Morpho Komodo LLC v. ZkTeco, Inc. et al DC

Altpass LLC, an entity formed in Texas at the end of last year, has filed its first lawsuits, accusing BBK Electronics (OnePlus Technology) (2:20-cv-00105) and Fujitsu (2:20-cv-00096) of infringing up to three patents through the provision of certain computing devices, highlighting the OnePlus 3/3T and Fujitsu’s Stylistic Q739 Hybrid Tablet PC in each complaint. The patents generally relate to authenticating computer users through “user-selectable signatures”, with AltPass’s infringement allegations targeting login features of the accused devices that use, e.g., a fingerprint, pattern, password, or PIN. The family of patents asserted in this new campaign is no stranger to litigation, having been asserted by two prior NPE owners.

RPX took note, among the USPTO assignment records made available during the first half of March, of the transfer of one set of patents to Fortress Investment Group LLC, after the NPE assignor’s default on a prior financing agreement. Fortress intervened in the campaign asserting some of those patents, bringing the litigation to a relatively rapid close. RPX also took notice of the transfer of patents from multiple assignors to another entity, Knapp Investment Company Limited, a British Virgin Islands entity that has never filed suit. The records made available in early March also contain transfers to frequent plaintiffs, including affiliates of patent monetization firms IP Valuation Partners LLC and Monument Patent Holdings, LLC, as well as Blackbird Tech LLC and Empire IP LLC.