`571-272-7822
`
`Paper 11
`Entered: December 9, 2024
`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`
`ROKU, INC.,
`Petitioner,
`v.
`VIDEOLABS, Inc.,
`Patent Owner.
`
`IPR2024-01026
`Patent 8,667,304 B2
`
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`
`Before KARL D. EASTHOM, STACEY G. WHITE, and BRIAN P.
`MURPHY, Administrative Patent Judges.
`
`MURPHY, Administrative Patent Judge.
`
`
`SCHEDULING ORDER
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`Case IPR2024-01026
`Patent 8,667,304 B2
`A. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
`INITIAL AND ADDITIONAL CONFERENCE CALLS
`1.
`The parties are directed to contact the Board within one month of this
`Scheduling Order if there is a need to discuss proposed changes to this Order
`or proposed motions that have not been authorized in this Order or other
`prior Order or Notice. See Consolidated Trial Practice Guide (“Consolidated
`Practice Guide”)1 at 9–10, 65 (guidance in preparing for a conference call);
`see also 84 Fed. Reg. 64,280 (Nov. 21, 2019). A request for an initial
`conference call shall include a list of proposed motions, if any, to be
`discussed during the call.
`The parties may request additional conference calls by email, if
`needed. Any email requesting a conference call with the Board shall: (a)
`copy counsel for all parties, (b) briefly indicate the relief requested, (c)
`include two or three dates/times when all parties are available, (d) state
`whether the opposing party opposes the relief requested, and (e) if opposed,
`either certify that the parties have met and conferred telephonically or in
`person to attempt to reach agreement, or explain why such meet and confer
`did not occur. The email shall not contain substantive argument and, unless
`otherwise authorized, shall not include attachments. See Consolidated
`Practice Guide at 9–10.
`
`PROTECTIVE ORDER
`2.
`No protective order shall apply to this proceeding until the Board
`enters one. If either party files a motion to seal before entry of a protective
`order, a jointly proposed protective order shall be filed as an exhibit with the
`motion. It is the responsibility of the party whose confidential information is
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`1 Available at https://www.uspto.gov/TrialPracticeGuideConsolidated.
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`Patent 8,667,304 B2
`at issue, not necessarily the proffering party, to file the motion to seal. 2 The
`Board encourages the parties to adopt the Board’s default protective order if
`they conclude that a protective order is necessary. See Consolidated Practice
`Guide at 107–122 (App. B, Protective Order Guidelines and Default
`Protective Order). If the parties choose to propose a protective order
`deviating from the default protective order, they must submit the proposed
`protective order jointly along with a marked-up (Track Changes) comparison
`of the proposed and default protective orders showing the differences
`between the two and explain why good cause exists to deviate from the
`default protective order.
`The Board and the public have a strong interest in the public
`availability of trial proceedings. Redactions to documents filed in this
`proceeding should be limited to the minimum amount necessary to protect
`confidential information, and the thrust of the underlying argument or
`evidence must be clearly discernible from the redacted versions. We also
`advise the parties that information subject to a protective order may become
`public if identified in a final written decision in this proceeding, and that a
`motion to expunge the information will not necessarily prevail over the
`public interest in maintaining a complete and understandable file history.
`See Consolidated Practice Guide at 21–22.
`DISCOVERY DISPUTES
`3.
`The Board encourages parties to resolve disputes relating to discovery
`on their own. To the extent a dispute arises between the parties relating to
`discovery, the parties must meet and confer to resolve such a dispute before
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`2 If the entity whose confidential information is at issue is not a party to the
`proceeding, please contact the Board.
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`contacting the Board. If attempts to resolve the dispute fail, a party may
`request a conference call with the Board.
`TESTIMONY
`4.
`The Testimony Guidelines appended to the Consolidated Practice
`Guide at 127–130 (App. D, Testimony Guidelines) apply to this proceeding.
`The Board may impose an appropriate sanction for failure to adhere to the
`Testimony Guidelines. 37 C.F.R. § 42.12 (2023). For example, reasonable
`expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred by any party may be levied on a
`person who impedes, delays, or frustrates the fair examination of a witness.
`Whenever a party submits a deposition transcript as an exhibit in this
`proceeding, the submitting party shall file the full transcript of the deposition
`rather than excerpts of only the cited portions. After a deposition transcript
`has been submitted as an exhibit, all parties who subsequently cite to
`portions of the transcript shall cite to the already submitted exhibit instead of
`submitting another copy of the same transcript. See 37 C.F.R. § 42.6(d) (“A
`document already in the record of the proceeding must not be filed again,
`not even as an exhibit or an appendix, without express Board
`authorization.”).
`
`CROSS-EXAMINATION
`5.
`Except as the parties might otherwise agree, for each due date:
`Cross-examination ordinarily takes place after any supplemental evidence is
`due. 37 C.F.R. § 42.53(d)(2).
`Cross-examination ordinarily ends no later than a week before the
`filing date for any paper in which the cross-examination testimony is
`expected to be used. Id.
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`6. MOTION TO AMEND
`Patent Owner may file a motion to amend without prior authorization
`from the Board. Nevertheless, Patent Owner must confer with the Board
`before filing such a motion. 37 C.F.R. § 42.121(a). To satisfy this
`requirement, Patent Owner should request a conference call with the Board
`no later than two weeks prior to DUE DATE 1. See Section B below
`regarding DUE DATES.
`Patent Owner has the option to receive preliminary guidance from the
`Board on its motion to amend. See Notice Regarding a New Pilot Program
`Concerning Motion to Amend Practice and Procedures in Trial Proceedings
`under the America Invents Act before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, 84
`Fed. Reg. 9,497 (Mar. 15, 2019) (“MTA Pilot Program Notice”); see also
`Consolidated Practice Guide at 67. If Patent Owner elects to request
`preliminary guidance from the Board on its motion, it must do so in its
`motion to amend filed on DUE DATE 1.
`Any motion to amend and briefing related to such a motion shall
`comply with the rules pertaining to motions to amend, 37 C.F.R. § 42.121,
`unless otherwise ordered by the Board in this proceeding. The parties are
`further directed to Lectrosonics, Inc. v. Zaxcom, Inc., IPR2018-01129, Paper
`15 (PTAB Feb. 25, 2019) (precedential), and Rules Governing Motion To
`Amend Practice and Procedures in Trial Proceedings Under the America
`Invents Act Before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, 89 Fed. Reg. 76421
`(September 18, 2024) (effective October 18, 2024) (“MTA Final Rule”).
`At DUE DATE 3, Patent Owner has the option to file a reply to the
`opposition to the motion to amend and preliminary guidance, or a revised
`motion to amend. See MTA Final Rule at 76430 (37 C.F.R. § 42.121(e)(3),
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`(f). Patent Owner may elect to file a revised motion to amend even if Patent
`Owner did not request to receive preliminary guidance on its motion to
`amend. A revised motion to amend must provide amendments, arguments,
`and/or evidence in a manner that is responsive to issues raised in the
`preliminary guidance or Petitioner’s opposition.
`If Patent Owner files a revised motion to amend, the Board will enter
`a revised scheduling order setting the briefing schedule for that revised
`motion and adjusting other due dates as needed. See MTA Final Rule at
`76430 (37 C.F.R. § 42.121(f)(1)). The Board may also determine whether to
`request the Chief Administrative Patent Judge to extend the final written
`decision deadline more than one year from the date a trial is instituted in
`accordance with § 42.100(c) and whether to extend any remaining deadlines
`under § 42.5(c)(2). Id.
`As also discussed in the MTA Final Rule, if the Board issues
`preliminary guidance on the motion to amend, and Patent Owner files
`neither a reply to the opposition to the motion to amend nor a revised motion
`to amend at DUE DATE 3, Petitioner may file a reply to the Board’s
`preliminary guidance, no later than three (3) weeks after DUE DATE 3. Id.
`(37 C.F.R. § 42.121(e)(4)). The reply may only respond to the preliminary
`guidance. Patent Owner may file a sur-reply in response to Petitioner’s
`reply to the Board’s preliminary guidance. Id. The sur-reply may only
`respond to arguments made in the reply and must be filed no later than three
`(3) weeks after Petitioner’s reply. Id. No new evidence may accompany the
`reply or the sur-reply in this situation.
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`ORAL ARGUMENT
`7.
`Requests for oral argument must comply with 37 C.F.R. § 42.70(a).
`To permit the Board sufficient time to schedule oral argument, the parties
`shall not stipulate to an extension of the request for oral argument beyond
`the date set forth in the Due Date Appendix.
`Unless otherwise notified by the Board, the parties may request that
`the oral argument be held at USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.
`The parties may also request that the oral argument instead be held virtually
`by videoconference. The parties should state in the request for oral
`argument (DUE DATE 4) whether the parties would prefer either a video
`hearing or an in-person hearing. The Board will conduct an in-person
`hearing only when requested by all parties.
`Note that the Board may not be able to honor the parties’ preferences
`due to, among other things, the availability of hearing room resources, the
`needs of the panel, and USPTO policy at the time of the hearing. The Board
`will consider the parties’ request and notify the parties of how and where the
`hearing will be conducted.
`For in-person hearings, seating in the Board’s hearing rooms may be
`limited, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. If either
`party anticipates that more than five (5) individuals will attend the argument
`on its behalf, the party should notify the Board as soon as possible, and no
`later than the request for oral argument. Parties should note that the earlier a
`request for accommodation is made, the more likely the Board will be able
`to accommodate additional individuals.
`The Board has established the “Legal Experience and Advancement
`Program,” or “LEAP,” to encourage advocates before the Board to develop
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`their skills and to aid in succession planning for the next generation. The
`Board defines a LEAP practitioner as a patent agent or attorney having
`three (3) or fewer substantive oral arguments in any federal tribunal,
`including PTAB. Parties are encouraged to participate in the Board’s LEAP
`program.3 The Board will grant up to fifteen (15) minutes of additional
`argument time to that party, depending on the length of the proceeding and
`the PTAB’s hearing schedule. A party should submit a request, no later than
`at least five (5) business days before the oral hearing, by email to the Board
`at PTABHearings@uspto.gov.4
`All practitioners appearing before the Board shall demonstrate the
`highest professional standards. All practitioners are expected to have a
`command of the factual record, the applicable law, and Board procedures, as
`well as the authority to commit the party they represent. If a LEAP
`practitioner has the best understanding of the facts of the case and evidence
`of record, the Board encourages their participation.
`B. DUE DATES
`This Order sets due dates for the parties to take action after institution
`of the proceeding. The parties may stipulate different dates for DUE
`DATES 1, 5, and 6, as well as the portion of DUE DATE 2 related to
`Petitioner’s reply (earlier or later, but no later than DUE DATE 3 for Patent
`Owner’s sur-reply) and the portion of DUE DATE 3 related to Patent
`Owner’s sur-reply (earlier or later, but no later than DUE DATE 7). The
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`3 Information about the LEAP program can be found at www.uspto.gov/leap.
`4 Additionally, a LEAP Verification Form shall be submitted by the LEAP
`practitioner, confirming eligibility for the program. A combined LEAP
`Practitioner Request for Oral Hearing Participation and Verification Form is
`available at www.uspto.gov/leap.
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`parties may not stipulate to a different date for the portion of DUE DATE 2
`related to Petitioner’s opposition to a motion to amend, or for the portion of
`DUE DATE 3 related to Patent Owner’s reply to an opposition to a motion
`to amend (or Patent Owner’s revised motion to amend) without prior
`authorization from the Board. In stipulating to move any due dates in the
`scheduling order, the parties must be cognizant that the Board requires four
`weeks after the filing of an opposition to the motion to amend (or the due
`date for the opposition, if none is filed) for the Board to issue its preliminary
`guidance, if requested by Patent Owner. A notice of the stipulation,
`specifically identifying the changed due dates, must be promptly filed. The
`parties may not stipulate an extension of DUE DATES 4, 7, and 8.
`In stipulating different dates, the parties should consider the effect of
`the stipulation on times to object to evidence (37 C.F.R. § 42.64(b)(1)), to
`supplement evidence (§ 42.64(b)(2)), to conduct cross-examination
`(§ 42.53(d)(2)), and to draft papers depending on the evidence and cross-
`examination testimony.
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`DUE DATE 1
`
`1.
`Patent Owner may file—
`a. A response to the petition (37 C.F.R. § 42.120). If Patent Owner
`elects not to file a response, Patent Owner shall arrange a conference call
`with the parties and the Board. Patent Owner is cautioned that any
`arguments not raised in the response may be deemed waived or forfeited;
`and
`
`b. A motion to amend the patent (37 C.F.R. § 42.121).
`DUE DATE 2
`2.
`Petitioner may file a reply to the Patent Owner’s response.
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`Petitioner may file an opposition to the motion to amend.
`DUE DATE 3
`3.
`Patent Owner may file a sur-reply to Petitioner’s reply.
`Patent Owner may also file either:
`a. a reply to the opposition to the motion to amend and/or preliminary
`guidance (if provided); or
`b. a revised motion to amend.
`NOTE: If Patent Owner files neither of the above papers (a reply to
`the opposition or a revised motion to amend), and the Board has issued
`preliminary guidance, Petitioner may file a reply to the preliminary
`guidance, no later than three (3) weeks after DUE DATE 3. Patent Owner
`may file a sur-reply to Petitioner’s reply to the preliminary guidance no later
`than three (3) weeks after Petitioner’s reply.
`DUE DATE 4
`4.
`Either party may file a request for oral argument (may not be extended
`by stipulation).
`
`DUE DATE 5
`5.
`Petitioner may file a sur-reply to Patent Owner’s reply to the
`opposition to the motion to amend.
`Either party may file a motion to exclude evidence (37 C.F.R.
`§ 42.64(c)).
`
`DUE DATE 6
`6.
`Either party may file an opposition to a motion to exclude evidence.
`Either party may request that the Board hold a pre-hearing conference.
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`DUE DATE 7
`7.
`Either party may file a reply to an opposition to a motion to exclude
`evidence.
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`DUE DATE 8
`8.
`Oral argument (if requested by either party) shall be held on this date.
`Approximately one month prior to the argument, the Board will issue an
`order setting the start time of the hearing and the procedures that will govern
`the parties’ arguments.
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`DUE DATE APPENDIX
`
`DUE DATE 1 ........................................................... February 28, 2025
`Patent Owner’s response to the petition
`Patent Owner’s motion to amend the patent
`DUE DATE 2 .................................................................. May 23, 2025
`Petitioner’s reply to Patent Owner’s response to petition
`Petitioner’s opposition to motion to amend
`DUE DATE 3 ................................................................. June 20, 2025
`Patent Owner’s sur-reply to reply
`Patent Owner’s reply to opposition to motion to amend
`(or Patent Owner’s revised motion to amend)5
`DUE DATE 4 .................................................................. July 18, 2025
`Request for oral argument (may not be extended by stipulation)
`DUE DATE 5 .............................................................. August 15, 2025
`Petitioner’s sur-reply to reply to opposition to motion to amend
`Motion to exclude evidence
`DUE DATE 6 .............................................................. August 29, 2025
`Opposition to motion to exclude
`Request for prehearing conference
`DUE DATE 7 ......................................................... September 10, 2025
`Reply to opposition to motion to exclude
`DUE DATE 8 ......................................................... September 17, 2025
`Oral argument (if requested)
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`5 If Patent Owner files neither a reply to Petitioner’s opposition to the MTA
`nor a revised MTA, the parties are directed to Section B(3) above.
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`For PETITIONER:
`
`Scott McKeown
`Victor Cheung
`WOLF, GREENFIELD & SACKS P.C.
`Smckeown-ptab@wolfgreenfield.com
`Vcheung-ptab@wolfgreenfield.com
`
`
`
`For PATENT OWNER:
`
`Jerry Tice
`Aaron Hand
`BUNSOW DE MORY LLP
`jtice@bdiplaw.com
`ahand@bdiplaw.com
`
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