In the high-stakes world of patent litigation, Inter Partes Review (IPR) and Post-Grant Review (PGR) proceedings have become key battlegrounds for companies racing to protect—or dismantle—patents and products central to their competitive edge. With industries like tech, biopharma, and telecommunications driving billions in revenue, the interest in such disputes over cutting-edge innovations is no surprise. However, handling these complex proceedings requires more than just legal prowess: success often relies on expert declarations and is driven by pairing airtight arguments with technical experts who can analyze patent claims, validate inventions, and testify with authoritative testimony in PTAB proceedings. As IPR and PGR cases become increasingly technical, finding the right expert—whether in AI, semiconductor design, pharmaceutical formulations, or wireless communication—has become a crucial yet challenging task, with all parties relying on expert testimony to strengthen their positions.
Top IPC Codes in Patents Disputed in IPR and PGR Proceedings (2020–2024)
In this article, we analyze the most contested technologies litigated in recent PTAB proceedings, identifying the expertise needed to drive these cases and exploring how platforms like Patexia Connect match attorneys with the right experts. It aims to transform the game, offering instant access to vetted specialists across various fields who can provide expert testimony and declaration in PTAB proceedings.
The chart above highlights the most frequently litigated technologies in IPR and PGR proceedings filed over the past five years (Jan. 1, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2024), as reflected by the number of proceedings tied to each International Patent Classification (IPC) code and patent challenged. These technologies represent key areas of innovation that are often at the center of patent challenges. Together, these cases account for 3,606 proceedings, representing 53.4% of the 6,753 total IPR and PGR proceedings filed during the same period. Notably, IPC codes under H04L (TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION), G06F (ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING), G06Q (INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY), H04W (WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS), and H04N (PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION) dominate the litigation landscape, collectively making up a significant portion of the total cases. This concentration underscores the intense scrutiny and competitive landscape surrounding these technologies where rapid advancements often lead to overlapping patent rights and challenges to patent validity, making expert insight invaluable.
Top IPC Codes and Expert Demand
The demand for expert witnesses in these areas has grown accordingly, as litigants seek specialists to provide technical analyses, expert declarations, and testimony. Technical expertise isn’t just a “nice-to-have” in patent disputes—it’s the key to success. Judges and PTAB panels rely heavily on expert testimony to analyze complex claims, validate prior art, and determine patentability. Below, we map the most in-demand expert profiles to the top-litigated IPC codes, providing insight into the types of experts needed for each party involved.
| IPC Code | Technology Area | Expertise Needed |
| H04L 29* | Arrangements, apparatus, circuits or systems | Network protocol engineering, cybersecurity & network security, cloud & distributed systems, network resilience & redundancy, wireless & mobile networking, data center & enterprise networking, telecom & ISP infrastructure |
| H04L 12 | Data transmission networks | Data networking, cloud computing, network architecture, network protocols, computer hardware interconnects, data center networking, high-performance computing, cloud infrastructure, telecommunications systems, VPNs, IoT security, data center infrastructure |
| G06F 30 | Computer-aided design (CAD) | CAD software, digital circuit design, EDA tools, VLSI design, computer-aided design, 3d modeling, engineering simulation, product lifecycle management (plm), computational geometry, finite element analysis (fea), computer graphics, mechanical design automation |
| G06F 17 | Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods | Data science, AI/ML, database optimization, SQL, cloud databases, enterprise software, embedded systems, real-time computing, digital signal processing (dsp), application-specific integrated circuits (asic), field-programmable gate arrays (fpga), high-performance computing, machine learning acceleration, algorithm optimization |
| G06F 15 | Digital computers and data processing equipment in general | Computer engineering, embedded systems, microprocessors, firmware development, computer architecture, parallel computing, microprocessor design, firmware development, hardware-software co-design, high-performance computing, data center infrastructure |
| G06Q 30 | Commerce, e-commerce systems | Fintech, digital marketing analytics, blockchain, payment processing, CRM software, online transaction security, digital wallets, fraud detection, supply chain management, recommendation systems, user experience (UX) design |
| G06F 11 | Error detection/correction in computing | Fault-tolerant computing, hardware reliability, cybersecurity, system diagnostics, error detection algorithms, error correction coding (ECC), fault tolerance, data integrity verification, redundancy techniques, signal processing, network reliability, hardware diagnostics, real-time monitoring |
| H04W 40 | Communication routing or communication path finding | 5G/6G technology, RF engineering, mobile networks, IoT connectivity, antenna design, network routing protocols, path optimization, traffic engineering, software-defined networking (SDN), multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), wireless mesh networking, dynamic routing algorithms, load balancing |
| H04N 21 | Selective content distribution | Video compression (H.264/HEVC), streaming tech, AI in image processing, digital TV, video streaming technologies, content delivery networks (CDN), IPTV systems, adaptive bitrate streaming, digital rights management (DRM), multimedia data compression, interactive media systems, video encoding and decoding |
| G06F 21 | Security arrangements for protecting computers | Cybersecurity, cryptography, penetration testing, identity management, zero-trust security, network security, data encryption, intrusion detection and prevention, access control systems, malware analysis, security protocols, vulnerability assessment |
*H04L 29 was reclassified in 2023, with its scope now covered under H04L 69/00 and H04L 69/40 in the updated classification system.
How Patexia Connect Simplifies Expert Discovery
Finding and vetting the right expert can be a daunting challenge. Many specialists operate in niche industries where conflicts of interest must be carefully managed, while others, particularly those in high-demand fields like AI, semiconductors, and cybersecurity, come with premium rates that can put them out of reach for smaller firms. Without the right technical expertise, even the strongest legal arguments can fall short.
This is where Patexia Connect transforms the process. Patexia Connect streamlines expert discovery through AI-powered matching, automated conflict screening, and transparent pricing, ensuring attorneys quickly find the right specialists for their PTAB cases. With a vast network of vetted experts, we help legal teams secure top-tier technical expertise in just days, not months. Whether you’re a petitioner challenging a patent or an owner defending your intellectual property, Patexia Connect ensures you have access to vetted professionals with the precise knowledge needed to strengthen your case.
Join Patexia Connect today and gain the competitive edge in your next PTAB case.
