Assignment history

Inventors

• Ryan Lowery: Likely associated with Keto Patent Group Inc.
• Jacob Wilson: Likely associated with Keto Patent Group Inc.
• Shawn Wells: Likely associated with Keto Patent Group Inc.
• Terry LaCore: Likely associated with Keto Patent Group Inc.

All named inventors appear to have been associated with Keto Patent Group Inc at the time of filing, as evidenced by the initial assignment of rights from three of the inventors to Keto Patent Group Inc, and a later nunc pro tunc assignment from the fourth inventor (Shawn Wells) to the subsequent assignee, implying original intent to assign.

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent is Keto Patent Group Inc.
Primary line of business: Keto Patent Group Inc appears to be a patent holding and licensing entity focused on formulations for ketogenic products, including ketone salts and ketogenic beverages.
Shipped a product embodying the claims: It is unclear from the available information if Keto Patent Group Inc directly shipped products under its own brand. Their activities suggest a focus on intellectual property development and management rather than direct product manufacturing and sales.
Current Status: Not explicitly stated as operating, acquired, dissolved, or in bankruptcy. However, the patent was subsequently assigned away, indicating a change in their ownership of this specific asset.

Assignment timeline

• 2019-03-25 (executed) / recorded 2019-03-27 — Reel 048709/0467
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: LACORE, TERRY; LOWERY, RYAN; WILSON, JACOB
  • Assignee: KETO PATENT GROUP
  • Correspondent: DEREK C SCHNEIDER, DICKINSON WRIGHT PLLC, 1825 EYE STREET NW SUITE 900, WASHINGTON DC 20006. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: Three inventors assigned their patent rights to the original corporate assignee.
• 2021-11-05 (executed) / recorded 2021-12-07 — Reel 058348/0477
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: KETO PATENT GROUP, INC.
  • Assignee: NANJING NUTRABUILDING BIO-TECH CO., LTD.
  • Correspondent: DEREK C SCHNEIDER, DICKINSON WRIGHT, PLLC, 1825 EYE STREET, N.W., SUITE 900, WASHINGTON, DC 20006. This correspondent recurs in this chain.
  • Context: The original corporate assignee transferred patent ownership to a new entity.
• 2024-12-31 (executed, NUNC PRO TUNC) / recorded 2025-01-24 — Reel 069997/0598
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: WELLS, SHAWN
  • Assignee: NANJING NUTRABUILDING BIO-TECH CO., LTD.
  • Correspondent: WILLIAM M SANGSTER, SANGSTER & LABERGE, LLC, 13740 NE 175TH STREET, SUITE 102, WOODINVILLE WA 98072.
  • Context: One of the inventors executed a nunc pro tunc assignment of their interest to the current assignee, likely to correct a prior omission in the chain of title.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 10278961
    2017 : Filed by Keto Patent Group Inc
    2019 : Issued
         : Inventors assigned to Keto Patent Group
    2021 : Assigned to Nanjing Nutrabuilding
    2025 : Inventor Wells assigned to Nanjing Nutrabuilding

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present. The patent was initially assigned by the inventors to "Keto Patent Group Inc" (Reel 048709/0467). This entity's name, "Patent Group," and its apparent business focus on developing and patenting formulations rather than direct product sales suggest it functions as a patent holding or licensing-only entity, consistent with a shell entity.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Not present. None of the named assignors or assignees (Keto Patent Group, Inc. or Nanjing Nutrabuilding Bio-Tech Co., Ltd.) are identified as known NPEs or high-frequency plaintiffs in the provided search results.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Present. Derek C Schneider of Dickinson Wright PLLC is listed as the correspondent for both the 2019-03-27 assignment (Reel 048709/0467) and the 2021-12-07 assignment (Reel 058348/0477). The consistent use of the same legal counsel for multiple transfers within the chain is a signal of a structured patent management strategy.
4. Cascading transfers — Not present. There were two primary corporate assignments (from inventors to Keto Patent Group, then from Keto Patent Group to Nanjing Nutrabuilding) over approximately 2.5 years (2019-2021), and an individual corrective assignment in 2025. This timeline does not meet the "multiple consecutive assignments through chained LLCs in <24 months" criterion.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Unclear. The patent family is currently involved in litigation (PTAB case IPR2025-01593 and US District Court case 5:25-cv-00271), with filing dates in 2025. The corporate assignment to Nanjing Nutrabuilding Bio-Tech Co., Ltd. was executed on 2021-11-05 and recorded on 2021-12-07 (Reel 058348/0477), which is more than six months prior to the 2025 litigation dates. The nunc pro tunc assignment from Shawn Wells in 2025 (Reel 069997/0598) is closer in time but is a corrective transfer from an individual inventor to the current assignee, not a strategic pre-litigation transfer between corporate entities.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. There is no indication from the provided information that any assignor or assignee filed for bankruptcy.
7. Privateering — Unclear. While the initial shell-like entity (Keto Patent Group Inc) could potentially have been used for privateering, there is no direct evidence to confirm such an arrangement.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The current assignee, Nanjing Nutrabuilding Bio-Tech Co., Ltd., is an operating company, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — moderate confidence

Justification: The presence of a shell-entity transfer early in the patent's chain of ownership (from inventors to Keto Patent Group Inc, Reel 048709/0467) and the use of a repeat correspondent attorney (Derek C Schneider of Dickinson Wright PLLC) for multiple transfers (Reel 048709/0467 and Reel 058348/0477) indicate patterns commonly associated with patent monetization strategies that can precede or involve NPE activity. While the current assignee, Nanjing Nutrabuilding Bio-Tech Co., Ltd., is an operating company, these historical signals suggest an NPE-like pattern in the patent's journey.

For verification, see the USPTO Assignment Center search page: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/