PTAB Grants Askeladden’s Request for IPR of Verify Smart Patent

Askeladden asserted that the patent’s claims related to identity verification in electronic transactions are invalid as obvious

For Immediate Release:

 

Date: July 25, 2017
Contact: Sean Oblack, 202.649.4629
Press@patentqualityinitiative.com

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New York, NY — This week, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) granted Askeladden’s petition for inter partes review (IPR) of a Verify Smart patent related to verifying the identity of users in the course of electronic transactions. In instituting the IPR proceeding, the PTAB found that Askeladden demonstrated a reasonable likelihood of prevailing with respect to all 19 challenged claims in the Verify Smart patent.

The challenged patent, U.S. Patent No. 8,285,648, has been asserted against several technology and financial services companies, including Apple, Facebook and Discover. Askeladden’s Patent Challenge Committee decided to challenge the '648 patent as part of Askeladden’s Patent Quality Initiative.

“By petitioning for review of this patent and others like it, we’re working to prevent costly, unnecessary litigation based on patents that should never have issued,” said Sean Reilly, General Counsel of Askeladden. “This is a step in the right direction for overall patent quality and we’re pleased with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s decision to grant Askeladden’s petition.” 

Askeladden is represented by Amster, Rothstein & Ebenstein, LLP.

About Askeladden and the Patent Quality Initiative
Askeladden is an education, information and advocacy organization with the goal of improving the understanding, use and reliability of patents in financial services and other industries. As part of its Patent Quality Initiative, Askeladden strives to promote better patents and patent holder behaviors by regularly filing amicus briefs, inter partes reviews (IPRs) and engaging in educational activities.