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Patent Board Narrows Shure’s BMA Patent

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ClearOne (NASDAQ:CLRO) announced a significant victory as the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) invalidated 38 of the 40 claims related to Shure's U.S. Patent No. 9,565,493, which covered beamforming microphone arrays. The ruling leaves only 13 narrower claims, diminishing the patent's relevance in the market. ClearOne asserts that its technology does not infringe these claims and emphasizes its strong patent portfolio, including U.S. Patent No. 9,813,806, which has already resulted in a preliminary injunction against Shure. This decision is seen as a reinforcement of ClearOne's market position.

Positive
  • PTAB's decision cancels 38 of 40 claims in Shure's patent, limiting its scope.
  • ClearOne's BMA technology is protected by a robust patent portfolio.
  • ClearOne believes it does not infringe the remaining claims.
Negative
  • None.

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClearOne (NASDAQ:CLRO), a leading global provider of audio and visual communication solutions, announced that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) issued a decision today significantly limiting Shure’s U.S. Patent No. 9,565,493 (the “’493 Patent”).  The ’493 Patent was Shure’s attempt to patent aspects of beamforming microphone arrays (BMAs), a technology that ClearOne has pioneered.

Shure obtained the ’493 Patent in 2017 with 40 claims directed at circular BMA arrays and ceiling-tile-shaped BMAs.  ClearOne challenged the patent in 2019 based in part on its own earlier patents as prior art to Shure.  The PTAB largely agreed with ClearOne.  Today’s decision cancels 38 of the 40 claims originally in the ’493 Patent.  The two surviving original claims are narrow dependent claims relating to circular BMA arrays.  Shure also lost all of the original claims directed at ceiling-tile-shaped BMAs in the ’493 Patent and was forced to replace all eleven such claims with eleven new narrower claims.

“Rather than 40 claims, the ’493 Patent now has just 13 narrower claims.  ClearOne is confident that its products do not infringe those claims, and we believe that the ’493 Patent in its present wounded form has no real significance in the market,” said ClearOne Chair and CEO Zee Hakimoglu.

ClearOne’s BMA technology is protected by at least a dozen patents and pending patent applications.  ClearOne has asserted that Shure infringes several ClearOne patents, including U.S. Patent No. 9,813,806, which Shure is preliminarily enjoined from infringing and which was a key piece of prior art against the ’493 Patent in today’s decision.  “This is another significant victory for ClearOne,” added Hakimoglu.

The case number at the PTAB is IPR2019-00683, which can be viewed here.

About ClearOne
ClearOne is a global market leader enabling conferencing, collaboration, and network streaming solutions. The performance and simplicity of its advanced, comprehensive solutions offer unprecedented levels of functionality, reliability, and scalability. Visit ClearOne at www.clearone.com.

© Copyright 2020, ClearOne, Inc. All rights reserved. ClearOne©, the ClearOne logo, and the names and marks associated with ClearOne's products are trademarks and/or service marks of ClearOne, Inc. and are registered and/or common-law marks in the United States and various other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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Contact: 
Bob Griffin
Griffin360
+1 212 481 3456 x16
bob@griffin360.com

FAQ

What was the outcome of the PTAB ruling for ClearOne and Shure?

The PTAB ruling canceled 38 of the 40 claims in Shure's U.S. Patent No. 9,565,493, significantly limiting its scope.

How does ClearOne view the significance of the remaining claims in Shure's patent?

ClearOne believes the remaining claims have no real significance in the market and that its products do not infringe them.

What technology does ClearOne claim to have pioneered?

ClearOne claims to have pioneered beamforming microphone arrays (BMAs).

What is the relevance of U.S. Patent No. 9,813,806 to ClearOne's case against Shure?

U.S. Patent No. 9,813,806 is a key piece of prior art against Shure's patent and has resulted in a preliminary injunction against Shure.

When did ClearOne challenge Shure's patent?

ClearOne challenged Shure's patent in 2019.

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