Case Overview

The Parties

The Patent at Issue

This case centered on U.S. Patent No. 9,135,635 B2, directed to a “system and method for routing media,” and involved 14 specific claims ultimately deemed unpatentable. The ‘635 patent broadly covers architecture for directing media content through networked systems — technology directly implicated in how streaming platforms like Hulu deliver video to end users.

• • US9135635B2 — “System and method for routing media,” covering claims 1–5, 7, 11–13, 17, 18, 20, and 22.

The Verdict & Legal Analysis

Outcome

The Federal Circuit ordered that claims 1–5, 7, 11–13, 17, 18, 20, and 22 of U.S. Patent No. 9,135,635 B2 are unpatentable, affirming the PTAB’s Final Written Decision. No specific damages award is associated with this proceeding, as the action was an invalidity/cancellation action rather than a damages-bearing infringement trial. The court’s order further directed that any parties seeking judicial review of the decision must comply with the notice and service requirements of 37 C.F.R. § 90.2.

Key Legal Issues

The Federal Circuit’s analysis affirmed the PTAB’s finding of unpatentability for the challenged claims, reinforcing the Board’s role as a validity gatekeeper. While the specific legal grounds were not explicitly detailed in the public record, PTAB proceedings challenging software and media routing patents have historically centered on obviousness under 35 U.S.C. § 103 and subject matter eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101 (abstract idea challenges). The Federal Circuit’s affirmance signals that the PTAB’s evidentiary record and legal reasoning withstood appellate scrutiny under the deferential substantial evidence standard.