IPR2025-01144

IPR2025-01144 involved a challenge to U.S. Patent No. 10,482,517 at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The patent owner and "defendant" in this IPR proceeding is ZUGARA Inc., an American corporation headquartered in Los Angeles, California. ZUGARA is an operating company specializing in augmented reality (AR) and computer vision software, developing and licensing AR solutions primarily focused on solving user interaction and industry-specific problems, such as their "Webcam Social Shopper" virtual dressing room platform. The identity of the petitioner who initiated IPR2025-01144 against ZUGARA Inc. is not explicitly detailed in publicly available search results for this specific proceeding. However, related district court litigations concerning the same patent suggest potential petitioners could be companies operating in the augmented reality commerce space.

The sole patent at issue, U.S. Patent No. 10,482,517, is generally directed to "methods and systems for augmented reality virtual try-on." This technology enables users to virtually overlay products, such as apparel or accessories, onto a live or captured image of themselves, creating a real-time simulation using a device's built-in camera. Products allegedly infringing this patent in parallel or related district court cases include virtual makeup try-on tools and augmented reality virtual try-on technologies offered by companies like Chanel, Estée Lauder, Cisco (Webex Hologram), and Warby Parker.

The case's procedural posture as an Inter Partes Review at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board highlights the PTAB's role as a significant venue for challenging patent validity based on prior art. IPRs provide a mechanism for third parties to challenge the patentability of claims in an issued patent, often in parallel with district court infringement litigation. This IPR is notable as part of ZUGARA's broader enforcement efforts concerning its augmented reality patent portfolio, which has seen the company engage in patent infringement lawsuits against major corporations in the growing AR commerce market. The eventual settlement of IPR2025-01144 indicates a resolution between the parties outside of a full PTAB decision on the merits.

IPR2025-01144 is an Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceeding before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), not a patent infringement litigation in a district court. As such, many of the typical stages of district court litigation, such as complaints, answers, Markman hearings, discovery milestones in the litigation context, and trials, do not apply directly to this IPR. The IPR process focuses on the patentability of claims based on prior art.

Here are the key developments for IPR2025-01144:

• Filing of Petition (2025-07-25): A petition for Inter Partes Review was filed on July 25, 2025, challenging the patentability of claims 1-13 of U.S. Patent No. 10,482,517. The IPR was assigned case number IPR2025-01144.
• Settlement and Termination (2025-11-20): The IPR proceeding concluded with a settlement. On November 20, 2025, the PTAB entered an Order dismissing the proceeding due to a settlement between the parties.
• Outcome: The IPR was terminated due to a settlement, meaning the PTAB did not issue a final written decision on the merits of the patentability challenge.

There are no records of a parallel district court patent infringement litigation directly linked to the provided IPR case number IPR2025-01144 or patent 10,482,517 that reached the stages of pleadings, Markman, trial, or post-trial motions. The IPR itself was resolved through settlement.

Petitioner's Counsel Identified in IPR2025-01144

In IPR2025-01144, challenging U.S. Patent 10,482,517, the petitioner is PERFECT CORP.. The counsel of record representing PERFECT CORP. (the petitioner) are Nicholas Thane Bauz and Han-Wei Chen of Bernstein IP Strategy.

Here are the details for each attorney:

• Nicholas Thane Bauz

  • Role: Counsel for Petitioner
  • Firm: Bernstein IP Strategy, located at 4653 Carmel Mountain Rd., Suite 308 #AA 195, San Diego, California 92130.
  • Relevant Experience: Nicholas Thane Bauz is a registered patent attorney (Reg. No. 41,604). His practice at Bernstein IP Strategy focuses on intellectual property matters.

• Han-Wei Chen

  • Role: Counsel for Petitioner
  • Firm: Bernstein IP Strategy, located at 4653 Carmel Mountain Rd., Suite 308 #AA 195, San Diego, California 92130.
  • Relevant Experience: Han-Wei Chen is a registered patent attorney (Reg. No. 75,350). His practice at Bernstein IP Strategy focuses on intellectual property matters.

Here is the counsel of record representing ZUGARA Inc. (Patent Owner) in IPR2025-01144:

• C. Matthew Rozier

  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Rozier Hanner McDonough PLLC (appears as "Rozmn H.mnr McDoxoucn PLLC" in some docket entries, likely an OCR error)
  • Office Locations: Denver, Colorado (1001 Bannock Street, Suite 241, Denver, Colorado 80204) and Washington, DC (1500 K Street, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20005).
  • Note on Experience: Mr. Rozier signed the Patent Owner's Power of Attorney and is identified as counsel for Patent Owner in PTAB proceedings.

• Kristin M. Whidby

  • Role: Back-up Counsel
  • Firm: Rozier Hanner McDonough PLLC (appears as "Rozmn H.mnr McDoxoucn PLLC" in some docket entries, likely an OCR error)
  • Office Location: Washington, DC (1500 K Street, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20005).
  • Note on Experience: Ms. Whidby is listed as back-up counsel for ZUGARA Inc. in this IPR proceeding.