PTAB challenges

Proceedings overview

Currently, one AIA trial proceeding is on file for US patent 11303011, which is in a pending status. This means the patent is currently undergoing a validity challenge at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and no claims have been definitively invalidated or sustained yet. For a defendant, this indicates that the patent's validity is currently being scrutinized, and the outcome of this proceeding will significantly impact the defensive posture.

IPR2026-00231 — [[[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.) et al.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.%20et%20al.) v. AQ Corp

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2026-01-26
• Status: Pending. The petition has been filed and is awaiting a decision on institution by the PTAB.
• Judge panel: Not publicly available at this pending stage of the proceeding.
• Petition grounds: Specific details regarding the claims challenged, prior art references, and statutory bases (§ 102 / § 103 / § 112) asserted in the petition are not publicly available from the provided data or general search results at this time.
• Institution decision: Pending. The PTAB typically issues a decision on institution within six months of the petition filing date. Given the filing date of 2026-01-26, an institution decision for IPR2026-00231 is anticipated around July 26, 2026.
• Final Written Decision: Not applicable; the proceeding is in the pre-institution phase.
• Settlement / termination: Not applicable; the proceeding is in the pre-institution phase.
• Appeal: Not applicable; the proceeding is in the pre-institution phase.
• Defensive value: The patent is currently under challenge by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al.. While it's too early to determine the outcome, the existence of this IPR suggests that potential invalidity arguments against the patent are being pursued. A defendant facing assertion of this patent should monitor this IPR closely, as an institution or a final written decision canceling claims could significantly weaken the patent owner's position.

Strategic summary

As of 2026-05-28, US patent 11303011 is subject to a single Inter Partes Review, IPR2026-00231, initiated by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al.. All claims of the patent are currently UNTESTED in the context of a PTAB final written decision, as the proceeding is still in the pre-institution phase. Therefore, there are no claims currently canceled or sustained by the PTAB.

The estoppel landscape is not yet established for this patent. Since the IPR has not yet been instituted, let alone reached a final written decision, the statutory estoppel provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(2) do not apply. If the IPR is instituted and proceeds to a final written decision, Samsung (and any privies) would be estopped from asserting in other venues any grounds they raised or reasonably could have raised during the IPR. For other defendants, prior-art grounds remain broadly available, though they would benefit from reviewing Samsung's petition once it becomes publicly available (e.g., after institution) to understand the specific prior art and arguments being advanced.

The involvement of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. as the petitioner is a significant pattern signal, indicating a substantial entity is actively challenging the patent. This suggests that the patent owner, AQ Corp, may be asserting this patent against Samsung or a related entity. The overall landscape for IPRs has also shifted recently, with the USPTO Director now weighing U.S. manufacturing activity and potentially adopting new rules for institution, which could influence future discretionary denials.

Recommended next steps

• Monitor IPR2026-00231 closely: The critical milestone to watch is the institution decision, expected around July 26, 2026. This decision will determine whether the PTAB proceeds with a full review of the challenged claims. Accessing the petition and any preliminary responses, once available, will be crucial to understand the specific validity arguments and prior art involved.
• Evaluate potential impact: If the IPR is instituted, analyze the PTAB's institution decision to understand the strength of the invalidity arguments and which claims are under review. If the IPR is denied, assess the reasons for denial, as this could inform future defensive strategies.
• Assess U.S. manufacturing footprint: Given recent changes in PTAB discretionary denial policy, consider the U.S. manufacturing footprint of any accused products and the patent owner's competing products, as this could be a factor in future PTAB proceedings or appeals.