PTAB challenges

Proceedings overview

One Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceeding has been filed against US Patent 12004262, which is currently in the "Trial Instituted" phase. This means that a challenge to the patent's validity has been allowed to proceed by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). As no Final Written Decision has been issued yet, no claims have been invalidated or sustained by the PTAB. For a defendant, this indicates that the patent's validity is actively being contested, and the outcome of this IPR will significantly shape the defensive landscape.

IPR2025-01164 — [[[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. Wilus Institute of Standards and Technology Inc.

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-06-30
• Status: Trial Instituted (the PTAB has determined that the petitioner has a reasonable likelihood of prevailing with respect to at least one challenged claim and has commenced a trial)
• Judge panel: Information not publicly available at this stage in the provided data.
• Petition grounds: Specific claims challenged, prior art, and statutory bases (§ 102 / § 103 / § 112) are not detailed in the provided data.
• Institution decision: Instituted. The date of institution is not explicitly provided in the current data, but the "last modified" date of 2026-04-18 indicates activity related to the trial phase.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): Not yet issued. The proceeding is currently in the trial phase.
• Settlement / termination: No settlement or termination recorded as of 2026-04-18.
• Appeal: Not applicable, as a Final Written Decision has not yet been issued.
• Defensive value: This proceeding indicates an active challenge to the patent's validity. If you are facing assertion of this patent, monitoring the progress of IPR2025-01164 is crucial. A favorable outcome for the petitioner could lead to claim cancellation, significantly weakening the patent owner's position. Conversely, if the claims survive, the patent's validity will be strengthened against future challenges on the same grounds.

Strategic summary

As of today, May 18, 2026, US Patent 12004262 is subject to one active Inter Partes Review, IPR2025-01164. Since the proceeding is in the "Trial Instituted" phase, no claims have been definitively canceled or sustained by the PTAB. All claims of 12004262 are currently UNTESTED with a final PTAB decision. The patent's validity is currently under scrutiny, which means there is uncertainty regarding its scope and enforceability. The petitioner, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al., is actively challenging the patent.

The estoppel landscape under § 315(e)(2) will only become relevant after a Final Written Decision is issued. If claims are found unpatentable, the petitioner and its privies will be estopped from asserting those specific grounds or any grounds that reasonably could have been raised in a subsequent civil action or ITC investigation. Currently, all prior-art grounds remain available to other potential defendants not in privity with Samsung.

The presence of a major entity like Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. as a petitioner signals that the patent is likely being asserted or is perceived as a threat in the industry. The initiation of an IPR is a common defensive tactic against asserted patents.

Recommended next steps

Given that IPR2025-01164 is in the "Trial Instituted" phase, the most critical next steps for a defendant facing assertion of US Patent 12004262 are:

• Monitor IPR2025-01164 closely: The PTAB has a statutory deadline to issue a Final Written Decision within one year of institution. The institution date is not explicitly provided here, but given the "last modified" date of 2026-04-18, the Final Written Decision is likely due in late 2026 or early 2027. Accessing the PTAB's End-to-End (E2E) system for IPR2025-01164 (accessible via the USPTO PTAB Decisions portal) will provide access to the institution decision, petition details (challenged claims, prior art), and the trial schedule, including oral hearing dates and the anticipated FWD due date.
• Review Institution Decision: Obtain and thoroughly review the institution decision for IPR2025-01164. This document will detail which claims were challenged, the specific prior art grounds on which the trial was instituted, and the PTAB panel's reasoning for institution. This information is critical for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the challenged claims.
• Assess Impact of Potential Outcomes: If the IPR results in the cancellation of key asserted claims, it could significantly weaken or entirely undermine an infringement case. Conversely, if claims are sustained, it indicates a stronger patent, at least against the grounds raised.
• Consider Participation (if appropriate): If your company is facing a demand letter or litigation, evaluate whether intervenor status or filing your own IPR is strategically advantageous, taking into account the estoppel implications and the specific grounds raised by Samsung.

US12004262B2 - Wireless communication method using BSS identifier and wireless communication terminal using same - Google Patents
PTAB case IPR2025-01164 filed (Pending - Instituted) - Unified Patents Portal