NPEs had a typically slow summer.* Frequent filers included AML IP, Analytical Technologies, Big Will Enterprises, Fall Line Patents, Linfo IP, Patent Armory, Random Chat, RFCyber, S3G Technology, and Torus Ventures.
As usual, I prepared the report in partnership with and using Docket Navigator and its powerful database. Docket Navigator is a valuable resource, and the place to go if you want to keep track of new patent litigation filings or want to know what is happening in particular cases, how your judge has historically handled a particular type of motion, or a particular plaintiff’s litigation history. Finally, please let me know if you have thoughts about the report or changes you would like to see. I am preparing it as a service for retailers and their supply chain who may want an overview of the patent litigation landscape. So, I am very open to your suggestions for improving the report.
* Note I am catching up on a backlog because of some very busy IP litigation over the last year or so.
AML IP, LLC v. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (multiple cases) (W.D. Tex.).
Judges: District Judge Leon Schydlower, District Judge Fred Biery, District Judge Robert Pitman
Claims: Infringement
Defendants:
- Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
- Sephora USA, Inc.
- Luxottica of America, Inc.
- Vuori, Inc.
- At Home Stores LLC
Plaintiff: AML IP LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Ramey
Patent: 6,876,979 (Electronic commerce bridge system)
Analytical Technologies, LLC v. Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc. (E.D. Tex.).
Claims: Infringement
Defendant: Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc.
Plaintiff: Analytical Technologies, LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Garteiser Honea; Sinergia Technology Law Group
Patent: 8,799,083 (System and method for managing restaurant customer data elements)
Big Will Enterprises Inc. v. Aware360 Ltd. (W.D. Tex.).
Judge: District Judge Robert Pitman
Claims: Infringement
Defendant: Aware360 Ltd.
Plaintiff: Big Will Enterprises Inc.
Pls. Cnsl: Eureka Intellectual Property Law
Patents: 10,521,846 (Targeted advertisement selection for a wireless communication device (WCD)); 8,452,273 (Systems and methods for determining mobile thing motion activity (MTMA) using accelerometer of wireless communication device); 8,559,914 (Interactive personal surveillance and security (IPSS) system); 8,737,951 (Interactive personal surveillance and security (IPSS) systems and methods); 9,049,558 (Systems and methods for determining mobile thing motion activity (MTMA) using sensor data of wireless communication device (WCD) and initiating activity-based actions)
Disintermediation Services, Inc. v. The Kroger Co. et al (E.D. Tex.).
Judges: District Judge Rodney Gilstrap; Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne
Claims: Infringement
Defendants: Kroger Texas LP, The Kroger Co.
Plaintiff: Disintermediation Services, Inc.
Pls. Cnsl: Gillam & Smith; Global IP Law Group
Patents: 11,240,183 (Two-way real time communication system that allows asymmetric participation in conversations across multiple electronic platforms); 11,336,597 (Two-way real time communication system that allows asymmetric participation in conversations across multiple electronic platforms); 11,349,787 (Two-way real time communication system that allows asymmetric participation in conversations across multiple electronic platforms); 11,855,937 (Two-way real time communication system that allows asymmetric participation in conversations across multiple electronic platforms)
Fall Line Patents, LLC v. Wingstop Franchising LLC (multiple cases) (E.D. Tex.).
Judge: District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III
Claims: Infringement
Defendants:
- Wingstop Franchising LLC
- Wingstop Inc.
- Wingstop Restaurants, Inc.
- Carl’s Jr. Restaurants LLC
- CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc.
- Domino’s Pizza Franchising LLC
- Domino’s Pizza, Inc.
- Domino’s Pizza LLC
- El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
- El Pollo Loco, Inc.
- Different Rules, LLC d/b/a Jack in the Box
- Jack In The Box Inc.
- A Sub Above, LLC
- Jersey Mikes Franchise Systems, Inc.
- Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation
- Krispy Kreme, Inc.
- Raising Cane’s Franchising, LLC
- Raising Cane’s Restaurants, LLC
- Raising Cane’s USA, LLC
- Applebee’s Franchisor LLC
- Applebees Restaurant Holdings, LLC
- Applebee’s Restaurants, LLC
- Dine Brands Global, Inc.
Plaintiff: Fall Line Patents, LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Antonelli Harrington & Thompson
Patent: 9,454,748 (System and method for data management)
Linfo IP, LLC v. Rhone Apparel, Inc. (multiple cases) (W.D. Tex.).
Judges: David A. Ezra, District Judge Xavier Rodriguez
Claims: Infringement
Defendants:
- Rhone Apparel, Inc.
- Untuckit, LLC
Plaintiff: Linfo IP, LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Ramey
Patent: 9,092,428 (System, methods and user interface for discovering and presenting information in text content)
Patent Armory Inc. v. Global Payments Direct Inc (S.D.N.Y.).
Claims: Infringement
Defendant: Global Payments Direct Inc
Plaintiff: Patent Armory Inc.
Pls. Cnsl: Rabicoff Law
Patents: 10,237,420 (Method and system for matching entities in an auction); 10,491,748 (Intelligent communication routing system and method); 7,023,979 (Telephony control system with intelligent call routing); 7,269,253 (Telephony control system with intelligent call routing); 9,456,086 (Method and system for matching entities in an auction)
Pemberton v. Jack in the Box Inc. (S.D. Cal.).
Judges: Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt; District Judge Todd W. Robinson
Claims: Infringement
Defendant: Jack In The Box Inc.
Plaintiff: Kirk Pemberton
Pls. Cnsl: FisherBroyles
Patents: 7,870,687 (Signage apparatus having simple magnet-based structure for ease of modification); 8,205,369 (Signage apparatus having simple magnet-based structure for ease of modification); 8,464,447 (Signage apparatus having simple magnet-based structure for ease of modification)
Random Chat LLC v. Big Lots Stores, LLC (E.D. Tex., W.D. Tex.).
Jusges: District Judge Rodney Gilstrap, District Judge David Counts
Claims: Infringement
Defendants:
- Big Lots Stores, LLC
- Ace Hardware Corporation
- BPS Direct, LLC d/b/a Bass Pro Shops
Plaintiff: Random Chat LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Ramey
Patent: 8,402,099 (Method for carrying out a multimedia communication based on a network protocol, particularly tcp/ip and/or udp)
RFCyber Corp. v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (multiple cases) (E.D. Tex.).
Judge: District Judge Rodney Gilstrap
Claims: Infringement
Defendants:
- Costco Wholesale Corporation
- The Kroger Co.
- Equilon Enterprises LLC d/b/a Shell Oil Products, US
- Shell Information Technology International BV
- Starbucks Corporation
- Walmart, Inc.
Plaintiff: RFCyber Corp.
Pls. Cnsl: Fabricant
Patent: 8,448,855 (Method and apparatus for funding an electronic purse)
S3G Technology LLC v. Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. (E.D. Tex., W.D. Tex.).
Judge: District Judge Rodney Gilstrap, Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne, District Judge Orlando L. Garcia
Claims: Infringement
Defendants:
- Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc.
- Domino’s Pizza LLC
Plaintiff: S3G Technology LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Parker Bunt & Ainsworth
Patents: 8,572,571 (Modification of terminal and service provider machines using an update server machine); 9,081,897 (Modification of terminal and service provider machines using an update server machine); 9,940,124 (Modification of terminal and service provider machines using an update server machine); 10,261,774 (Modification of terminal and service provider machines using an update server machine); 11,662,995 (Network efficient location-based dialogue sequence using virtual processor)
Torus Ventures LLC v. Broadway National Bank (multiple cases) (E.D. Tex.).
Judge: District Judge Rodney Gilstrap
Claims: Infringement
Defendants:
- Broadway National Bank
- Cawley Partners, LLC
- Cinemark USA, Inc.
- CIS Group, LLC
- Classic Bank, NA
- Commercial Bank of Texas, National Association
- Community First Health Plans, Inc.
Plaintiff: Torus Ventures LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Rabicoff Law
Patent: 7,203,844 (Method and system for a recursive security protocol for digital copyright control)