April showers bring May flowers and, at least this year, patent litigation against retailers, with NPEs targeting everything from e-commerce platforms to specialty retailers. Notable filers included AML IP, BrowserKey, Cedar Lane Technologies, DataCloud Technologies, Dynamic Data Innovations, Linfo IP, Malikie Innovations, Mearby Systems, Random Chat, S3G Technology, Torus Ventures, Virtual Creative Artists, WebSock Global Strategies, and Wolverine Barcode IP.

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.

AML IP, LLC v. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Inc. (multiple cases) (W.D. Tex.).

Claims: Infringement

Defendants:

  • Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Inc. 
  • Texas Born, LLC
  • Regal Cinemas, Inc.

Plaintiff: AML IP, LLC

Pls. Cnsl: Ramey

Patents: 7,328,189 (Method and apparatus for conducting electronic commerce transactions using electronic tokens); 7,177,838 (Method and apparatus for conducting electronic commerce transactions using electronic tokens)

BrowserKey, LLC v. Regions Bank (multiple cases) (E.D. Tex.).

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

Claims: Infringement

Defendants:

  • Regions Bank 
  • First Citizens Bank & Trust Company 
  • UBS AG
  • UBS Financial Services, Inc. 
  • Raymond James Financial, Inc.

Plaintiff: BrowserKey, LLC

Pls. Cnsl: Fabricant

Patent: 7,249,262 (Method for restricting access to a web site by remote users)

Cedar Lane Technologies Inc. v. Global Financial Services, L.L.C. (S.D. Tex., W.D. Tex.).

Claims: Infringement

Defendants:

  • Global Financial Services, L.L.C.
  • Lion Street Financial LLC 
  • NatAlliance Securities, LLC 

Plaintiff: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc.

Pls. Cnsl: Rabicoff Law

Patent: 8,577,782 (TRADING WITH CONDITIONAL OFFERS FOR SEMI-ANONYMOUS PARTICIPANTS)

DataCloud Technologies, LLC v. 1-800-Flowers, Inc. (multiple cases) (D. Del.).         

Claims: Infringement

Defendants:

  • 1-800-Flowers, Inc. 
  • Teradata Corporation 

Plaintiff: DataCloud Technologies, LLC

Pls. Cnsl: Stamoulis & Weinblatt; Rozier Hardt McDonough

Patents: 6,560,613 (Disambiguating file descriptors); 6,651,063 (Data organization and management system and method); 7,209,959 (Apparatus, system, and method for communicating to a network through a virtual domain providing anonymity to a client communicating on the network); 7,398,298 (Remote access and retrieval of electronic files)

Dynamic Data Innovations LLC v. H-E-B, LP (E.D. Tex.).

Claims: Infringement

Defendant: H-E-B, LP f/k/a H-E-B Grocery Company, LP

Plaintiff: Dynamic Data Innovations LLC

Pls. Cnsl: Rozier Hardt McDonough

Patent: 9,632,676 (Systems and methods for navigating a set of data objects)

Linfo IP, LLC v. Beard Brand LLC (W.D. Tex., S.D. Tex.).         

Claims: Infringement

Defendants:

  • Beard Brand LLC 
  • BK Beauty, Inc.
  • Gossamer Gear Inc.
  • Interactive Life Forms, LLC 
  • MariGold Foods, LLC
  • Summer Moon Franchising LLC 
  • Tecovas, Inc. d/b/a Tecovas Boots, Inc.

Plaintiff: Linfo IP, LLC

Pls. Cnsl: Ramey

Patent: 9,430,131 (System, methods, and user interface for organizing unstructured data objects)

Malikie Innovations Ltd. et al v. Toast, Inc. (W.D. Tex.).

Claims: Infringement

Defendant: Toast, Inc.

Plaintiffs:

  • Key Patent Innovations Ltd.
  • Malikie Innovations Ltd.

Pls. Cnsl: Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg; Cherry Johnson Siegmund James

Patents: 8,334,847 (SYSTEM HAVING USER INTERFACE USING OBJECT SELECTION AND GESTURES); 8,392,259 (METHODS AND APPARATUS TO OBTAIN TRANSACTION CONFIRMATION); 8,583,980 (LOW DENSITY PARITY CHECK (LDPC) CODE); 8,615,195 (MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE HAVING TOUCH ACTIVATED NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATIONS (NFC) CIRCUIT); 8,676,116 (ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH NFC ANTENNA ADJACENT DISPLAY AND RELATED METHODS); RE48,212 (STRUCTURED LOW-DENSITY PARITY-CHECK (LDPC) CODE)

Nearby Systems LLC v. Panera Bread Company et al (multiple cases) (E.D. Tex.).

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

Claims: Infringement

Defendants:

  • Panera Bread Company
  • Panera, LLC
  • Panda Express, Inc.
  • Panda Restaurant Group, Inc.

Plaintiff: Nearby Systems LLC

Pls. Cnsl: Rozier Hardt McDonough

Patents: 10,469,980 (Mashing mapping content displayed on mobile devices); 11,937,145 (Mashing mapping content displayed on mobile devices); 12,185,177 (Mashing Mapping Content Displayed on Mobile Devices); 9,532,164 (Mashing mapping content displayed on mobile devices)

Ortiz & Associates Consulting, LLC v. McDonald’s USA, LLC (multiple cases) (E.D. Tex.).

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

Claims: Infringement

Defendants:

  • McDonald’s USA, LLC
  • IKEA US Retail LLC

Plaintiff: Ortiz & Associates Consulting, LLC 

Pls. Cnsl: Ramey

Patent: 9,549,285 (Systems, methods and apparatuses for brokering data between wireless devices, servers and data rendering devices)

Random Chat LLC v. CarParts.com, Inc. (N.D. Tex.).

Judge: District Judge Jane J. Boyle

Claims: Infringement

Defendant: CarParts.com, Inc.

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)

S3G Technology LLC v. Smoothie King Franchises, Inc. (E.D. Tex.).

Claims: Infringement

Defendant: Smoothie King Franchises, Inc.

Plaintiff: S3G Technology LLC

Pls. Cnsl: Parker Bunt & Ainsworth

Patents: 10,387,140 (Modification of terminal and service provider machines using an update server machine); 11,662,995 (Network efficient location-based dialogue sequence using virtual processor); 9,304,758 (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)

Torus Ventures LLC v. Aimbridge Hospitality, LLC (multiple cases) (E.D. Tex.).   

Judge: District Judge Rodney Gilstrap

Claims: Infringement

Defendants:

  • Aimbridge Hospitality, LLC
  • Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Economic Development Authority 
  • Alixa Rx LLC 
  • All American Flooring, Inc.
  • Altair Global Services, LLC 
  • Ameriplan Corporation 
  • Boardwalk Automobiles, Inc. 
  • Capital Title of Texas, LLC 
  • Cavender Stores, Ltd. d/b/a Cavender’s 
  • CH Direct LLC 
  • Ciraconnect, LLC 
  • Coburn Supply Company, Inc. 
  • East Texas Warehouse and Storage, LLC 
  • Estis Compression, LLC 
  • Fisher59, LLC 
  • Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber Company & Associated Com
  • Granite Properties, Inc. 
  • GSC Enterprises Incorporated 
  • Innovative IDM, LLC 
  • Institution Solutions I LLC 
  • J. Hillburn, Inc. 
  • Jasper Tire and Distributing Company, Inc. 
  • JB Warranties Corp.
  • Kosse Partners I, LLC
  • Lewis and Ellis, LLC 
  • Lodging Host Hotel Corp.
  • Lori’s Gifts, 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)

Virtual Creative Artists, LLC v. Harbor Freight Tools USA, Inc. (W.D. Tex.).

Claims: Infringement

Defendant: Harbor Freight Tools USA, 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)

WebSock Global Strategies LLC v. Coburn Supply Company, Inc. (E.D. Tex., W.D. Tex.).        

Claims: Infringement

Defendants:

  • Coburn Supply Company, Inc. 
  • Digital Tonic, LLC 
  • Fleetpride, Inc. 
  • GameStop, Inc.
  • Michaels Stores, Inc. 
  • Securus Technologies, LLC
  • Stirista, LLC 
  • Sysco Corporation 
  • TaskUs 
  • Xome, Inc.

Plaintiff: WebSock Global Strategies LLC

Pls. Cnsl: Rabicoff Law

Patent: 7,756,983 (Symmetrical bi-directional communication)

Wolverine Barcode IP, LLC v. 7-Eleven, Inc. (W.D. Tex.).

Claims: Infringement

Defendant: 7-Eleven, Inc.

Plaintiff: Wolverine Barcode IP, LLC

Pls. Cnsl: Ramey

Patent: 9,280,689 (Method and apparatus for conducting offline commerce transactions)