By Eileen McDermott
Publication Date: 2026-11-05 22:01:00
“A stipulation offered to secure discretionary institution should have meaningful consequences when materially violated.” – Hafeman petition for Extraordinary Director Review
One day after her petition for rehearing was denied by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC), pro se inventor Carrie Hafeman has filed a petition for Extraordinary Director Review and Sua Sponte Review with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The petition asks the Director to vacate institution and the Final Written Decisions in six related inter partes reviews (IPRs) due to alleged Sotera Stipulation violations by Google and Microsoft.
Hafeman, an independent inventor who has been fighting a years-long patent battle against the two tech giants, last month filed her petition for rehearing or rehearing en banc of the CAFC’s June 2026 precedential decision affirming Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) decisions invalidating all claims of three of her…
