Unified Patents v. Zodiac Pool Systems LLC

Unified Patents has initiated an Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceeding, IPR2026-00158, against Zodiac Pool Systems LLC before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) concerning US Patent 11003191. Unified Patents operates as a member-based organization focused on deterring what it considers to be poor quality patent assertions, particularly by Non-Practicing Entities (NPEs). Its strategy involves filing IPRs to challenge the validity of patents in specific technology zones, thereby reducing the risk of frivolous patent litigation for its members. Zodiac Pool Systems LLC, the patent owner, is an operating company and a leading global manufacturer of pool and spa products, including advanced automation controls, energy-efficient pumps, and innovative cleaners.

The patent at issue, US Patent 11003191, is titled "Automatic pool cleaner with an internal water pump driven by a propulsion motor." It describes an automatic pool cleaner (APC) featuring a housing, a propulsion motor that directly drives an internal water pump, and at least one drive member designed to move the APC along a swimming pool surface. The internal water pump is in fluid communication with a suction port and a discharge port.

This IPR proceeding is taking place at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and is currently pending. The PTAB is an administrative body within the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that offers an alternative forum to federal courts for challenging the validity of issued patents. The case is notable for its linkage to concurrent district court litigation; Zodiac Pool Systems LLC has asserted US Patent 11003191 in an infringement lawsuit, Zodiac Pool Systems LLC v. Wybotics, Co. Ltd. (No. 2:25-cv-00582-JRG-RSP), filed in the Eastern District of Texas in May 2025. This IPR aligns with Unified Patents' strategy of challenging patents that are actively being asserted in litigation, and while related IPRs against Zodiac concerning the same patent (e.g., IPR2026-00202) were not instituted on procedural grounds, IPR2026-00158 remains pending. Such challenges in the pool systems technology sector can have an impact on competition and product development for manufacturers in the industry.

Unified Patents has filed an Inter Partes Review (IPR) petition, IPR2026-00158, against Zodiac Pool Systems LLC concerning US Patent No. 11,003,191. The IPR is currently pending before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

While details specific to IPR2026-00158's docket were not immediately available beyond its pending status, a search for related proceedings involving the same patent owner (Zodiac Pool Systems LLC) and the patent at issue (US 11,003,191) reveals some relevant context.

Parallel PTAB Proceedings:

• IPR2026-00202: Beatbot Technology (USA) Co. Ltd. also filed an IPR petition against Zodiac Pool Systems LLC challenging US Patent No. 11,003,191. This IPR was "Not Instituted - Procedural" on May 19, 2026. This indicates that the PTAB declined to proceed with the review, likely due to a procedural deficiency rather than a decision on the merits of the patentability challenge. Such procedural denials can occur for various reasons, including the timing of the petition or issues with the petition's content.

Context on PTAB IPRs and Discretionary Denials:

The landscape for IPRs is subject to ongoing changes at the USPTO, which may influence the outcome of pending cases like IPR2026-00158.

• In March 2025, the USPTO issued a memorandum introducing new processes for discretionary denials of IPR and PGR submissions. This change grants the PTAB additional discretion to deny patent challenges, potentially benefiting patent owners. The Director of the USPTO, in consultation with PTAB judges, now plays a larger role in determining discretionary denials, which are decided based on separate briefings filed early in the petition process.
• Further proposed rule changes in October 2025 (with a comment period closing in November 2025) suggest mandatory restrictions on IPR initiation. These proposed rules would prohibit the PTAB from instituting an IPR if a patent claim has already been upheld as valid in a prior proceeding (e.g., district court, ITC, or another PTAB final written decision). Additionally, institution could be denied if a parallel district court or ITC case is "more likely than not" to reach a validity decision first. These changes aim to curb serial and parallel challenges and bolster patent reliability.

No Indication of Parallel Patent Infringement Litigation:

As of the current date, there is no public information definitively linking US Patent No. 11,003,191 to active patent infringement litigation in district courts that would directly impact IPR2026-00158. Zodiac Pool Systems LLC has been involved in other patent litigation, such as a Section 337 investigation initiated at the USITC in 2022 concerning robotic pool cleaners, where they asserted US Patents 8,393,029 and 8,393,031. Additionally, Zodiac Pool Systems LLC was a plaintiff in a patent infringement case filed in May 2025 in the Eastern District of Texas (2:25-cv-00582) against Wybotics, Co. Ltd. They are also a defendant in a patent case filed in July 2025 in the Southern District of California by Beatbot Technology (USA) Co. Ltd. However, none of these cases explicitly mention US Patent No. 11,003,191.

Contradiction Alert: The provided case metadata states "Unified Patents" as the plaintiff in IPR2026-00158. However, public docket searches, specifically from Docket Alarm, indicate that the petitioner for IPR2026-00158, concerning U.S. Patent No. 11,003,191, is Wybotics Inc.. Another entry from the Unified Patents Portal lists IPR2026-00202 against Zodiac Pool Systems LLC involving the same patent, but with "Beatbot Technology USA Co Ltd" as the petitioner, and does not list Unified Patents as the petitioner for IPR2026-00158. Given the direct docket reference, it is highly likely that Wybotics Inc. is the correct petitioner for IPR2026-00158.

Based on the corrected petitioner, Wybotics Inc., the counsel of record for the plaintiff in IPR2026-00158 is:

Wybotics Inc. Representatives:

As of the current date, detailed information regarding the specific counsel of record for Wybotics Inc. in IPR2026-00158 was not explicitly found in the accessible public docket searches (e.g., Docket Alarm, Unified Patents Portal, general web searches for PTAB counsel for Wybotics Inc.). Filings for this specific IPR would contain the explicit counsel information.

Therefore, without access to the specific petition or subsequent filings for IPR2026-00158, the exact counsel information for Wybotics Inc. cannot be definitively stated at this time. Filings for this case may be sealed or specific counsel appearances may not yet be widely indexed in public search results.

Zodiac Pool Systems LLC, the defendant in IPR2026-00158, is likely represented by Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP. While direct counsel information for this specific IPR was not explicitly found in public docket searches, attorneys from Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP are representing Zodiac Pool Systems LLC in closely related IPR proceedings, such as IPR2026-00201, which also involves Zodiac as the Patent Owner.

Based on the available information from related PTAB cases and firm profiles, the following attorneys are likely representing Zodiac Pool Systems LLC:

• Michael T. Morlock - Lead Counsel

  • Firm: Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, various offices (firm has offices globally, including Atlanta, GA, and other major US cities).
  • Note on experience: Michael Morlock focuses on patent law, with significant experience in patent litigation, strategic patent prosecution, and contentious inter and ex parte post-grant challenges, particularly before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). He is a member of Kilpatrick's PTAB litigation group, which has been recognized as a top-performing firm representing patent owners. He has also been recognized as a top patent practitioner by IAM Patent 1000. His experience includes federal court litigation, notably in the Eastern District of Texas, where he was part of a trial team securing over $100 million in jury verdicts in patent infringement suits.

• Christopher Samuel Leah - Counsel

  • Firm: Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, Atlanta, GA office.
  • Note on experience: Christopher Leah is listed as counsel for Zodiac Pool Systems LLC in IPR2026-00201, indicating experience in PTAB proceedings.

• Kathleen Rose Geyer - Counsel

  • Firm: Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, Atlanta, GA office.
  • Note on experience: Kathleen Geyer is listed as counsel for Zodiac Pool Systems LLC in IPR2026-00201, indicating experience in PTAB proceedings.

• Steven David Moore - Counsel

  • Firm: Vinson & Elkins (listed for IPR2026-00201). While listed for a related IPR, it's possible he is of counsel or working in conjunction with Kilpatrick Townsend in IPR2026-00158, or represents Zodiac in other related matters. This listing is for IPR2026-00201 and might not directly apply to IPR2026-00158.
  • Note on experience: Steven Moore is listed as counsel for Zodiac Pool Systems LLC in IPR2026-00201.

It is important to note that the specific counsel of record for IPR2026-00158 was inferred from closely related IPR proceedings involving Zodiac Pool Systems LLC and the same petitioner or related entities. Filings for IPR2026-00158 that explicitly name counsel were not directly accessible in the public search results.