Assignment history

Inventors

• David B. Lockton (Employer at time of filing unclear from patent text)

Original assignee

Winview IP Holdings LLC.
The patent describes a system for synchronized gaming and programming, allowing users to participate in games of skill or chance synchronized with television or internet programming via mobile devices. The '913 patent (US Pat. No. 5,813,913), a related prior art, describes a central computing system for grouping participants in games of skill and managing their skill levels and competition. Winview, Inc., a related entity, has offered mobile second-screen gaming applications. Winview, Inc. previously had a "real-money gaming app" that "synchronized live sports with real-time predictions" but ceased operations in 2020. Given the current assignee is Winview IP Holdings LLC, an entity typically associated with patent monetization, and the operating entity Winview, Inc. appears to be defunct, it is unlikely the current assignee is shipping a product embodying the claims. Winview IP Holdings LLC's primary line of business appears to be patent licensing and assertion. Their current status is operating, evidenced by ongoing litigation.

Assignment timeline

The USPTO Assignment Center (https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/) shows the following assignment records for US patent 12005349:

• 2022-04-10 (executed) / recorded 2022-04-12 — Reel 058988/0609

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: LOCKTON, DAVID B.
  • Assignee: WINVIEW, INC.
  • Correspondent: LINDEMAN, LAWRENCE G. and LINDEMAN & FAHRNEY LLP, 26970 COVINGTON RD, LOS ALTOS, CALIFORNIA, 94024. This correspondent appears multiple times in this patent's chain.
  • Context: Transfer from inventor to operating company.

• 2023-10-02 (executed) / recorded 2023-10-02 — Reel 060912/0324

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: WINVIEW, INC.
  • Assignee: WINVIEW IP HOLDINGS, LLC
  • Correspondent: LINDEMAN, LAWRENCE G. and LINDEMAN & FAHRNEY LLP, 26970 COVINGTON RD, LOS ALTOS, CALIFORNIA, 94024. This correspondent appears multiple times in this patent's chain.
  • Context: Transfer from operating company to an intellectual property holding company.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 12005349
    2021 : Application filed by Winview IP Holdings LLC
    2022 : Inventor assigned to Winview Inc
    2023 : Winview Inc assigned to Winview IP Holdings LLC
    2024 : Patent granted

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — present. The transfer from "WINVIEW, INC." to "WINVIEW IP HOLDINGS, LLC" (Reel 060912/0324, executed 2023-10-02) indicates a move from a likely operating entity to a licensing-focused entity, strongly suggesting a shell entity. The name "IP Holdings" is a strong tell.

2. Known asserter in the chain — unclear. While Winview IP Holdings LLC is actively litigating, they are not explicitly on the common public NPE lists like Acacia Research Corp or Intellectual Ventures, based on the provided data. However, the presence of litigation and the "IP Holdings" name suggests they operate in a similar manner to known asserters.

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present. Lawrence G. Lindeman of Lindeman & Fahrney LLP (26970 Covington Rd, Los Altos, California, 94024) is listed as the correspondent for both recorded assignments (Reel 058988/0609 and Reel 060912/0324). This recurrence is a strong signal.

4. Cascading transfers — not present. There are two assignments recorded, with a gap of approximately 18 months between the two. While the second transfer is to an IP holding company, it's not a rapid sequence of multiple transfers through chained LLCs.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. The patent was granted on 2024-06-11. The earliest litigation mentioned began in 2025. The assignment to Winview IP Holdings LLC occurred on 2023-10-02 (Reel 060912/0324), which is more than 6 months prior to the earliest indicated litigation, making this signal unclear without more precise litigation filing dates.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no indication of bankruptcy proceedings for the original assignee or assignors in the provided patent text or assignment records.

7. Privateering — unclear. While the transfer to an IP holding company could facilitate privateering, the provided information does not explicitly state that Winview IP Holdings LLC is asserting patents on behalf of another operating company against competitors.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain does not terminate at any known defensive aggregators like RPX, AST, or LOT Network.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

This verdict is based on two strong signals: the transfer to a shell entity, "Winview IP Holdings, LLC," indicated by the name and the nature of the transfer from an operating company (Reel 060912/0324, executed 2023-10-02), and the recurrence of the same correspondent attorney, Lawrence G. Lindeman, across both recorded assignments (Reel 058988/0609 and Reel 060912/0324). The current litigation further supports the patent assertion intent of Winview IP Holdings LLC.

USPTO Assignment Center search page: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/