made no later than one
`
`month after the December 12, 2023 institution date of the Samsung IPR. Further,
`
`Micron’s joinder will not unduly burden or prejudice the parties to the Samsung IPR
`
`and will efficiently resolve the patentability of the ’608 Patent in a single IPR
`
`proceeding. The Micron Petition is substantively identical to Samsung Electronics
`
`Co. Ltd.’s petition (“Samsung Petition”) in the Samsung IPR. The Micron Petition
`
`seeks review of the same patent claims challenged in the Samsung IPR, advances
`
`the same grounds for unpatentability that were instituted in the Samsung IPR, and
`
`relies on the same evidence (including expert declarations) as the Samsung IPR.
`
`
`
`1
`
`
`
`Additionally, Micron proposes streamlining the proceedings by taking an
`
`“understudy” role (unless Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is terminated from the
`
`proceedings). Finally, Petitioner in the Samsung IPR does not oppose Micron’s
`
`joinder.
`
`Accordingly, Micron respectfully requests that the Board institute the Micron
`
`Petition and join this IPR with the Samsung IPR.
`
`II. BACKGROUND AND RELATED PROCEEDINGS
`The following judicial or administrative matters would affect, or be affected
`
`by, a decision in this proceeding concerning the ’608 Patent.
`
`• Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. v Netlist, Inc., IPR2023-00847 (“Samsung
`
`IPR”)
`
`• Netlist, Inc. v. Micron Technology, Inc. et al., No. 1:22-cv-00136 (W.D.
`
`Tex. filed Apr. 28, 2021)
`
`• Netlist, Inc. v. Micron Technology, Inc. et al., No. 2:22-cv-00203 (E.D.
`
`Tex. filed June 10, 2022)
`
`• Netlist, Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al., No. 2:22-cv-00293
`
`(E.D. Tex. filed August 1, 2022); Netlist, Inc. v. Micron Technology, Inc.
`
`et al., 2:22-cv-00294 (E.D. Tex. filed August 1, 2022)
`
`• Netlist, Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al., No. 2:21-cv-00463
`
`(E.D. Tex. filed Dec. 20, 2021)
`
`
`
`2
`
`
`
`• Micron Technology, Inc. et al. v. Netlist, Inc., IPR2022-00237
`
`• Micron Technology, Inc. et al. v. Netlist, Inc., IPR2022-00236
`
`• Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. v Netlist, Inc., IPR2022-00711
`
`• Micron Technology, Inc. et al. v. Netlist, Inc., IPR2023-00205
`
`• SK hynix Inc. et al. v. Netlist, Inc., IPR2017-00730
`
`III. ARGUMENTS
`The Board may join as a party to an instituted inter partes review a person
`
`who has properly filed a petition for inter partes review that warrants institution. 35
`
`U.S.C. § 315(c). Any request for joinder must be filed “no later than one month after
`
`the institution date of any inter partes review for which joinder is requested.” 37
`
`C.F.R. § 42.122(b). A petition for inter partes review is not subject to the one year
`
`statutory time bar if the petition is accompanied by a request for joinder. 35 U.S.C.
`
`§ 315(b); 37 C.F.R. § 42.122(b).
`
`“A motion for joinder should (1) set forth reasons why joinder is appropriate;
`
`(2) identify any new grounds of unpatentability asserted in the petition; (3) explain
`
`what impact (if any) joinder would have on the trial schedule for the existing review;
`
`and (4) address specifically how briefing and discovery may be simplified.”
`
`Samsung Elecs., Co. v. Raytheon Co., IPR2016-00962, Paper 12 at 5 (PTAB Aug.
`
`24, 2016) (citing Kyocera Corp. v. Softview LLC, IPR2013-00004, Paper 15 at 4
`
`(PTAB Apr. 24, 2013)).
`
`
`
`3
`
`
`
`A.
`
`Joinder Is Warranted under Kyocera
`Factor 1: Joinder is appropriate
`1.
`Joinder with the Samsung IPR is appropriate because the Micron Petition
`
`involves the same patent, challenges the same claims, and is based on the same
`
`grounds and supported by the same technical expert declaration and evidence as the
`
`Samsung Petition. Additionally, as noted below, the Micron Petition raises only the
`
`grounds from the Samsung IPR. In short, the Micron Petition is substantively
`
`identical to the Samsung Petition, with only minor changes, e.g., changes necessary
`
`for proper identification of the party filing the petition and corresponding
`
`documents. On the merits, the Micron Petition should therefore be instituted for at
`
`least the same reasons that the Board instituted the Samsung IPR. Further, good
`
`cause exists to allow joinder, given that the Micron Petition is substantively identical
`
`to the Samsung Petition, and joinder would allow the Board to effectively resolve
`
`the identical challenges raised by both parties in a single proceeding.
`
`Additionally, Micron is currently involved in litigation based on Patent
`
`Owner’s allegation that Micron’s products infringe the ʼ608 Patent. See Netlist, Inc.
`
`v. Micron Technology Inc. et al., 1:22-cv-00136, Dkt. 1 (W.D. Tex. April 28, 2021).
`
`Micron therefore has a particular interest in the substantial questions of invalidity
`
`surrounding the ’608 Patent. Joinder is also appropriate for the additional reason that
`
`the invalidity grounds as to the challenged claims can be resolved through Micron’s
`
`
`
`4
`
`
`
`continued participation in the IPR process, even if the original petitioner in IPR2023-
`
`00847 were to reach a settlement with Patent Owner, or otherwise cease participation
`
`in that proceeding. The public interest in “permitting full and free competition in the
`
`use of ideas which are in reality a part of the public domain.” Lear, Inc. v. Adkins,
`
`395 U.S. 653, 670 (1969), favors allowing joinder in this case, as joinder would
`
`allow Micron to continue participating in the IPR process if Samsung ceases
`
`participation.
`
`2.
`
`Factor 2: Micron’s petition proposes no new grounds for
`unpatentability
`The Micron Petition does not present any new grounds or arguments regarding
`
`unpatentability. It is substantively identical to the Samsung Petition. The Board
`
`“routinely grants motions for joinder where the party seeking joinder introduces
`
`identical arguments and the same grounds raised in the existing proceeding.”
`
`BlackBerry Corp. v. Uniloc 2017 LLC, IPR2019-01283, Paper 10 at 8 (PTAB Nov.
`
`5, 2019) (quoting Samsung, IPR2016-00962, Paper 12 at 9). This factor therefore
`
`favors joinder.
`
`3.
`
`Factor 3: Joinder will not unduly burden or negatively impact the
`Samsung IPR trial schedule
`Joinder will not unduly burden Patent Owner. Because the Micron Petition
`
`presents the same grounds and arguments as the Samsung Petition, there are no new
`
`issues for Patent Owner to address. See Sony Corp. v. Memory Integrity, LLC,
`
`
`
`5
`
`
`
`IPR2015-01353, Paper 11 at 6 (PTAB Oct. 15, 2015) (granting motion for joinder
`
`and instituting IPR where “joinder should not necessitate any additional briefing or
`
`discovery from Patent Owner beyond that already required in [the original IPR]”).
`
`Indeed, the Patent Owner’s Preliminary Response in the Samsung IPR is sufficient
`
`to address the Micron Petition because the issues presented are substantively
`
`identical. See Patent Owner’s Preliminary Response, Case No. IPR2023-00847,
`
`Paper 6 (Sep. 14, 2023).
`
`Likewise, joinder will not negatively impact the Samsung IPR trial schedule.
`
`Micron expressly consents to the existing trial schedule. Further, as described below,
`
`Micron agrees to take an “understudy” role in the joined proceeding, so long as
`
`Samsung remains an active part in the joined proceeding. See, e.g., Apple Inc. v.
`
`INVT SPE LLC, IPR2019-00958, Paper 9 at 6–8 (PTAB May 30, 2019) (granting
`
`motion for joinder where the movant presented a substantively identical petition and
`
`agreed to take an “understudy” role in the joined proceeding); Intel Corp. v.
`
`Alacritech, Inc., IPR2018-01352, Paper 11 at 3–5 (PTAB Jan. 8, 2019) (same).
`
`Finally, the Micron Petition relies on the same technical expert declaration as
`
`the Samsung Petition. (EX1003) (Decl. of Dr. Robert Wedig). Therefore, joinder will
`
`not increase the complexity of the proceeding. Indeed, the Board typically grants
`
`joinder where a petitioner presents a different witness with a substantially similar
`
`declaration. See, e.g., Pfizer Inc. v. Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, IPR2019-
`
`
`
`6
`
`
`
`00980, Paper 12 at 3–4, 6–7 (PTAB Aug. 15, 2019); Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd.,
`
`IPR2018-01260, Paper 12 at 4, 6–7 (PTAB Nov. 14, 2018); Celltrion, Inc. v.
`
`Genentech, Inc., IPR2018-01019, Paper 11 (Oct. 30, 2018).
`
`Factor 4: Procedure to simplify briefing and discovery
`4.
`Micron agrees to take an “understudy” role in the joined proceeding, absent
`
`termination of the original petitioner as a party. Specifically, Micron agrees to the
`
`following conditions regarding the joined proceeding, so long as Samsung remains
`
`an active party in the joined proceeding:
`
`1. Micron will not be making any substantive filings, and Micron agrees that
`
`Samsung alone will be responsible for all substantive petitioner filings in
`
`the joined proceeding;
`
`2. Micron agrees to be bound by all filings by Samsung in the joined
`
`proceeding, except for filings regarding termination and settlement;
`
`3. Micron must obtain prior Board authorization to file any paper or to take
`
`any action on its own in the joined proceeding;
`
`4. Micron shall not be permitted to raise any new grounds not already
`
`instituted by the Board in the Samsung IPR, or introduce any argument or
`
`discovery not already introduced by Samsung;
`
`5. Micron shall be bound by any agreement between Patent Owner and
`
`Samsung concerning discovery and depositions;
`
`
`
`7
`
`
`
`6. Micron will not cross-examine or defend any witness at deposition;
`
`7. Samsung will be responsible for any oral hearing presentation, including
`
`the preparation of demonstrative exhibits.
`
`Only if Samsung ceases participation in the proceeding:
`
`8. Micron would assume a primary role, meaning it would take over the
`
`role previously filled by Samsung.
`
`See Ericsson Inc. v. Uniloc 2017 LLC, IPR2020-00376, Paper 16 at 10 (granting a
`
`motion for joinder with the same conditions).
`
`The eight conditions listed above are intended to capture Petitioner’s proposed
`
`“understudy” role. Samsung stated it does not oppose Micron’s joinder under the
`
`conditions specified above. The conditions are also consistent with the Board’s
`
`stated conditions of joinder in other cases. Id.; see also AT&T Servs., Inc. v.
`
`Convergent Media Solutions, LLC, IPR2017-01235, Paper 11 at 36–37 (PTAB May
`
`9, 2017) (Lee, J.) (granting joinder with similar limitations on an understudy).
`
`The Board has consistently found that the acceptance of an “understudy” role
`
`removes any undue complications or delay that might allegedly result from joinder.
`
`See, e.g., Apple, IPR2019-00958, Paper 9 at 6–8 (granting motion for joinder where
`
`the movant presented a substantively identical petition and agreed to take an
`
`“understudy” role in the joined proceeding); Intel Corp., IPR2018-01352, Paper 11
`
`
`
`8
`
`
`
`at 3–5 (same); Sony Corp., IPR2015-01353, Paper 11 at 6–7. As such, this factor
`
`also favors joinder.
`
`IV. CONCLUSION
`For the reasons above, Micron respectfully requests that the Board grant
`
`joinder with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. v. Netlist, Inc., Case No. IPR2023-00847.
`
`
`Dated: January 10, 2024
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`/ Matthew A. Hopkins /
`Matthew A. Hopkins (Reg. No. 76,273)
`mhopkins@winston.com
`WINSTON & STRAWN LLP
`1901 L Street, N.W.
`Washington, DC 20036
`Telephone: (202) 282-5000
`Facsimile: (202) 282-5100
`
`Michael R. Rueckheim (Pro Hac Vice to
`be submitted)
`MRueckheim@winston.com
`Ryuk Park (Pro Hac Vice to be submitted)
`RPark@winston.com
`WINSTON & STRAWN LLP
`255 Shoreline Drive, Suite 520
`Redwood City, CA 94065
`Telephone: (650) 858-6500
`Facsimile: (650) 858-6559
`
`
`Counsel for Petitioners Micron
`Technology, Inc.; Micron Semiconductor
`Products, Inc.; and Micron Technology
`Texas LLC
`
`9
`
`
`
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
`Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. §§ 42.6(e) and 42.105(a), I hereby certify that on
`
`January 10, 2024, a true and correct copy of the foregoing “PETITIONERS’
`
`MOTION FOR JOINDER UNDER 35 U.S.C. § 315(c) AND 37 C.F.R. §
`
`42.122(b)” including all attachments, appendices and exhibits, has been served in its
`
`entirety by FedEx Express on the following counsel of record for patent owner of
`
`10,268,608 at the correspondence address of record:
`
`Jamie Zheng
`USCH Law, PC
`3790 El Camino Real #1147
`Palo Alto, CA 94304
`
`A courtesy copy of this Motion was also served upon litigation counsel for
`
`Patent Owner via email, as follows:
`
`Samuel F. Baxter (sbaxter@mckoolsmith.com)
`Jennifer L. Truelove (jtruelove@mckoolsmith.com)
`MCKOOL SMITH, P.C.
`
`Jason Sheasby (jsheasby@irell.com)
`Annita Zhong (hzhong@irell.com)
`IRELL & MANELLA LLP
`
`
`/ Matthew A. Hopkins /
`Matthew A. Hopkins (Reg. No. 76,273)
`
`Counsel for Petitioners Micron
`Technology, Inc.; Micron Semiconductor
`Products, Inc.; and Micron Technology
`Texas LLC
`
`10
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.
After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.
Accept $ Charge
Still Working On It
This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.
Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.
A few More Minutes ... Still Working
It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.
Thank you for your continued patience.
This document could not be displayed.
We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.
Your account does not support viewing this document.
You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.
Your account does not support viewing this document.
Set your membership
status to view this document.
With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll
get a whole lot more, including:
- Up-to-date information for this case.
- Email alerts whenever there is an update.
- Full text search for other cases.
- Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.
One Moment Please
The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.
Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.
Your document is on its way!
If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.
Sealed Document
We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.
If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.
Access Government Site
