After a legislation-fueled spike of cases in April, the trolls slowed considerably in May. Repeat filers included Cascades Branding, Clear With Computers, Eclipse IP, Olivistar, and TQP Development.
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.
Cascades Branding Innovation LLC v. Abercrombie & Fitch, Co., (N.D. Ill.) (multiple cases).
Judges: District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly; District Judge Robert W. Gettleman; District Judge Edmond E. Chang
Claim: Infringement
Defendants:
- Abercrombie & Fitch, Co.
- GameStop Corp.
- Jo-Ann Stores, LLC
Plaintiff: Cascades Branding Innovation LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Flachsbart & Greenspoon
Patents: 7,768,395 (Brand mapping); 8,106,766 (Brand mapping); and 8,405,504 (Brand mapping).
TQP Development, LLC v. Allied Electronics, Inc. (E.D. Tex.) (multiple cases).
Judges: District Judge Rodney Gilstrap; Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne
Claim: Infringement
Defendants:
- American Airlines, Inc.
- American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.
- Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.
- Brooks Brothers Group, Inc.
- Carestream Dental LLC
- Columbia Sportswear USA Corporation
- eBags, Inc.
- Estee Lauder Inc.
- Frontier Airlines Holdings, Inc.
- Groupon, Inc.
- Hayneedle, Inc.
- Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.
- Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation
- Kaiser Permanente Ventures, LLC
- LL Bean, Inc.
- Marriott International, Inc.
- Hilton Worldwide, Inc.
- J Crew Group, Inc.
Furnitureland South, Inc.
Plaintiff: TQP Development, LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Austin Hansley PLLC
Patent: 5,412,730 (Encrypted data transmission system employing means for randomly altering the encryption keys).
BSG Tech LLC v. Inteladerm LLC, (E.D. Tex.) (multiple cases).
Judge: District Judge Rodney Gilstrap
Claim: Infringement
Defendants:
- Konarqui Internet Services LLC
- Spiraledge Inc. d/b/a SwimOutlet.com
- Toolup.com LLC
- Albee Baby Carriage Co., Inc.
- Costume Craze, LLC
- Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc.
- J.A. Cosmetics, Corp.
Plaintiff: BSG Tech LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Direction IP Law
Patents: 6,035,294 (Wide access databases and database systems); 6,195,652 (Self-evolving database and method of using same); and 6,243,699 (Systems and methods of indexing and retrieving data).
NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. v. Target Corporation, (D. Colo.)
Judge: Magistrate Judge Michael J. Watanabe
Claim: Infringement
Defendant: Target Corporation
Plaintiff: NeoMedia Technologies, Inc.
Pls. Cnsl: Global IP Law Group
Patents: 6,199,048 (System and method for automatic access of a remote computer over a network); 8,131,597 (System and method for using an ordinary article of commerce to access a remote computer).
Olivistar, LLC v. Legrand North America, Inc. (E.D. Tex.) (multiple cases).
Judge: District Judge Rodney Gilstrap
Claim: Infringement
Defendants:
- Legrand North America, Inc.
- Smartlabs, Inc.
- Trane Inc.
VTech Electronics North America, LLC
Plaintiff: Olivistar, LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Austin Hansley PLLC
Patents: 6,839,731 (System and method for providing data communication in a device network); and 8,239,481 (System and method for implementing open-control remote device control).
Eclipse IP LLC v. McKinley Equipment Corporation, (C.D. Cal.).
Judges: District Judge Andrew J. Guilford; Magistrate Judge Arthur Nakazato
Claim: Infringement
Defendant: McKinley Equipment Corporation
Plaintiff: Eclipse IP LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Newport Trial Group
Patents: 7,064,681 (Response systems and methods for notification systems); 7,113,110 (Stop list generation systems and methods based upon tracked PCD’s and responses from notified PCD’s); and 7,119,716 (Response systems and methods for notification systems for modifying future notifications).
EMG Technology, LLC v. CenturyLink, Inc., (E.D. Tex.) (multiple cases).
Claim: Infringement
Defendants:
- Doctor’s Associates, Inc.
- Fluor Corporation
- Safelite Group, Inc.
Plaintiff: EMG Technology, LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell; and Parker Bunt & Ainsworth
Patent: 7,441,196 (Apparatus and method of manipulating a region on a wireless device screen for viewing, zooming and scrolling internet content).
CYVA Research Holdings, LLC v. eBay Inc., (E.D. Tex.).
Claim: Infringement
Defendant: eBay Inc.
Plaintiff: CYVA Research Holdings, LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Ni Wang & Massand
Patent: 8,195,569 (E-bazaar featuring personal information security).
Hawk Technology Systems, LLC v. Xtreme Indoor Karting, LLC, (S.D. Fla., C.D. Cal., E.D. Mich., M.D. Fla.) (multiple cases).
Judges: District Judge William J. Zloch, District Judge Audrey B. Collins; Magistrate Judge Michael R. Wilner; Magistrate Judge Michael J. Hluchaniuk; Magistrate Judge Gregory J. Kelly; District Judge Gregory A. Presnell
Claim: Infringement
Defendants:
- Xtreme Indoor Karting, LLC
- California Cinema Investments, Inc.
- Henry Ford Health System
- NCL Corporation Ltd.
Plaintiff: Hawk Technology Systems, LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Lipscomb Eisenberg & Baker; and Law Office of Mark I Shulman
Patent: RE 43,462 (Video monitoring and conferencing system).
Clear With Computers, LLC v. eBags, Inc. (E.D. Tex.) (multiple cases).
Judge: District Judge Leonard Davis
Claim: Infringement
Defendants:
- eBags, Inc.
- Karmaloop, Inc.
- Ellison Systems Inc. dba Shoplet.com
Plaintiff: Clear With Computers, LLC
Pls. Cnsl: Spangler Law; and Stamoulis & Weinblatt
Patents: 5,625,776 (Electronic proposal preparation system for selling computer equipment and copy machines); and 7,606,739 (Electronic proposal preparation system).