Assignment history

Inventors

The named inventors for US Patent 9235428 are Jeffrey A. Smith, Alan Page, S. Prassad Maruvada, and Scott A. Northmore. These inventors assigned their rights to MGI Software Corp. between March 2-15, 1999 [cite: Reel 034865/0993]. MGI Software Corp. subsequently assigned the rights to Roxio, Inc. on July 3, 2002 [cite: Reel 034866/0009], which then assigned the rights to Sonic Solutions on December 17, 2004 [cite: Reel 034866/0051]. Therefore, at the time of the application filing for US9235428 on August 23, 2006, the patent rights were held by Sonic Solutions LLC. It is highly probable that the inventors were employed by MGI Software Corp. at the time of the invention (around the February 1, 1999 priority date).

Original assignee

The original assignee listed on the issued patent US9235428 is Sonic Solutions LLC. Sonic Solutions LLC was a prominent company in digital media software, known for products related to CD/DVD burning, video editing, and photographic editing and compositing applications, consistent with the patent's description of a graphical user interface for such programs. Sonic Solutions LLC was subsequently acquired by Rovi Corporation in 2011, which later became TiVo and then Adeia Technologies Inc. through a series of corporate restructurings and name changes. As such, Sonic Solutions LLC no longer operates as an independent entity.

Assignment timeline

The following is a chronological list of every recorded assignment for US Patent 9235428, based on the provided Google Patents legal events which serve as the primary source for this analysis. Correspondent information is not available in this dataset.

• 2011-03-25 (executed) / recorded 2011-03-25 — Reel 026026/0111

  • Conveyance: Security Agreement
  • Assignor: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; DIVX, LLC; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC
  • Assignee: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Securitization (patent used as collateral for a loan).

• 2011-02-18 (executed) / recorded 2011-06-30 — Reel 026533/0400

  • Conveyance: Merger
  • Assignor: SPARTA ACQUISITION SUB, INC
  • Assignee: SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Internal corporate merger.

• 2013-06-07 (executed) / recorded 2013-06-11 — Reel 030591/0534

  • Conveyance: Release of Security Interest
  • Assignor: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Assignee: ALL MEDIA GUDE, LLC, SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC, DIVX, LLC
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Release of prior security interest.

• 2014-07-02 (executed) / recorded 2014-07-22 — Reel 033378/0685

  • Conveyance: Patent Release
  • Assignor: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Assignee: DIVX, LLC, SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC, ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Release of prior security interest.

• 2014-07-02 (executed) / recorded 2014-07-24 — Reel 033407/0035

  • Conveyance: Patent Security Agreement
  • Assignor: APTIV DIGITAL, INC., GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, INDEX SYSTEMS INC., ROVI GUIDES, INC., ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC, STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC., UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC., VEVEO, INC.
  • Assignee: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Securitization (new patent collateral agreement involving broader corporate family including Sonic Solutions LLC).

• 1999-03-15 (executed) / recorded 2015-02-02 — Reel 034865/0993

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: MARUVADA, S. PRASSAD; NORTHMORE, SCOTT A.; SMITH, JEFFREY A.; PAGE, ALAN
  • Assignee: MGI SOFTWARE CORP.
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Initial assignment by inventors (recorded significantly after execution).

• 2002-07-03 (executed) / recorded 2015-02-02 — Reel 034866/0009

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: MGI SOFTWARE CORP.
  • Assignee: ROXIO, INC.
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Corporate acquisition/transfer (MGI to Roxio, recorded late).

• 2004-12-17 (executed) / recorded 2015-02-02 — Reel 034866/0051

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: ROXIO, INC.
  • Assignee: SONIC SOLUTIONS
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Corporate acquisition/transfer (Roxio to Sonic Solutions, recorded late). Sonic Solutions is the Original Assignee on the patent.

• 2011-02-18 (executed) / recorded 2015-02-02 — Reel 034866/0083

  • Conveyance: Merger
  • Assignor: SONIC SOLUTIONS
  • Assignee: SPARTA ACQUISITION SUB II LLC
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Corporate merger (Sonic Solutions acquired by Sparta Acquisition Sub II LLC, part of the Rovi group, recorded late).

• 2016-04-14 (executed) / recorded 2016-04-26 — Reel 038388/0915

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: SONIC SOLUTIONS, INC.
  • Assignee: ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Corporate acquisition/transfer.

• 2016-04-14 (executed) / recorded 2016-05-16 — Reel 038711/0547

  • Conveyance: Corrective Assignment
  • Assignor: SONIC SOLUTIONS, LLC
  • Assignee: ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Correction of previous assignment record.

• 2011-02-18 (executed) / recorded 2016-06-06 — Reel 038894/0861

  • Conveyance: Merger and Change of Name
  • Assignor: SONIC SOLUTIONS; SPARTA ACQUISITION SUB II LLC
  • Assignee: SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Internal corporate merger and name change (general corporate event within the Rovi structure, after the patent was already assigned to Rovi Technologies Corporation).

• 2019-11-22 (executed) / recorded 2019-11-22 — Reel 051143/0468

  • Conveyance: Security Interest
  • Assignor: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; Tivo Solutions, Inc., VEVEO, INC.
  • Assignee: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Securitization.

• 2019-11-22 (executed) / recorded 2019-11-25 — Reel 051110/0006

  • Conveyance: Patent Security Agreement
  • Assignor: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; Tivo Solutions, Inc., VEVEO, INC.
  • Assignee: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Securitization.

• 2019-11-22 (executed) / recorded 2019-11-25 — Reel 051145/0090

  • Conveyance: Release of Security Interest in Patent Rights
  • Assignor: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
  • Assignee: APTIV DIGITAL INC., INDEX SYSTEMS INC., GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC., UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC., ROVI GUIDES, INC., VEVEO, INC., SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC, ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Release of prior security interest.

• 2020-06-01 (executed) / recorded 2020-06-01 — Reel 053468/0001

  • Conveyance: Security Interest
  • Assignor: DTS, INC., IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION, INVENSAS CORPORATION, PHORUS, INC., ROVI GUIDES, INC., ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, TESSERA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC., TESSERA, INC., TIVO SOLUTIONS INC., VEVEO, INC.
  • Assignee: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Securitization.

• 2020-06-01 (executed) / recorded 2020-06-05 — Reel 053458/0749

  • Conveyance: Release by Secured Party
  • Assignor: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
  • Assignee: ROVI GUIDES, INC., ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, VEVEO, INC., ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Release of prior security interest.

• 2020-06-01 (executed) / recorded 2020-06-05 — Reel 053481/0790

  • Conveyance: Release by Secured Party
  • Assignor: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
  • Assignee: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC., VEVEO, INC., ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, ROVI GUIDES, INC.
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Release of prior security interest.

• 2022-08-15 (executed) / recorded 2024-09-25 — Reel 069047/0828

  • Conveyance: Change of Name
  • Assignor: ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
  • Assignee: ADEIA TECHNOLOGIES INC.
  • Correspondent: (Not specified in Google Patents data)
  • Context: Corporate Name Change.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 9235428
    1999 : Inventors to MGI Software
    2002 : MGI to Roxio Inc
    2004 : Roxio to Sonic Solutions
    2011 : Sonic Security to JPMorgan
         : Sparta merged into Sonic
    2013 : JPMorgan releases security
    2014 : JPMorgan releases security
         : Many Security to Morgan Stanley
    2015 : Sonic merged to Sparta II
    2016 : Sonic to Rovi Technologies Corp
         : Corrective assignment to Rovi
    2019 : Rovi Security to HPS Partners
         : Rovi Security to Morgan Stanley
         : Morgan Stanley releases security
    2020 : Rovi Security to Bank of America
         : HPS Partners releases security
         : Morgan Stanley releases security
    2024 : Rovi Technologies becomes Adeia

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Unclear. The chain involves a succession of operating companies (MGI, Roxio, Sonic Solutions, Rovi Technologies Corporation, Adeia Technologies Inc.) or entities within their corporate structures (e.g., Sparta Acquisition Sub II LLC). While Sparta Acquisition Sub II LLC might appear to be a shell, it was involved in mergers within the larger corporate family. Adeia Technologies Inc. is currently asserting the patent as a successor to Rovi/TiVo, whose business model includes significant patent licensing and litigation.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Present. Adeia Technologies Inc., the current assignee, is a known patent asserter. The patent is currently involved in litigation, Adeia Technologies Inc. et al v. The Walt Disney Company et al, filed by Adeia, indicating an active assertion strategy. [cite: litigation summary]
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Unclear. Correspondent information is not provided in the Google Patents legal events.
4. Cascading transfers — Present. The chain demonstrates multiple complex corporate events, including several mergers, assignments, and numerous security agreements and releases involving multiple financial institutions (JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, HPS Investment Partners, Bank of America) across various entities (Sonic, Rovi, TiVo) from 2011 to 2020. This indicates frequent financial restructuring and movement of the patent portfolio, though not necessarily sequential transfers between shell entities. Specific examples include a security agreement and a merger in 2011 [cite: Reel 026026/0111, Reel 026533/0400], multiple releases and another security agreement in 2013-2014 [cite: Reel 030591/0534, Reel 033378/0685, Reel 033407/0035], and a series of security interests and releases in 2019-2020 [cite: Reel 051143/0468, Reel 051110/0006, Reel 051145/0090, Reel 053468/0001, Reel 053458/0749, Reel 053481/0790].
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Present. The change of name from Rovi Technologies Corporation to Adeia Technologies Inc. was recorded on September 25, 2024 [cite: Reel 069047/0828]. The infringement suit against Disney was filed approximately 1.5 months later, on November 7, 2024 [cite: litigation summary]. While a name change is not a transfer of legal entity, this re-branding directly precedes active litigation, suggesting a strategic move related to patent assertion.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Unclear. The extensive involvement of collateral agents (JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, HPS Investment Partners, Bank of America) in securing the patent portfolio indicates significant financing activities or restructuring. While such arrangements can sometimes precede or be related to bankruptcy, the provided records do not explicitly state any bankruptcy proceedings for the principal assignees.
7. Privateering — Unclear. Adeia Technologies Inc. operates as a technology licensing company, and while it asserts patents broadly, there is no direct evidence in the provided data that it is doing so on behalf of a specific former operating company against its competitors in a privateering arrangement.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The chain terminates with Adeia Technologies Inc., an entity actively engaged in patent assertion, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — moderate confidence

Adeia Technologies Inc., the current assignee (via name change from Rovi Technologies Corporation), is a known and active patent asserter. The presence of a significant corporate re-branding (name change to Adeia) recorded on September 25, 2024 [cite: Reel 069047/0828], immediately preceding the filing of an infringement lawsuit on November 7, 2024 [cite: litigation summary], strongly signals a pre-litigation transfer. Additionally, the history of complex and numerous security agreements and releases involving various financial institutions and corporate entities from 2011 to 2020 [cite: Reel 026026/0111, Reel 033407/0035, Reel 051143/0468, Reel 053468/0001] points to active financial engineering around the patent portfolio, a characteristic often associated with sophisticated patent monetization strategies.

For verification, see the USPTO Assignment Center: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/ (search by patent number US9235428).