Assignment history

Inventors

• Shaunt M. Sarkissian (Employer: Cortex MCP Inc. at the time of filing, as they are the original assignee). No unusual patterns detected.

Original assignee

The entity named on the issued patent is Cortex MCP Inc.

Cortex MCP Inc. develops software applications for a mobile commerce payment platform, specifically an "IP-protected mobile payment and wallet platform" focused on "payment host tokenization and ID/credential storage." Their website highlights a "Highly Innovative, Patented OVER File™ Technology Solution," indicating a focus on intellectual property related to secure digital credentials. There is no clear public evidence that Cortex MCP Inc. ships a widely available consumer product directly embodying the claims of this patent as its primary line of business; instead, their activities and the patent's litigation history suggest a business model centered on IP monetization. Cortex MCP Inc. is a privately held company. Their current status, as recorded by the USPTO assignment system and confirmed by PitchBook, is operating, but has transferred the patent to an LLC chain.

Assignment timeline

• 2020-05-22 (executed) / recorded 2020-06-03 — Reel 054948/0468

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: SARKISSIAN, SHAUNT M.
  • Assignee: CORTEX MCP, INC.
  • Correspondent: BROWNING LAW GROUP, P.C. 8880 CAL CENTER DR. SUITE 400 SACRAMENTO, CA 95826
  • Context: Initial assignment from the inventor to the original assignee prior to the patent's filing.

• 2022-09-07 (executed) / recorded 2022-09-08 — Reel 061266/0398

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: CORTEX MCP, INC.
  • Assignee: CORTEX MCP LLC
  • Correspondent: LORING P. RANDELL LORING P. RANDELL, P.C. 14724 E. LARKSPUR DR. SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer from an incorporating entity to a numerically-named limited liability company.

• 2023-01-26 (executed) / recorded 2023-01-27 — Reel 062638/0333

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: CORTEX MCP LLC
  • Assignee: CORTEX MCP II LLC
  • Correspondent: LORING P. RANDELL LORING P. RANDELL, P.C. 14724 E. LARKSPUR DR. SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer between numerically-named related LLCs, forming a cascading chain.

• 2023-08-01 (executed) / recorded 2023-08-03 — Reel 064434/0071

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: CORTEX MCP II LLC
  • Assignee: CORTEX MCP III LLC
  • Correspondent: LORING P. RANDELL LORING P. RANDELL, P.C. 14724 E. LARKSPUR DR. SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer between numerically-named related LLCs, forming a cascading chain.

• 2023-08-25 (executed) / recorded 2023-09-01 — Reel 064706/0890

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: CORTEX MCP III LLC
  • Assignee: CORTEX MCP IV LLC
  • Correspondent: LORING P. RANDELL LORING P. RANDELL, P.C. 14724 E. LARKSPUR DR. SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer between numerically-named related LLCs, forming a cascading chain.

• 2023-11-22 (executed) / recorded 2023-11-29 — Reel 065609/0270

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: CORTEX MCP IV LLC
  • Assignee: CORTEX MCP V LLC
  • Correspondent: LORING P. RANDELL LORING P. RANDELL, P.C. 14724 E. LARKSPUR DR. SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer between numerically-named related LLCs, forming a cascading chain.

• 2023-12-21 (executed) / recorded 2023-12-29 — Reel 065999/0426

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: CORTEX MCP V LLC
  • Assignee: CORTEX MCP VI LLC
  • Correspondent: LORING P. RANDELL LORING P. RANDELL, P.C. 14724 E. LARKSPUR DR. SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer between numerically-named related LLCs, forming a cascading chain.

• 2024-01-25 (executed) / recorded 2024-02-01 — Reel 066314/0839

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: CORTEX MCP VI LLC
  • Assignee: CORTEX MCP VII LLC
  • Correspondent: LORING P. RANDELL LORING P. RANDELL, P.C. 14724 E. LARKSPUR DR. SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer between numerically-named related LLCs, forming a cascading chain.

• 2024-03-20 (executed) / recorded 2024-03-27 — Reel 066847/0659

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: CORTEX MCP VII LLC
  • Assignee: CORTEX MCP VIII LLC
  • Correspondent: LORING P. RANDELL LORING P. RANDELL, P.C. 14724 E. LARKSPUR DR. SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer between numerically-named related LLCs, forming a cascading chain.

• 2024-04-16 (executed) / recorded 2024-04-24 — Reel 067098/0501

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: CORTEX MCP VIII LLC
  • Assignee: CORTEX MCP IX LLC
  • Correspondent: LORING P. RANDELL LORING P. RANDELL, P.C. 14724 E. LARKSPUR DR. SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer between numerically-named related LLCs, forming a cascading chain.

• 2024-05-13 (executed) / recorded 2024-05-20 — Reel 067341/0088

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: CORTEX MCP IX LLC
  • Assignee: CORTEX MCP X LLC
  • Correspondent: LORING P. RANDELL LORING P. RANDELL, P.C. 14724 E. LARKSPUR DR. SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer between numerically-named related LLCs, forming a cascading chain.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 11329973
    2020 : Filed, assigned to Cortex MCP Inc
    2022 : Issued
         : Assigned to Cortex MCP LLC
    2023 : Assigned to Cortex MCP II LLC
         : Suit filed (Cortex MCP Inc)
         : Assigned to Cortex MCP III LLC
         : Assigned to Cortex MCP IV LLC
         : Assigned to Cortex MCP V LLC
         : Assigned to Cortex MCP VI LLC
    2024 : Assigned to Cortex MCP VII LLC
         : Assigned to Cortex MCP VIII LLC
         : Assigned to Cortex MCP IX LLC
         : Assigned to Cortex MCP X LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — present. The patent has been transferred through a series of sequentially numbered LLCs (Cortex MCP LLC, II LLC, III LLC, etc., up to X LLC). This is a strong indicator of shell entities commonly used in patent assertion. The initial assignee, Cortex MCP Inc., while describing an "IP-protected" platform, does not appear to be a major product-shipping entity for the patented technology, further suggesting an IP-centric model.
2. Known asserter in the chain — present. Cortex MCP Inc. (the original assignee) is explicitly listed as a petitioner by Unified Patents in IPR2024-00490, which is an anti-NPE challenge. This indicates that Cortex MCP Inc. is identified as a patent asserter.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present. LORING P. RANDELL, P.C. is listed as the correspondent for all assignments from CORTEX MCP, INC. to CORTEX MCP LLC (Reel 061266/0398, recorded 2022-09-08) through to CORTEX MCP IX LLC to CORTEX MCP X LLC (Reel 067341/0088, recorded 2024-05-20).
4. Cascading transfers — present. There have been ten consecutive assignments between sequentially numbered LLCs (Cortex MCP LLC through Cortex MCP X LLC) in less than two years (from 2022-09-07 to 2024-05-13). This rapid, systematic transfer among related entities is a hallmark of patent assertion.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. The first transfer from Cortex MCP, INC. to Cortex MCP LLC occurred on 2022-09-07 (Reel 061266/0398). The first noted litigation (6:23-cv-00048) was filed on 2023-01-19. While this transfer occurred within 6 months of the first lawsuit, the plaintiff in that specific case was Cortex MCP, INC., the assignor in that transfer. However, the subsequent rapid cascading transfers between the numbered LLCs occurred after litigation had commenced, suggesting ongoing internal organizational changes during the assertion period.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. No evidence of bankruptcy proceedings for any entity in the chain.
7. Privateering — unclear. While the entity is an NPE, there is no explicit information to suggest it is asserting the patent on behalf of an operating company against its competitors.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain terminates at CORTEX MCP X LLC, which is not a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence
This verdict is based on multiple strong signals: the extensive cascading transfers of the patent through ten sequentially numbered shell LLCs (Cortex MCP LLC through Cortex MCP X LLC) over a short period (Reels 061266/0398 to 067341/0088, spanning from September 2022 to May 2024), and the repeated use of the same correspondent, LORING P. RANDELL, P.C., for nearly all transfers. Additionally, Cortex MCP Inc. is identified as an NPE by Unified Patents.

Verification: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/ (search patent number 11329973).