Since late last year, RPX has flagged three batches of security agreements—each batch covering six different patent portfolios—all apparently involving the same third-party funder. Of the 18 funded patent portfolios, all but one has spawned new litigation campaigns, four having started last month. Meanwhile, public records provide hints as to the possible identity of the funder here—helpful hints, since the plaintiffs litigating in the Northern District of California or the District of New Jersey have apparently skirted, so far, respective disclosure requirements in those venues.

This past September, records made public by the USPTO revealed another batch of security interests in the patent portfolios separately held by six entities. Similar sets of security interests popped up last April, as well as late in 2021. After last week, of those 18 portfolios, 16 have now spawned litigation, over different subject matter, by various types of plaintiffs, all with ties back to the same apparent funder.

eCardless Bancorp Ltd. has begun litigating patents from its 11-member family generally related to processing payments over the Internet, the Washington plaintiff accusing PayPal (7:22-cv-00245) in a new Western District of Texas complaint of infringing four of them through the provision of its payments platforms.

Since late last year, multiple sets of patent holders (six at a time) have granted a security interest in their portfolios to one of three Delaware LLCs formed by the same individual. At least a dozen new patent infringement campaigns have sprung from those apparent funding relationships—and USPTO records made public this week suggest that another six are likely coming down the pike.