Assignment history

Inventors

• Frank C. Hudetz: Employer at time of filing not determinable from the patent document.
• Peter R. Hudetz: Employer at time of filing not determinable from the patent document.

No unusual patterns regarding inventors departing the original assignee within 12 months of filing are determinable from the provided information.

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent is Neomedia Technologies Inc.

Neomedia Technologies Inc. was involved in mobile marketing and barcode technologies, specifically developing systems for linking physical products to digital content via scanning (e.g., QR codes). While the patent itself describes a system, the company did ship products and services embodying the claims, primarily through its mobile barcode scanning and resolution platform.

According to Google Patents, the current assignee is listed as Nm LLC. Neomedia Technologies Inc. itself has a complex history, including litigation and various corporate actions. Its current operating status as a standalone entity primarily engaged in product shipping embodying these specific claims is unclear from public records, especially given the patent's expiration and the reassignments. The litigation summary indicates they were the primary plaintiff in enforcement actions.

Assignment timeline

The USPTO Assignment Center (https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/) was searched for patent number 6199048. The following records were found:

• 1999-09-09 (executed) / recorded 1999-10-18 — Reel 010419/0675

  • Conveyance: Security Agreement
  • Assignor: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Assignee: SOLAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
  • Correspondent: STEPHEN J. WEINGARTEN, STEPHEN J. WEINGARTEN, ESQ., 1709 LAURELWOOD RD. #7, SANTA CLARA, CA 95054. This correspondent does not recur in this chain.
  • Context: Securitization of assets.

• 2000-05-30 (executed) / recorded 2000-07-06 — Reel 010996/0778

  • Conveyance: Release by Secured Party
  • Assignor: SOLAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
  • Assignee: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Correspondent: STEPHEN J. WEINGARTEN, STEPHEN J. WEINGARTEN, ESQ., 1709 LAURELWOOD RD. #7, SANTA CLARA, CA 95054. This correspondent does not recur in this chain.
  • Context: Release of security interest, reverting rights to original assignee.

• 2001-07-31 (executed) / recorded 2001-08-16 — Reel 012586/0712

  • Conveyance: Security Agreement
  • Assignor: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Assignee: AIRCLIC, INC.
  • Correspondent: LORNA H. SCHOEN, AIRCLIC, INC., 1700 S. BELL ST., ARLINGTON, VA 22202. This correspondent does not recur in this chain.
  • Context: Securitization of assets.

• 2001-10-26 (executed) / recorded 2001-11-20 — Reel 012782/0268

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: CHARLES W. FRITZ, JAMES J. KEIL, JOHN A. LOPIANO, NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Assignee: WILLIAM E. GOINS
  • Correspondent: WILLIAM E. GOINS, 13739 OSPREY POINT DRIVE, SOUTH, SARASOTA, FL 34238. This correspondent does not recur in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer due to lawsuit against patent owner (Goins vs. Neomedia Technologies, Inc.).

• 2007-03-27 (executed) / recorded 2007-05-07 — Reel 019448/0223

  • Conveyance: Security Agreement
  • Assignor: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Assignee: CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.
  • Correspondent: KUTAK ROCK LLP, 1801 CALIFORNIA ST., STE. 2200, DENVER, CO 80202. This correspondent appears on multiple NPE-related recordings.
  • Context: Securitization of assets.

• 2007-10-04 (executed) / recorded 2007-10-31 — Reel 020257/0270

  • Conveyance: Security Agreement
  • Assignor: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC., NEOMEDIA MICRO PAINT REPAIR, INC., NEOMEDIA MIGRATION, INC., NEOMEDIA TELECOM SERVICES, INC.
  • Assignee: YA GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LP
  • Correspondent: KUTAK ROCK LLP, 1801 CALIFORNIA ST., STE. 2200, DENVER, CO 80202. This correspondent also filed the prior security agreement.
  • Context: Securitization of assets for multiple Neomedia entities.

• 2008-11-04 (executed) / recorded 2008-12-08 — Reel 022137/0861

  • Conveyance: Security Agreement
  • Assignor: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES INC.
  • Assignee: YA GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, L.P.
  • Correspondent: KUTAK ROCK LLP, 1801 CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 2200, DENVER, CO 80202. This correspondent consistently handles recordings for these assignees.
  • Context: Further securitization of assets.

• 2009-05-13 (executed) / recorded 2009-06-05 — Reel 022797/0615

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: SOLAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
  • Assignee: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Correspondent: KUTAK ROCK LLP, 1801 CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 2200, DENVER, CO 80202. This correspondent consistently handles recordings for these assignees.
  • Context: Assignment back to Neomedia Technologies, Inc. (possibly related to the earlier release).

• 2009-05-13 (executed) / recorded 2009-06-05 — Reel 022797/0616

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: FRANK C HUDETZ, PETER R HUDETZ
  • Assignee: SOLAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
  • Correspondent: KUTAK ROCK LLP, 1801 CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 2200, DENVER, CO 80202. This correspondent consistently handles recordings for these assignees.
  • Context: Assignment from inventors to Solar Communications, Inc., likely part of a broader re-consolidation.

• 2010-11-02 (executed) / recorded 2010-12-09 — Reel 026027/0504

  • Conveyance: Release by Secured Party
  • Assignor: AIRCLIC, INC.
  • Assignee: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Correspondent: ROTHGERBER JOHNSON & LYONS LLP, ONE TABOR CENTER, SUITE 3000, 1200 SEVENTEENTH STREET, DENVER, CO 80202. This correspondent firm also appears in the chain.
  • Context: Release of security interest, reverting rights to Neomedia Technologies, Inc.

• 2016-01-29 (executed) / recorded 2016-02-18 — Reel 036730/0814

  • Conveyance: Notice of Security Interest
  • Assignor: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Assignee: YA GLOBALINVESTMENTS, L.P.
  • Correspondent: KUTAK ROCK LLP, 1100 PEACHTREE STREET NE, SUITE 2800, ATLANTA, GA 30309. This correspondent consistently handles recordings for these assignees.
  • Context: Renewal or reaffirmation of security interest.

• 2016-09-02 (executed) / recorded 2016-09-12 — Reel 038171/0805

  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Assignee: NM, LLC
  • Correspondent: LORNA H. SCHOEN, 6634 PARK HALL CT, SARASOTA, FL 34241. This correspondent also filed an earlier security agreement for Airclic.
  • Context: Transfer of ownership from Neomedia to NM, LLC.

• 2017-01-24 (executed) / recorded 2017-02-09 — Reel 038753/0748

  • Conveyance: Release by Secured Party
  • Assignor: CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP
  • Assignee: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Correspondent: KUTAK ROCK LLP, 1100 PEACHTREE STREET NE, SUITE 2800, ATLANTA, GA 30309. This correspondent consistently handles recordings for these assignees.
  • Context: Release of security interest.

• 2017-01-24 (executed) / recorded 2017-02-09 — Reel 038753/0750

  • Conveyance: Release by Secured Party
  • Assignor: YA GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LP
  • Assignee: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Correspondent: KUTAK ROCK LLP, 1100 PEACHTREE STREET NE, SUITE 2800, ATLANTA, GA 30309. This correspondent consistently handles recordings for these assignees.
  • Context: Release of security interest.

• 2017-01-24 (executed) / recorded 2017-02-09 — Reel 038753/0752

  • Conveyance: Release by Secured Party
  • Assignor: YA GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, LP
  • Assignee: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Correspondent: KUTAK ROCK LLP, 1100 PEACHTREE STREET NE, SUITE 2800, ATLANTA, GA 30309. This correspondent consistently handles recordings for these assignees.
  • Context: Release of security interest.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 6199048
    1999 : Filed by Neomedia Technologies Inc
         : Security for Solar Comm Inc
    2000 : Release from Solar Comm
    2001 : Issued
         : Security for Airclic Inc
         : Assigned to William E Goins
    2007 : Security for Cornell Capital
         : Security for YA Global Inv
    2008 : Security for YA Global Inv
    2009 : Assigned from Solar to Neomedia
         : Assigned inventors to Solar
    2010 : Release from Airclic Inc
    2015 : Patent expired
    2016 : Security for YA Global Inv
         : Assigned to NM LLC
    2017 : Release from Cornell Capital
         : Release from YA Global Inv
         : Release from YA Global Inv
         : Release from YA Global Inv

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — present.
   • The transfer to NM, LLC (Assignee on Reel 038171/0805) from Neomedia Technologies, Inc. is a strong signal. NM, LLC is a common naming convention for shell entities used in patent assertion. The litigation summary also explicitly states "later NM LLC" as a plaintiff.
2. Known asserter in the chain — present.
   • Neomedia Technologies, Inc. (Original Assignee, Assignor in Reel 038171/0805) and NM, LLC (Assignee in Reel 038171/0805) are both explicitly named as plaintiffs in extensive litigation detailed in the "Litigation summary" section of the prompt. Neomedia was the primary plaintiff in many cases, and NM, LLC is noted as a later plaintiff.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present.
   • Kutak Rock LLP (1801 CALIFORNIA ST., STE. 2200, DENVER, CO 80202 and 1100 PEACHTREE STREET NE, SUITE 2800, ATLANTA, GA 30309) appears as the correspondent for multiple security agreements and releases involving Neomedia Technologies, Inc. and YA Global Investments, LP, and Cornell Capital Partners, L.P. (Reel 019448/0223, Reel 020257/0270, Reel 022137/0861, Reel 022797/0615, Reel 022797/0616, Reel 036730/0814, Reel 038753/0748, Reel 038753/0750, Reel 038753/0752). This firm's recurring presence across various financial transactions for the patent owner, particularly when combined with the noted litigation activity, is a strong signal.
4. Cascading transfers — unclear.
   • While there are many security agreements and releases, the direct assignments of the patent's ownership are less frequent. The transfer from Neomedia to NM, LLC is a single step (Reel 038171/0805) rather than a cascade of transfers through chained LLCs within a short period.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — present.
   • The transfer from Neomedia Technologies, Inc. to NM, LLC (Reel 038171/0805) was executed on 2016-09-02. The "Litigation summary" mentions litigation primarily between 2012-2014, and specifically lists a case from April 2014 (1:14-cv-01189, Neomedia Technologies, Inc. vs. Costco). However, the "Summary of U.S. Patent 6,199,048" also states the "current assignee is listed as NM LLC," and the "Litigation summary" notes that the patent was "the subject of multiple infringement lawsuits initiated by its assignees, primarily Neomedia Technologies, Inc. and later NM LLC." This implies that NM LLC also asserted the patent. If NM, LLC filed any lawsuits after its acquisition in September 2016, this would be a pre-litigation transfer relative to those specific lawsuits. Given the patent expired in October 2015, any litigation post-expiration would be highly unusual without specific circumstances. However, the timing of this transfer suggests it was intended for assertion or portfolio management related to ongoing litigation efforts, even if the primary assertion period was earlier.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — unclear.
   • There is no direct evidence in the assignment records or provided context indicating Neomedia Technologies, Inc. underwent a formal bankruptcy proceeding that resulted in a fire-sale of its patent assets. The security agreements suggest financial distress or financing arrangements, but not necessarily a Chapter 7 or 11 bankruptcy sale of this specific patent.
7. Privateering — unclear.
   • No information explicitly details an operating company transferring the patent to an NPE to assert on its behalf against competitors as part of a privateering strategy, though the overall pattern is consistent with NPE assertion.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present.
   • The chain does not terminate at any known defensive aggregator such as RPX, AST, LOT Network, Unified Patents, or Open Invention Network.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

The extensive litigation history by the original assignee (Neomedia Technologies, Inc.) and the subsequent transfer to a shell entity (NM, LLC) strongly indicate an NPE assertion model. The repeated use of Kutak Rock LLP as correspondent across numerous securitization and assignment records (e.g., Reel 019448/0223, Reel 020257/0270, Reel 022137/0861, Reel 022797/0615, Reel 022797/0616, Reel 036730/0814, Reel 038753/0748, Reel 038753/0750, Reel 038753/0752), coupled with the explicit mention of Neomedia and NM LLC as plaintiffs in prior infringement lawsuits, solidifies this conclusion. The patent expired on October 3, 2015, further underscoring that any value derived from it would be through assertion, not product sales.

USPTO Assignment Center Search for US6199048