Brooks Kushman Secures Favorable Result at PTAB for Patent Owner Y. Evan Spero

ROYAL OAK, Michigan – Brooks Kushman recently secured a favorable final written decision of an inter partes review at the US Patent and Trademark Office Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) on behalf of inventor Evan Spero. The subject patent, U.S. Patent No. 9,955,551 (the ‘551 Patent), relates to an illuminating device for vehicles whereby illumination intensity and spectrum are varied to illuminate areas according to the principles of correct lighting practice.

This matter began when Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) filed a petition requesting inter partes review of claims 24-55 of the ‘551 Patent. Subsequently, Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (Porsche) filed a petition for inter partes review and a Motion for Joinder to be joined as a petition in this proceeding.

The PTAB considered the petitioners’ challenges to claims 24-55 of the ‘551 Patent and ruled that petitioners had not proven any of claims 25, 27, 33, 35, 41, 43, and 48–55 unpatentable.

Evan Spero was represented in this matter by Brooks Kushman attorneys Sangeeta Shah, Bernard Tomsa, Andrew Turner, and David Bir. The case is number IPR2023-00315, Volkswagen Group of America Inc. et al. v. Yechezkal Evan Spero. The ’551 patent has been asserted in Torchlight Technologies LLC v. Daimler AG et al, No. 1:22-cv-00751 (D. Del.) and Torchlight Technologies LLC v. General Motors LLC et al, No. 1:22-cv00752 (D. Del.).

About Brooks Kushman P.C.

Founded in 1983, Brooks Kushman P.C. has built a national reputation as a premier intellectual property and technology law firm. We accomplish this with the understanding that the most effective IP solutions come from putting great minds together—our clients and our own. With offices in Michigan, California, Washington D.C., and Nevada, we forge strong relationships with corporations, small to medium-sized businesses, and leading universities across the country.

Brooks Kushman counts a number of Fortune 100 Corporations across a variety of industries among its clients. Our attorneys have a deep understanding and broad range of experience in a variety of industries and technologies, including consumer electronics, manufacturing, medical device, computer technology, aerospace, chemicals, biotechnology, and retail. We are also recognized by leading legal publications and rankings, including, Best Lawyers, Law360, Intellectual Asset Management, Managing Intellectual Property, and World Trademark Review. For more information, please visit www.BrooksKushman.com.