GTL Wins Milestone Victory Against Securus
PTAB Invalidates Key Securus Data Analytics Patent Due To Similarity to Patents Held by GTL and Others
RESTON, Va., Feb. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a capstone victory for Global Tel*Link's two year campaign to end predatory patent litigation in the inmate telephone services market, the Patent Trial and Appeals Board (PTAB) on Thursday issued a final written decision concluding that all claims of Securus patent 7,805,457 are unpatentable. The PTAB found that the data analytics and gang-member tracking ideas claimed by Securus were not innovations at all, but a group of concepts and technologies patented or developed by GTL and others years before.
The Board's final written decision detailed how all 17 claims in the Securus patent were invalid primarily due to their similarity to existing GTL patents or other published materials known to the market as early as 2002 – more than five years before Securus filed its patent application for the '457 patent. During the past year, the PTAB invalidated or rendered useless five other Securus patents, including Securus' "crown jewel" VOIP patent, one of several patents the company has used for nearly a decade to extract millions in settlements and license fees from competitors.
"I know imitation of a great idea is the best form of flattery, but imitation isn't innovation and isn't patentable," said Brian Oliver, GTL CEO. "Securus tried to patent well known ideas, including GTL's, as their own and they got caught with their hand in the cookie jar. There's no explaining that away."
The PTAB process and litigation have revealed that Securus misled patent examiners while seeking patents, sought patents for products already in the market, like Apple's FaceTime, and misled its customers about the capabilities of its products. GTL has challenged the validity of seven additional Securus patents before the PTAB, and the PTAB has already determined that there is a reasonable likelihood GTL will prevail. Final decisions on these proceedings are expected by the end of the year.
"We are thrilled by the PTAB decision," said Oliver. "Our team has spent years fighting these patents to end Securus' predatory litigation practices and open the market to greater competition. I'm pleased to say we're winning."
About Global Tel*Link
GTL is the leading provider of integrated correctional technology solutions, delivering financial value, security, and ease of operation to our customers through visionary products and solutions at the forefront of corrections innovation. As a trusted correctional industry leader, GTL provides service to approximately fifty percent of inmates nationwide, including service to 33 state departments of corrections, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 32 of the largest city/county facilities. GTL is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with more than 10 regional offices across the country. To find out more about GTL, please visit our website www.gtl.net.
SOURCE Global Tel*Link
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