NPE filings fell off their incredible November pace once the Federal Rules amendments were implemented as expected, but remained brisk for the holiday season. Frequent filers included CryptoPeak, Eolas, Hawk Technology, JSDQ Mesh, Marshall Feature Recognition, Reflection Code and Shipping & Transit.

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 ways to improve the report for you.

XBranch LLC v. Amazon.com, Inc., (E.D. Tex.).

Judges:           District Judge Rodney Gilstrap; Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne

Claim:            Infringement

Defendants:

  • com, Inc.
  • com LLC
  • Netflix, Inc.
  • Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Plaintiff:        XBranch LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Spangler Law; and Stamoulis & Weinblatt

Patent:            7,188,308 (Interface and method for exploring a collection of data).

eCeipt LLC v. Square, Inc., (E.D. Tex.).

Judges:           District Judge Rodney Gilstrap; Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne

Claim:            Infringement

Defendants:

  • Square, Inc.
  • Nordstrom, Inc.

Plaintiff:        eCeipt LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Spangler Law; and Stamoulis & Weinblatt

Patent:            8,643,875 (Receipt handling systems, print drivers and methods thereof).

Reflection Code LLC v. Best Buy Co., Inc., (E.D. Tex.).

Judge:             District Judge Rodney Gilstrap

Claim:            Infringement

Defendants:

  • Best Buy Co., Inc.
  • Brother International Corporation
  • Mattel, Inc.
  • Pernod Ricard USA, LLC
  • Whirlpool Corporation

Plaintiff:        Reflection Code LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Devlin Law Firm

Patents:          7,963,446 (Bar code device); 8,733,657 (Barcode device); and 8,763,907 (Barcode device).

Ruby Sands LLC v. Ally Bank, (E.D. Tex.) (multiple cases).

Judge:             District Judge Rodney Gilstrap

Claim:            Infringement

Defendants:

  • Ally Bank
  • Amegy Bank, NA
  • The American National Bank of Texas
  • Bank of Internet USA
  • Bank of Texas
  • Cathay Bank
  • The Charles Schwab Corporation
  • JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
  • Citizens National Bank
  • Comerica Bank
  • Commercial Bank of Texas, N.A.
  • CommunityBank of Texas, NA
  • Extraco Banks
  • Fidelity Investments
  • First National Bank of Texas
  • Independent Bank Group, Inc.
  • NetSpend Corporation
  • Plains Capital Bank
  • Patriot Bank
  • Texas Capital Bank, NA
  • Woodforest National Bank

Plaintiff:        Ruby Sands LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Zimmerman Weiser & Paray

Patent:            6,891,633 (Image transfer system).

CYVA Research Holdings, LLC v. Microsoft Corporation, (E.D. Tex.) (multiple cases).

Judge:             District Judge Rodney Gilstrap

Claim:            Infringement

Defendants:

  • Microsoft Corporation
  • Fasoo, Inc.
  • Hewlett-Packard Company d/b/a Hewlett-Packard, d/b/a HP, d/b/a Security Voltage
  • Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP
  • Voltage Security, LLC f/k/a Voltage Security, Inc.
  • com, Inc.
  • com, LLC
  • SnapNames Web.com LLC
  • com, Inc.
  • com, LLC

Plaintiff:        CYVA Research Holdings, LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Ni Wang & Massand

Patent:            5,987,440 (Personal information security and exchange tool); and 8,195,569 (E-bazaar featuring personal information security).

Anuwave, LLC v. American Bank Holding Corporation, (E.D. Tex.) (multiple cases).

Judges:           Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne; District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III

Claim:            Infringement

Defendants:

  • American Bank Holding Corporation
  • Bank of America Corporation
  • Bank of the West Corporation
  • Comerica Bank
  • Comerica Incorporated
  • Commercial Bank of Texas, N.A.
  • First Bank & Trust East Texas
  • InTouch Credit Union
  • Independent Bank Group, Inc.
  • Landmark Bank, NA
  • NetSpend Corporation
  • PointBank
  • SunTrust Bank
  • UMB Bank NA
  • UMB Financial Corp.
  • MUFG Union Bank, NA d/b/a Union Bank
  • USAA Federal Savings Bank
  • USAA Financial Advisors, Inc.
  • USAA Investment Management Company
  • Veritex Holdings, Inc. d/b/a Veritex Community Bank
  • Wells Fargo & Company

Plaintiff:        Anuwave, LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Ferraiuoli

Patent:            8,295,862 (Method and system to enable communication through SMS communication channel).

Plaintiff:        Anuwave, LLC

Opal Run LLC v. Advanced Media Corporation d/b/a 48hourprint.com, (E.D. Tex.) (multiple cases).

Judges:           District Judge Rodney Gilstrap; Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne

Claim:            Infringement

Defendants:

  • Advanced Media Corporation d/b/a 48hourprint.com
  • 123Print, Inc.
  • Adorama Pix LLC
  • The Gart Company
  • CafePress Inc.
  • Costco Wholesale Corporation
  • CustomInk, LLC
  • Davids Bridal, Inc.
  • Design A Shirt LLC
  • Digital Room, Inc. d/b/a PrintRunner.com, d/b/a Next Day Flyers, d/b/a UPrinting.com, d/b/a YouPrint.com, d/b/a PrintsMadeEasy.com
  • Bel USA LLC d/b/a Discountmugs.com
  • Logo Sportswear Inc.
  • Michaels Stores, Inc.
  • Smart Marketing, Inc.
  • OvernightPrints, Inc.
  • Schurman Fine Papers
  • com, Inc.
  • Ritz Camera & Image, LLC
  • Shutterfly, Inc.
  • Party City Corporation

Plaintiff:        Opal Run LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        The Andrade Law Firm

Patent:            6,704,120 (Product template for a personalized printed product incorporating image processing operations).

LBS Innovations, LLC v. Nokia USA Inc., et al., (E.D. Tex.).

Judge:             District Judge Rodney Gilstrap

Claim:             Infringement

Defendants:

  • Nokia USA Inc.
  • HERE Holding Corporation
  • HERE North America, LLC
  • Nokia Apps LLC
  • Nokia Capital, Inc.
  • Nokia USA Inc.
  • Yahoo! Inc.

Plaintiff:        LBS Innovations, LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Buether Joe & Carpenter

Patent:            6,091,956 (Situation information system).

Guyzar, LLC v. Answers.com Corporation, (E.D. Tex.).

Claim:            Infringement

Defendants:

  • com Corporation
  • BuzzFeed, Inc.
  • CBS Interactive, Inc. d/b/a CNET
  • Ebates, Inc.
  • ESPN, Inc.
  • Fandango Media, LLC
  • The Television Food Network GP
  • HSN, Inc.
  • The Priceline Group, Inc. d/b/a Kayak.com
  • Los Angeles Times Communications, LLC d/b/a latimes.com
  • Poshmark Inc.
  • Redfin Corporation
  • RetailMeNot, Inc.
  • Rhapsody International, Inc.
  • Spotify USA, Inc.
  • TripAdvisor, Inc.
  • TripAdvisor LLC
  • WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post
  • The Weather Channel, LLC
  • World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
  • Zillow Group, Inc.

Plaintiff:        Guyzar, LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Ferraiuoli

Patent:            5,845,070 (Security system for internet provider transaction).

Vilox Technologies LLC v. Costco Wholesale Corporation, (E.D. Tex.) (multiple cases).

Claim:             Infringement

Defendants:

  • Costco Wholesale Corporation
  • Express, Inc.
  • Express LLC
  • Bath & Body Works Direct, Inc.
  • L Brands, Inc.
  • Victoria’s Secret Stores, LLC
  • Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

Plaintiff:        Vilox Technologies LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Spangler Law

Patents:          6,760,720 (Search-on-the-fly/sort-on-the-fly search engine for searching databases); 7,188,100 (Search-on-the-fly report generator); 7,302,423 (Search-on-the-fly with merge function); and 7,574,432 (Search-on-the-fly/sort-on-the-fly search engine).

Encoditech LLC v. AirBNB, Inc., (E.D. Tex.).

Claim:            Infringement

Defendants:

  • AirBNB, Inc.
  • American Express Company
  • Best Buy Co., Inc.
  • Capital One Financial Corporation
  • JP Morgan Chase & Co.
  • Credit Karma, Inc.
  • Domino’s Pizza, Inc.
  • E*TRADE Financial Corporation
  • Etsy, Inc.
  • Eventbrite, Inc.
  • Evernote Corporation
  • Expedia, Inc.
  • Groupon, Inc.
  • Jimmy John’s Franchise LLC
  • LinkedIn Corporation
  • LivingSocial, Inc.
  • Pinterest, Inc.
  • Plex Systems Inc.
  • Redfin Corporation
  • Sling Media, Inc.

Plaintiff:        Encoditech LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Spangler Law; and Stamoulis & Weinblatt

Patent:            6,321,095 (Wireless communications approach).

Internet Media Interactive Corporation v. Ace Hardware Corporation, (N.D. Ill.).

Judge:             District Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan

Claim:             Infringement

Defendant:     Ace Hardware Corporation

Plaintiff:        Internet Media Interactive Corporation

Pls. Cnsl:        Niro Haller & Niro

Patent:            6,049,835 (System for providing easy access to the World Wide Web utilizing a published list of preselected Internet locations together with their unique multi-digit jump codes).

Lexos Media IP, LLC v. The Home Depot USA, Inc. et al, (E.D. Tex.) (multiple cases).

Claim:             Infringement

Defendants:

  • The Home Depot USA, Inc.
  • Homer TLC, Inc.
  • Avon Products, Inc.
  • Express LLC
  • Sears Brands, LLC
  • The Neiman Marcus Group, LLC
  • Recreational Equipment, Inc.

Plaintiff:        Lexos Media IP, LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Buether Joe & Carpenter

Patents:          5,995,102 (Server system and method for modifying a cursor image); 6,118,449 (Server system and method for modifying a cursor image); and 7,111,254 (System for replacing a cursor image in connection with displaying the contents of a web page).

Nextcard, LLC v. Nordstrom, Inc. et al, (M.D. Fla.) (multiple cases).

Judges:           District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich; Magistrate Judge Thomas G. Wilson; Magistrate Judge Thomas B. McCoun, III

Claim:             Infringement

Defendants:

  • Nordstrom, Inc.
  • TD Bank USA, N.A.
  • Target Corporation

Plaintiff:        NextCard, LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Fee & Jeffries; and Mackey & Associates

Patents:          6,405,181 (Method and apparatus for real time on line credit approval); 6,567,791 (Method and apparatus for a verifiable on line rejection of an application for credit); and 7,143,063 (Method and apparatus for a verifiable on line rejection of an applicant for credit).

Shipping and Transit, LLC v. J Brand, Inc., (C.D. Cal.; S.D. Fla.) (multiple cases).

Judges:           Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Walsh; District Judge Otis D. Wright, II; District Judge Beth Bloom; District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas; Magistrate Judge Lurana S. Snow; District Judge William J. Zloch; District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg

Claim:             Infringement

Defendants:

  • J Brand, Inc.
  • Gilmore & Co., Inc. d/b/a VetDepot
  • Trans-Expedite Inc.
  • zZounds Music, LLC
  • Personalized Beauty Discovery, Inc.
  • com Inc.
  • ideeli Inc.
  • GoJane, LLC d/b/a gojane.com
  • PCM Sales, Inc. d/b/a PCM.com
  • Aramex International

Plaintiff:        Shipping and Transit, LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Newport Trial Group; and Leslie Robert Evans & Associates

Patent:            7,400,970 (System and method for an advance notification system for monitoring and reporting proximity of a vehicle).

Hawk Technology Systems, LLC v. Berkee College of Music, Inc., (D. Mass; E.D.N.C.; E.D. Va; M.D. Tenn.) (multiple cases).

Judges:           Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler; District Judge James C. Fox; District Judge M. Hannah Lauck; District Judge Kevin H. Sharp

Claim:             Infringement

Defendants:

  • Berkee College of Music, Inc.
  • University Health Systems of Eastern North Carolina, Inc. d/b/a Vidant Health
  • Bojangles’ Restaurants Inc.
  • The Ranch on the Piney River, Inc.

Plaintiff:        Hawk Technology Systems, LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Berman Devalerio; Lockridge Grindal Nauen; Howard Law; Cuneo Gilbert & Laduca; and Henderson Dantone

Patent:            RE 43,462 (Video monitoring and conferencing system).

Cherdak v. Physical Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a MIO Global, (E.D. Va.).

Judges:           District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee; Magistrate Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff

Claim:             Infringement

Defendant:     Physical Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a MIO Global

Plaintiff:        Erik B Cherdak

Pls. Cnsl:        Erik B Cherdak, pro se

Patents:          5,343,445 (Athletic shoe with timing device); and 5,452,269 (Athletic shoe with timing device).

Adore Me, Inc. v. Landmark Technology, LLC, (S.D.N.Y.).

Claim:             Declaratory Judgment

Defendant:     Landmark Technology, LLC

Plaintiff:        Adore Me, Inc.

Pls. Cnsl:        Cittone & Chinta

Patent:            6,289,319 (Automatic business and financial transaction processing system).

e.Digital Corporation v. iBaby Labs, Inc. d/b/a iBaby, (N.D. Cal.) (multiple cases).

Judges:           Magistrate Judge Elizabeth D. Laporte; Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero; Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley; Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore

Claim:             Infringement

Defendants:

  • iBaby Labs, Inc. d/b/a iBaby
  • MivaTek International, Inc. f/k/a MivaTek Corporation and Oplink Communications, Inc.
  • MYFOX, Inc.
  • iSmart Alarm, Inc.

Plaintiff:        e.Digital Corporation

Pls. Cnsl:        Handal & Associates

Patents:          8,306,514 (System and method for managing mobile communications); 8,311,522 (System and method for managing mobile communications); 8,311,524 (System and method for managing mobile communications); 9,002,331 (System and method for managing mobile communications); and 9,178,983 (System and method for managing mobile communications).

JSDQ Mesh Technologies LLC v. Digi International Inc. et al, (D. Del.).

Claim:             Infringement

Defendants:

  • Digi International Inc.
  • Firebreak Canada Corp.

Plaintiff:        JSDQ Mesh Technologies LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Niro Haller & Niro; Noble IP; and O’Kelly & Ernst

Patents:          7,286,828 (Method of call routing and connection); 7,916,648 (Method of call routing and connection); RE 43,675 (Wireless radio routing system); and RE 44,607 (Wireless mesh routing method).