NPE activity started the year strong.* Frequent filers included Adaptive Avenue Associates, AML IP, Analytical Technologies, Communication Interface Technologies, Consolidated Transaction Processing, Linfo IP, Patent Armory, Symbology, Verna IP and Virtual Creative Artists.

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

Adaptive Avenue Associates, Inc. v. Hibbett Retail, Inc. f/k/a Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc. (N.D. Ill.).

Judge:             District Judge Nancy L. Maldonado

Claims:           Infringement

Defendant:     Hibbett Retail, Inc. f/k/a Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc.

Plaintiff:         Adaptive Avenue Associates, Inc.

Pls. Cnsl:        Direction IP Law

Patents:          7,171,629 (Customizable web site access system and method therefore); 7,428,707 (Customizable web site access system and method therefore)

AML IP, LLC v. Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC (E.D. Tex., S.D.N.Y.).      

Judges:           District Judge Rodney Gilstrap; District Judge Dale E. Ho; District Judge Lorna G. Schofield   

Claims:           Infringement

Defendants:

  • Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC 
  • J.Crew International, Inc. 
  • Beauty Brands, LLC
  • Aero Global, LLC
  • Ardene USA Inc.
  • Fresh, Inc.
  • Ulta Beauty, Inc.

Plaintiff:         AML IP LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Ramey; Law Office of David J. Hoffman  

Patent:            6,876,979 (Electronic commerce bridge system)

Analytical Technologies, LLC v. Jack In The Box Inc. (multiple cases) (E.D. Tex.).    

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

Claims:           Infringement

Defendants:

  • Jack In The Box Inc.
  • Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. 
  • Zaxby’s Franchising LLC 

Plaintiff:         Analytical Technologies, LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Oblon McClelland Maier & Neustadt

Patent:            8,799,083 (System and method for managing restaurant customer data elements)

Communication Interface Technologies, LLC v. Chick-fil-A, Inc. (multiple cases) (E.D. Tex.).            

Judge:             District Judge Sean D. Jordan

Claims:           Infringement

Defendants:

  • Chick-fil-A, Inc.
  • Domino’s Pizza, Inc.
  • Great Clips, Inc.  
  • Kohler Co.  
  • Louis Vuitton North America, Inc. 
  • Pure Hockey, LLC 

Plaintiff:         Communication Interface Technologies, LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Beaty Legal

Patents:          6,574,239 (Virtual connection of a remote unit to a server); 8,266,296 (Application-layer evaluation of communications received by a mobile device); 8,291,010 (Virtual connection of a remote unit to a server)

Consolidated Transaction Processing LLC v. Carvana Operations HC LLC (E.D. Tex.).

Judge:             District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III

Claims:           Infringement

Defendant:     Carvana Operations HC LLC

Plaintiff:         Consolidated Transaction Processing LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Beaty Legal

Patents:          8,396,743 (Sending targeted product offerings based on personal information); 8,712,846 (Sending targeted product offerings based on personal information)

Linfo IP, LLC v. The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. (E.D. Tex., S.D. Tex., N.D. Tex.).

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

Claims:           Infringement

Defendants:

  • The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc.
  • PetSmart LLC 
  • Staples, Inc. 
  • Old Navy, LLC 
  • The Gap, Inc. 
  • Athleta, Inc. 
  • Banana Republic, LLC 
  • Levi Strauss & Co. 
  • GNC Holdings, LLC 
  • Saks.com, LLC 
  • Rockler Companies, Inc. 
  • CarParts.com, Inc.

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. HealthMarkets, Inc. (multiple case) (E.D. Tex.).

Judge:             District Judge Rodney Gilstrap

Claims:           Infringement

Defendants:

  • HealthMarkets, Inc. 
  • Yum! Brands, Inc. 
  • Deli Management, Inc.
  • Great West Casualty Company 
  • Healthcare Highways, LLC 

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)

Symbology Innovations LLC v. American Automobile Association Inc et al (multiple cases) (N.D. Tex.).

Judges:           District Judge Ed Kinkeade; District Judge Ada E. Brown; District Judge Brantley Starr   

Claims:           Infringement

Defendants:   

  • AAA Texas, LLC
  • The American Automobile Association, Inc.
  • Eataly USA LLC
  • Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Plaintiff:         Symbology Innovations, LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Garteiser Honea

Patents:          8,651,369 (System and method for presenting information about an object on a portable device); 8,936,190 (System and method for presenting information about an object on a portable electronic device); 8,424,752 (System and method for presenting information about an object on a portable electronic device)

Verna IP Holdings, LLC v. Anthology, Inc. (S.D. Fla.).

Judges:           District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg; Magistrate Judge Bruce E. Reinhart

Claims:           Infringement

Defendant:     Anthology, Inc.

Plaintiff:         Verna IP Holdings, LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Law Office of Victoria E. Brieant

Patent:            11,403,932 (Digitized voice alerts)

Virtual Creative Artists, LLC v. Grubhub Holdings, Inc. (N.D. Ill.).

Judge:             District Judge Sara L. Ellis

Claims:           Infringement

Defendant:     Grubhub Holdings, Inc.

Plaintiff:         Virtual Creative Artists, LLC

Pls. Cnsl:        Direction IP Law

Patents:          9,477,665 (Revenue-generating electronic multi-media exchange and process of operating same); 9,501,480 (Revenue-generating electronic multi-media exchange and process of operating same)