Sterne Kessler Secures Institution of a Second IPR for ToughBuilt

Washington, D.C. (February 20, 2025) – Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox secured institution at the PTAB of an inter partes review (IPR) petition challenging U.S. Patent No. 11,986,946 that was filed on behalf of ToughBuilt Industries, Inc. Based in Irvine, CA, ToughBuilt is a small U.S. company that engineers innovative tools for the construction industry. The case is IPR2025-01461.

This institution decision closely follows the Director’s decision to institute IPR2025-01462, in which ToughBuilt challenged U.S. Patent No. 11,192,689. Meridian International Co., Ltd., asserted both the ’946 and ‘689 patents against ToughBuilt in August 2024. The pair of IPRs will now move to the trial phase.

The Sterne Kessler team representing ToughBuilt in IPR2025-01461 includes Directors Richard Bemben, Timothy Tang, and William Milliken, and Counsel Mike Malek.

About Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox

Based in Washington, D.C. and renowned for more than four decades for dedication to the protection, enhancement, and enforcement of intellectual property rights, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox is one of the most highly regarded intellectual property specialty law firms in the world. Its team of attorneys, registered patent agents, technical specialists, specialized trademark paralegals, and law clerks include some of the country’s most respected practitioners of IP law, tackling innovations across a broad spectrum of industries. The firm’s practitioners represent Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, start-ups, inventors, venture capital firms, and universities in a client service driven environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating. Visit the firm online at sternekessler.com.