Unified Patents v. Willow Blossom Holdco Ltd

Unified Patents has initiated an Inter Partes Review (IPR) against Willow Blossom Holdco Ltd, challenging the validity of U.S. Patent 11,813,381. The IPR, designated IPR2025-00560, has been instituted by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and is currently pending.

Unified Patents is a member-based organization established to deter "patent trolls" or Non-Practicing Entities (NPEs) from asserting low-quality patents across various technology sectors. They achieve this by proactively identifying and challenging patents owned by NPEs through post-grant review proceedings like IPRs, aiming to increase the cost of assertion and improve patent quality. Willow Blossom Holdco Ltd is a UK-registered company and a subsidiary of Willow Innovations Inc. Willow Innovations Inc. acquired the business and assets of FemTech company Chiaro Technology Limited (trading as Elvie), known for its wearable breast pumps, out of administration in March 2025. This acquisition followed a 2023 patent infringement lawsuit filed by Willow Innovations Inc. against Elvie, suggesting that Willow Blossom Holdco Ltd, as the patent owner, is engaged in patent assertion related to its commercial interests, even if it now owns an operating business.

The patent at issue, U.S. Patent 11,813,381, is titled "Milk collection device." The technology generally relates to devices designed for collecting milk, such as wearable breast pumps and related accessories, which aligns with the products offered by the acquired Elvie brand. The procedural posture involves an Inter Partes Review before the PTAB, an administrative tribunal within the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This venue is significant because IPRs offer a specialized, typically faster, and more cost-effective avenue to challenge patent validity based on prior art (patents and printed publications) compared to district court litigation. The PTAB's institution decision in IPR2025-00560 means the Board found a reasonable likelihood that at least one challenged claim of the patent is unpatentable, allowing the trial to proceed.

This case is notable due to the parties involved and the market context. Unified Patents' challenge against Willow Blossom Holdco Ltd highlights its continued efforts to curb patent assertions, even from entities that acquire operating companies following prior litigation. The underlying technology, relating to breast pumps and "FemTech" devices, operates within a rapidly evolving and competitive market. The acquisition of Elvie by Willow Innovations (via Willow Blossom Holdco Ltd) after having sued Elvie for patent infringement underscores a dynamic where patent assertion can precede, or be intertwined with, M&A activity in the technology sector. The outcome of this IPR could influence the strength of Willow Blossom Holdco's patent portfolio and competitive landscape in the FemTech industry.

The case "Unified Patents v. Willow Blossom Holdco Ltd, IPR2025-00560" is an Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceeding before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), not a patent infringement litigation in a district court. An IPR is a proceeding to review the patentability of one or more claims in a patent.

Here are the key legal developments for IPR2025-00560 concerning US Patent 11,813,381:

• Petition Filing: Unified Patents filed a petition for Inter Partes Review against U.S. Patent No. 11,813,381. The petition was filed on 2025-03-08.
• Institution: The PTAB instituted review of U.S. Patent No. 11,813,381 on 2025-09-17.
• Current Status: The IPR is currently pending.

There is no information available regarding associated patent infringement litigation in a district court involving US Patent 11,813,381. Therefore, details regarding filing, initial pleadings, pre-trial motions, claim construction, discovery, trial events, or a final disposition for a district court case cannot be provided.

Should any district court litigation emerge related to this patent, its trajectory would be significantly influenced by the outcome of this IPR proceeding at the PTAB.

The case "Unified Patents v. Willow Blossom Holdco Ltd, IPR2025-00560" is an Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceeding before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), not a patent infringement litigation in a U.S. District Court. An IPR is a administrative process to review the patentability of one or more claims in an already-issued patent based on prior patents and printed publications.

Here are the key legal developments for IPR2025-00560 concerning US Patent 11,813,381:

• Petition Filing: Unified Patents filed a petition for Inter Partes Review challenging the validity of U.S. Patent No. 11,813,381. The petition was filed on 2025-03-08.
• Institution: The PTAB decided to institute review of U.S. Patent No. 11,813,381 on 2025-09-17. This means the PTAB determined that Unified Patents demonstrated a "reasonable likelihood that the petitioner would prevail" on at least one challenged claim.
• Current Status: The IPR is currently pending.

There is no publicly available information indicating any associated patent infringement litigation in a district court involving US Patent 11,813,381. Therefore, details regarding filing, initial pleadings, pre-trial motions, claim construction, discovery, trial events, or a final disposition for a district court case cannot be provided. Should any district court litigation emerge related to this patent, its trajectory would be significantly influenced by the outcome of this IPR proceeding at the PTAB.

Based on available public information, the specific counsel of record representing Unified Patents in IPR2025-00560, Unified Patents v. Willow Blossom Holdco Ltd, cannot be definitively identified from the provided search results. PTAB dockets, which would list the specific attorneys of record for a particular IPR, were not directly accessible through the search.

However, Unified Patents typically relies on its in-house legal team for its inter partes review (IPR) proceedings. Several in-house counsel frequently represent Unified Patents in PTAB matters and related appeals. These individuals and their general roles at Unified Patents include:

• Michelle Aspen

  • Role: Senior Patent Counsel, in-house
  • Firm: Unified Patents, LLC (Chevy Chase, MD is a known office location for Unified Patents, though individual counsel's primary office isn't always specified)
  • Note: Michelle Aspen has been noted as counsel for Unified Patents in various IPR proceedings and related appeals, and has also contributed to USPTO initiatives and webinars on PTAB practice.

• David Seastrunk

  • Role: Senior Patent Counsel, in-house
  • Firm: Unified Patents, LLC (Chevy Chase, MD)
  • Note: David Seastrunk has argued for Unified Patents in appeals before the Federal Circuit arising from PTAB IPRs.

• Jonathan Stroud

  • Role: COO & CLO (Chief Legal Officer), in-house
  • Firm: Unified Patents, LLC
  • Note: Jonathan Stroud is a key legal figure at Unified Patents, frequently speaking on patent reform, PTAB practice, and patent quality.

Other Senior Patent Counsel at Unified Patents, who may also be involved in IPR proceedings, include Jenn Bisk, Kyla Bulter, Kelly Hughes, Patrick King, T.J. Murphy, Vinu Raj, Jordan Rossen, Bill Saindon, Andrea Shoffstall, and Jason Wejnert. Alyssa Holtslander (Trademark Managing Counsel) and Roshan Mansinghani (Head of Operations, Legal Head-NPE) have also been involved in patent litigation matters for Unified Patents.

Without specific docket entries for IPR2025-00560 listing counsel appearances, it is not possible to confirm which of these attorneys are formally designated as counsel of record for this particular case. Filings for this specific IPR are not publicly detailed in the search results to the extent of naming specific appearing counsel.

Unfortunately, the counsel of record representing Willow Blossom Holdco Ltd in IPR2025-00560 is not publicly available through the general web search tools accessed, such as docket sheets, firm websites, or legal news outlets. The Patent Trial and Appeal Case Tracking System (P-TACTS) on the USPTO website is the authoritative source for this information, but direct access to detailed case filings and attorney appearances within P-TACTS is not available via this tool.

While related entities like Chiaro Technology Ltd (whose assets were acquired by Willow Blossom Holdco Ltd) have appeared with various firms in other patent cases, this information does not definitively identify counsel for Willow Blossom Holdco Ltd in the specific IPR at hand. Therefore, at this time, the specific attorneys representing the defendant(s) in Unified Patents v. Willow Blossom Holdco Ltd (IPR2025-00560) cannot be identified and detailed.