Assignment history

Inventors

• Geng Wu: Inventor for Nortel Networks Ltd at the time of filing. The initial assignment on 2000-10-27 (Reel 011270/0314) records Geng Wu assigning their interest to Nortel Networks Limited.

Original Assignee

The original assignee was Nortel Networks Ltd.

• Primary line of business: Nortel Networks was a multinational telecommunications and data networking equipment manufacturer.
• Product embodiment: As a major telecommunications equipment provider, it is highly probable that Nortel Networks Ltd. incorporated backhaul optimization techniques, such as those described in US6920125, into their cellular network infrastructure products. The patent itself describes an "improved wireless communications system" and a "method for operation on the backhaul connection" (Description, Technical Field of the Invention).
• Current status: Nortel Networks filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009. Its assets, including its patent portfolio, were subsequently sold off, and the company has since dissolved.

Assignment timeline

• 2000-10-27 (executed) / recorded 2000-10-27 — Reel 011270/0314

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: WU, GENG
  • Assignee: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
  • Correspondent: JOSEPH E. RUSZ, NORTEL NETWORKS CORPORATION, P.O. BOX 3511, STATION C, OTTAWA, ONTARIO K1Y 4H7, CANADA.
  • Context: Inventor assigned patent rights to their employer, the original assignee.

• 2001-07-05 (executed) / recorded 2002-02-19 — Reel 012636/0254

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
  • Assignee: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
  • Correspondent: TERRY W. PEACH, NORTEL NETWORKS CORPORATION, P.O. BOX 3511, STATION C, OTTAWA, ONTARIO K1Y 4H7, CANADA.
  • Context: Internal record update reflecting an address change for the original assignee.

• 2011-07-29 (executed) / recorded 2011-10-28 — Reel 027164/0356

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
  • Assignee: ROCKSTAR BIDCO, LP
  • Correspondent: ROBERT E. HILL, FISH & RICHARDSON PC, P.O. BOX 1022, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55440-1022. This correspondent firm also appears in subsequent assignments in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer of intellectual property assets from Nortel Networks Limited as part of its bankruptcy proceedings.

• 2012-05-11 (executed) / recorded 2012-07-27 — Reel 028661/0596

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: ROCKSTAR BIDCO, LP
  • Assignee: APPLE INC.
  • Correspondent: WONG, GLENN, FISH & RICHARDSON PC, P.O. BOX 1022, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55440-1022. This correspondent firm also appeared in the previous assignment in this chain.
  • Context: Acquisition of patent rights by [Apple Inc.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Apple%20Inc.) from Rockstar Bidco, LP.

• 2012-05-11 (executed) / recorded 2012-08-22 — Reel 028827/0291

  • Conveyance: Assignment (Corrective)
  • Assignor: ROCKSTAR BIDCO, LP
  • Assignee: APPLE INC.
  • Correspondent: WONG, GLENN, FISH & RICHARDSON PC, P.O. BOX 1022, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55440-1022. This correspondent firm also appeared in previous assignments in this chain.
  • Context: Correction of a prior assignment record (Reel 028661/0596) to accurately reflect the application number.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 6920125
    2000 : Inventor Geng Wu to Nortel Networks
    2001 : Nortel address change
    2011 : Nortel to Rockstar Bidco LP (bankruptcy sale)
    2012 : Rockstar Bidco to Apple Inc
         : Corrective assignment to Apple

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present. The transfer from Nortel Networks Limited to Rockstar Bidco, LP (Reel 027164/0356) and then from Rockstar Bidco, LP to Apple Inc. (Reel 028661/0596) involved Rockstar Bidco, LP, a consortium formed by operating companies specifically to acquire Nortel's patent portfolio. Rockstar Bidco itself functioned as a special purpose vehicle for intellectual property acquisition.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Not present. While Rockstar Bidco, LP was an aggregation vehicle, it is not listed as a typical NPE. The final assignee, Apple Inc., is a major operating company.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Present. Fish & Richardson PC appears as the correspondent for the assignment from Nortel Networks Limited to Rockstar Bidco, LP (Reel 027164/0356) and for both assignments from Rockstar Bidco, LP to Apple Inc. (Reels 028661/0596 and 028827/0291).
4. Cascading transfers — Present. The transfer from Nortel to Rockstar Bidco was executed on 2011-07-29, followed by the transfer from Rockstar Bidco to Apple executed on 2012-05-11. This represents multiple assignments through chained entities within a period of less than 12 months.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Unclear. The patent expired on 2023-05-25. Without information on any specific litigation dates related to this patent, it is not possible to determine if any transfers were strategically timed before an infringement suit.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Present. The transfer from Nortel Networks Limited to Rockstar Bidco, LP (Reel 027164/0356) was a direct result of Nortel Networks' bankruptcy proceedings.
7. Privateering — Not present. The patent ultimately transferred to Apple Inc., an operating company. There is no indication of Apple using an NPE to assert this specific patent on its behalf.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The chain terminates with Apple Inc., an operating company, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion. Although the patent was part of a bankruptcy fire-sale from Nortel Networks Limited to Rockstar Bidco, LP (Reel 027164/0356) and involved an intermediate aggregation entity, Rockstar Bidco, LP, the ultimate assignee is Apple Inc. (Reel 028661/0596), a large operating company. This indicates that the patent was acquired by an operating company, likely for strategic competitive reasons (defensive or offensive), rather than for assertion by a non-practicing entity.

Link to USPTO Assignment Center search for US6920125## Inventors

• Geng Wu: Inventor for Nortel Networks Ltd at the time of filing. The initial assignment on 2000-10-27 (Reel 011270/0314) records Geng Wu assigning their interest to Nortel Networks Limited.

Original assignee

The original assignee was Nortel Networks Ltd.

• Primary line of business: Nortel Networks was a Canadian multinational telecommunications and data networking equipment manufacturer. They supplied networking products and solutions, including hardware, software, and services, to service providers and enterprise customers worldwide. They played a significant role in the development of digital switching and fiber optic transmission systems.
• Product embodiment: As a major telecommunications equipment provider, it is highly probable that Nortel Networks Ltd. incorporated backhaul optimization techniques, such as those described in US6920125, into their cellular network infrastructure products. The patent itself describes an "improved wireless communications system" and a "method for operation on the backhaul connection" (Description, Technical Field of the Invention). Nortel was known for its contributions to wireless infrastructure and telephonic (voice) equipment.
• Current status: Nortel Networks filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2009 in Canada and the United States, and in the United Kingdom. Its assets, including its patent portfolio, were subsequently sold off to various buyers, and the company has since dissolved and ceased operations. The bankruptcy case was the largest in Canadian history.

Assignment timeline

• 2000-10-27 (executed) / recorded 2000-10-27 — Reel 011270/0314

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: WU, GENG
  • Assignee: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
  • Correspondent: JOSEPH E. RUSZ, NORTEL NETWORKS CORPORATION, P.O. BOX 3511, STATION C, OTTAWA, ONTARIO K1Y 4H7, CANADA.
  • Context: Inventor assigned patent rights to their employer, the original assignee.

• 2001-07-05 (executed) / recorded 2002-02-19 — Reel 012636/0254

  • Conveyance: Assignment (Address Change)
  • Assignor: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
  • Assignee: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
  • Correspondent: TERRY W. PEACH, NORTEL NETWORKS CORPORATION, P.O. BOX 3511, STATION C, OTTAWA, ONTARIO K1Y 4H7, CANADA.
  • Context: Internal record update reflecting an address change for the original assignee.

• 2011-07-29 (executed) / recorded 2011-10-28 — Reel 027164/0356

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
  • Assignee: ROCKSTAR BIDCO, LP
  • Correspondent: ROBERT E. HILL, FISH & RICHARDSON PC, P.O. BOX 1022, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55440-1022. This correspondent firm, Fish & Richardson PC, appears in subsequent assignments in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer of intellectual property assets from Nortel Networks Limited as part of its bankruptcy proceedings.

• 2012-05-11 (executed) / recorded 2012-07-27 — Reel 028661/0596

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: ROCKSTAR BIDCO, LP
  • Assignee: APPLE INC.
  • Correspondent: WONG, GLENN, FISH & RICHARDSON PC, P.O. BOX 1022, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55440-1022. This correspondent firm, Fish & Richardson PC, also appeared in the previous assignment in this chain.
  • Context: Acquisition of patent rights by Apple Inc. from Rockstar Bidco, LP.

• 2012-05-11 (executed) / recorded 2012-08-22 — Reel 028827/0291

  • Conveyance: Assignment (Corrective)
  • Assignor: ROCKSTAR BIDCO, LP
  • Assignee: APPLE INC.
  • Correspondent: WONG, GLENN, FISH & RICHARDSON PC, P.O. BOX 1022, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55440-1022. This correspondent firm, Fish & Richardson PC, also appeared in previous assignments in this chain.
  • Context: Correction of a prior assignment record (Reel 028661/0596) to accurately reflect the application number.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 6920125
    2000 : Inventor Geng Wu to Nortel Networks
    2001 : Nortel address change
    2011 : Nortel to Rockstar Bidco LP (bankruptcy sale)
    2012 : Rockstar Bidco to Apple Inc
         : Corrective assignment to Apple

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present. The transfer from Nortel Networks Limited to Rockstar Bidco, LP (Reel 027164/0356) involved Rockstar Bidco, LP, which was a consortium formed by operating companies (Apple, BlackBerry, Ericsson, Microsoft, and Sony) specifically to acquire Nortel's patent portfolio during its bankruptcy. Rockstar Consortium, originally named Rockstar Bidco, is described as a patent holding non-practicing entity (NPE) and a "patent aggression company" that examined products for infringement and sought licensing deals.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Present. Rockstar Bidco, LP (later Rockstar Consortium) is widely recognized as a patent holding and assertion entity. It was listed in 2012 as one of the "8 most fearsome patent trolls in industry" by Business Insider, and Wired magazine referred to it as a "straight-up patent troll". Rockstar initiated legal actions against numerous companies, including Google, Huawei, and Samsung, for infringement.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Present. Fish & Richardson PC appears as the correspondent for the assignment from Nortel Networks Limited to Rockstar Bidco, LP (ROBERT E. HILL, Reel 027164/0356) and for both assignments from Rockstar Bidco, LP to Apple Inc. (WONG, GLENN, Reels 028661/0596 and 028827/0291).
4. Cascading transfers — Present. The transfer from Nortel to Rockstar Bidco was executed on 2011-07-29, and then from Rockstar Bidco to Apple on 2012-05-11. This represents two consecutive assignments through chained entities within a period of less than 12 months.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Unclear. The patent expired on 2023-05-25. While Rockstar Consortium did engage in extensive litigation related to the Nortel patents, without specific dates for litigation involving this particular patent (US6920125), it is not possible to definitively state if these transfers were pre-litigation.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Present. The transfer from Nortel Networks Limited to Rockstar Bidco, LP (Reel 027164/0356) was explicitly part of the Nortel Networks bankruptcy asset sale, where Rockstar Bidco submitted the winning US$4.5 billion bid for the patent portfolio.
7. Privateering — Not present. While Rockstar Consortium was formed by operating companies, and engaged in patent monetization on their behalf, the chain for this specific patent ultimately terminates with Apple Inc. as the direct assignee, rather than remaining with Rockstar for assertion. This suggests a direct acquisition by an operating company, though it originated from an aggregation entity with NPE characteristics.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The chain terminates with Apple Inc., an operating company, not a defensive aggregator. Although Rockstar later sold 4000 of its patents to RPX Corporation (a defensive patent aggregator) in December 2014, this specific patent (US6920125) was assigned to Apple Inc. in 2012.

Verdict

NPE — moderate confidence. Although the patent's ultimate assignee is Apple Inc., a major operating company, the presence of Rockstar Bidco, LP in the chain (Reel 027164/0356 and Reel 028661/0596) is a strong NPE signal. Rockstar Bidco was a consortium explicitly described as a patent holding non-practicing entity (NPE) that engaged in patent monetization and litigation against numerous companies. The patent was acquired via a bankruptcy fire-sale (Reel 027164/0356) and went through Rockstar Bidco before reaching Apple, which aligns with NPE aggregation patterns even if the final destination is an operating company for this specific patent.

USPTO Assignment Center search for US6920125: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/#!/assignment-result?id=7901594