Assignment history

Inventors

• Frank C. Hudetz: Employer at the time of filing (June 20, 2007) is not explicitly stated in the patent. However, as Neomedia Technologies Inc. is listed as the applicant and original assignee, it is highly probable he was an employee or had assigned his rights to Neomedia at that time.
• Peter R. Hudetz: Employer at the time of filing (June 20, 2007) is not explicitly stated in the patent. Similar to Frank C. Hudetz, it is highly probable he was an employee of, or had assigned his rights to, Neomedia Technologies Inc. at that time.

No unusual patterns regarding inventor departures are evident from the provided information within 12 months of the filing date.

Original assignee

The entity named on the issued patent (US7765126B2) as the original assignee is Neomedia Technologies Inc.

Neomedia Technologies, Inc. developed 2D mobile barcode technology and service solutions, including products like NeoReader (a barcode scanning application) and NeoSphere/QodeScan (cloud-based barcode management software). Their "PaperClick" technology, which allowed users to scan barcodes to access product-related websites, directly embodied the claims of the patent. This indicates they did ship products and services embodying the claims. They also provided IP licensing services.

As of May 2026, Neomedia Technologies, Inc. (NEOM) is trading on the OTC Markets at a very low price, with minimal reporting and only 3 employees reported as of 2016. While OTC Markets lists them as "Shell: No," their operational status appears significantly diminished, suggesting they are largely inactive or primarily engaged in IP licensing, rather than robust product development. The patent itself is listed as "Expired - Fee Related," further indicating a decline in the company's active portfolio management.

Assignment timeline

• 2008-10-31 (executed) / recorded 2008-11-04 — Reel 021950/0279
  • Conveyance: Security Agreement
  • Assignor: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES INC.
  • Assignee: YA GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, L.P.
  • Correspondent: KAREN S. ROBINSON; BAKER & MCKENZIE LLP; ONE PRUDENTIAL PLAZA, 130 E RANDOLPH DR, CHICAGO, IL 60601
  • Context: Securitization of patent assets by the original assignee.
• 2009-05-13 (executed) / recorded 2009-05-13 — Reel 022728/0861
  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: HUDETZ, FRANK C; HUDETZ, PETER R
  • Assignee: SOLAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
  • Correspondent: W. RANDOLPH MAY; STERNE, KESSLER, GOLDSTEIN & FOX P.L.L.C.; 1100 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W., WASHINGTON, DC 20005. This correspondent will recur.
  • Context: Transfer of inventor rights to an intermediate entity.
• 2009-05-13 (executed) / recorded 2009-05-13 — Reel 022728/0863
  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: SOLAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
  • Assignee: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Correspondent: W. RANDOLPH MAY; STERNE, KESSLER, GOLDSTEIN & FOX P.L.L.C.; 1100 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W., WASHINGTON, DC 20005. This correspondent recurs.
  • Context: Transfer from the intermediate entity back to the original assignee.
• 2016-01-28 (executed) / recorded 2016-01-29 — Reel 036835/0073
  • Conveyance: Notice of Security Interest
  • Assignor: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Assignee: YA GLOBALINVESTMENTS, L.P.
  • Correspondent: J. STEPHEN DOOLEY; THE DOOLEY LAW FIRM P.A.; 101 N. TRYON ST., SUITE 1100, CHARLOTTE, NC 28246. This correspondent will recur.
  • Context: Establishment of a new or updated security agreement.
• 2016-09-01 (executed) / recorded 2016-09-02 — Reel 037920/0942
  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Assignee: NM, LLC
  • Correspondent: WILLIAM B. NASH; WILLIAM B. NASH, P.A.; 4531 OLD CANTON ROAD, SUITE 213, JACKSON, MS 39211
  • Context: Transfer of ownership from the original assignee to a new entity.
• 2017-01-24 (executed) / recorded 2017-01-24 — Reel 038446/0970
  • Conveyance: Release
  • Assignor: YA GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, L.P.
  • Assignee: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Correspondent: J. STEPHEN DOOLEY; THE DOOLEY LAW FIRM P.A.; 101 N. TRYON ST., SUITE 1100, CHARLOTTE, NC 28246. This correspondent recurs.
  • Context: Release of security interest, typically after debt repayment or in conjunction with other transactions.
• 2017-01-24 (executed) / recorded 2017-01-24 — Reel 038446/0971
  • Conveyance: Release
  • Assignor: YA GLOBAL INVESTMENTS, L.P.
  • Assignee: NEOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Correspondent: J. STEPHEN DOOLEY; THE DOOLEY LAW FIRM P.A.; 101 N. TRYON ST., SUITE 1100, CHARLOTTE, NC 28246. This correspondent recurs.
  • Context: Another release of security interest, likely a duplicate or related to a broader portfolio release.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 7765126
    2007 : Application filed
    2008 : Security agreement with YA Global
    2009 : Inventors to Solar Comm
         : Solar Comm to Neomedia Tech Inc
    2010 : Patent issued
    2014 : First infringement suits filed
    2016 : Security agreement with YA Global
         : Assigned to NM LLC
    2017 : Security interest released by YA Global

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present.
   • NM, LLC (assignee on 2016-09-02, Reel 037920/0942) is the current assignee. Its generic name ("NM, LLC") and the lack of readily available information about products or services associated with it strongly suggest it is a licensing-only entity. Neomedia Technologies Inc., while an operating company, had also engaged in "IP licensing services", indicating a dual strategy that could transition to a more pure-play NPE model.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Unclear.
   • YA Global Investments, L.P. appears as an assignee for security interests (2008-11-04, Reel 021950/0279; 2016-01-29, Reel 036835/0073). While some investment firms engage in patent-related activities, there's no immediate indication that YA Global Investments is a known NPE in the same vein as those listed (Acacia, Marathon, etc.). Neomedia Technologies Inc. itself was active in litigation but is not typically listed as a general "NPE." NM, LLC is not widely recognized on public NPE lists without further investigation.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Present.
   • W. Randolph May of STERNE, KESSLER, GOLDSTEIN & FOX P.L.L.C. appears as the correspondent for both the 2009-05-13 inventor assignment to Solar Communications, Inc. (Reel 022728/0861) and the subsequent assignment from Solar Communications, Inc. to Neomedia Technologies, Inc. (Reel 022728/0863).
   • J. Stephen Dooley of THE DOOLEY LAW FIRM P.A. appears as the correspondent for the 2016-01-29 Notice of Security Interest (Reel 036835/0073) and the two 2017-01-24 Release documents (Reel 038446/0970 and 038446/0971).
   • The recurrence of these specific attorneys for related transactions (May for the 2009 transfers, Dooley for the 2016-2017 security agreements/releases) within the chain is a signal.
4. Cascading transfers — Not present.
   • While there are two assignments on the same day in 2009, they are part of a clean-up of inventor rights, not a chain of LLCs passing the patent. The other assignments are spaced out.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Not present.
   • The first litigation suit was filed in April 2014. The last assignment prior to this was the security agreement in 2008, and the inventor assignments in 2009. There was no assignment within 6 months before the 2014 litigation. The significant assignment to NM, LLC occurs after the 2014 litigation.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Unclear.
   • While Neomedia Technologies Inc. shows signs of being largely inactive (very low stock price, few employees), there is no explicit record of a Chapter 7 or 11 bankruptcy filing leading to a patent sale. The transfer to NM, LLC could be an asset sale outside of formal bankruptcy proceedings, but without direct evidence, it remains unclear.
7. Privateering — Unclear.
   • There is no evidence in the provided information to suggest an operating company transferred the patent to an NPE to assert on its behalf against competitors.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present.
   • The chain does not terminate at any known defensive aggregators.

Verdict

NPE — moderate confidence

The transfer from Neomedia Technologies, Inc. (an operating company with some IP licensing activities) to NM, LLC (a generic-named entity with no clear operating business) on 2016-09-02 (Reel 037920/0942) is a strong signal of a shell-entity transfer. The recurrence of specific correspondent attorneys (W. Randolph May and J. Stephen Dooley) throughout the chain, particularly for security interests and assignments, further supports this pattern by indicating a consistent legal strategy for managing the patent assets. The fact that the patent itself is now "Expired - Fee Related" further points away from active product development and towards an asset management or assertion focus.

USPTO Assignment Center Search for US7765126