The notorious patent troll MPHJ Technology Investments will have to defend the validity of two of its patents before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board, which ruled Monday that there is a “reasonable likelihood” that it may find the patents invalid.
The three-judge panel issued its decision exactly five months after Xerox Corp., Ricoh Americas Corp. and Lexmark International Inc. jointly filed petitions for a review of the two patents, which cover a virtual copier technology often described as “scan-to-email.” The three companies, represented by Michael Specht of Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, have said they want to protect their customers and dealers, whom MPHJ has targeted for alleged patent infringement.
