April was a quieter month, with a few frequent flier trolls, including Landmark Technology and U.S. Ethernet Innovations, filing additional suits. 

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.

Unifi Scientific Batteries, LLC v. Research In Motion Corporation, et al., 6-12-cv-00223 (E.D. Tex.).

Judge:             Davis

Claim:             Infringement

Defendants:  

  • Amazon.com, Inc.
  • BarnesandNoble.com LLC
  • Barnes & Noble, Inc.
  • IITC
  • Nokia
  • Research In Motion
  • Samsung
  • Sony
  • Texas Instruments

Plaintiff:         Unifi Scientific Batteries, LLC

Pls. Counsel:  Innovalaw; Tadlock Law Firm; The Simon Law Firm

Patent:           6,791,298 (Monolithic battery charging device). 

Landmark Technology, LLC v. La-Z-Boy, Inc., 6-12-cv-00226 & 00248 (E.D. Tex.) (multiple cases).

Judge:             Davis

Claim:             Infringement

Defendants:  

  • La-Z-Boy, Inc.
  • dELiA*s, Inc.

Plaintiff:         Landmark Technology, LLC

Pl. Counsel:    Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell; and Parker Bunt & Ainsworth

Patents:          5,576,951 (Automated sales and services system); 6,289,319 (Automatic business and financial transaction processing system); and 7,010,508 (Automated multimedia data processing network).

U.S. Ethernet Innovations, LLC v. Trendnet, Inc., 6-12-cv-00236 (E.D. Tex.).   

Claim:             Infringement

Defendant:     Trendnet, Inc.

Plaintiff:         U.S. Ethernet Innovations, LLC

Pl. Counsel:    Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd; and Ward & Smith Law Firm

Patents:          5,307,459 (Network adapter with host indication optimization); 5,434,872 (Apparatus for automatic initiation of data transmission); and 5,732,094 (Method for automatic initiation of data transmission).

DietGoal Innovations LLC v. Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. et al, 2-11-cv-00418 (E.D. Tex.).  

Claim:             Amended infringement complaint

New Defendants:      

  • Allrecipes.com
  • Bravo Media, LLC
  • CalorieKing Wellness Solutions, Inc.
  • ConAgra Foods, Inc.
  • Food.com
  • General Mills
  • Meredith Corp.
  • Nestle USA, Inc.
  • Nutrisystem, Inc.
  • SparkPeople, Inc.
  • Taco Mayo Franchise Systems, Inc.
  • Time, Inc
  • Tyson Foods, Inc
  • WebMD LLC
  • Whataburger Restaurants LLC

Linksmart Wireless Technology, LLC v. T-Mobile USA, Inc. et al, 8-12-cv-00522 (C.D. Cal.).

Judge:             Tucker

Claim:             Infringement

Defendants:  

  • Best Western International, Inc.
  • Choice Hotels International, Inc.
  • EthoStream, LLC
  • iBAHN General Holdings Corp.
  • Intercontinental Hotels Group Resources Inc.
  • LodgeNet Interactive Corporation
  • Marriott International, Inc.
  • Ramada Worldwide, Inc.
  • Six Continents Hotels, Inc.
  • T-Mobile USA, Inc.

Plaintiff:         Linksmart Wireless Technology, LLC

Pl. Counsel:    Russ August & Kabat

Patent:           6,779,118 (User specific automatic data redirection system).

Ameranth, Inc. v. Agilysys, Inc., 3-12-cv-00858 (S.D. Cal.).

Judges:           Huff and Dembin

Claim:             Infringement

Defendant:     Agilysys, Inc.

Plaintiff:         Ameranth, Inc.

Pl. Counsel:    Caldarelli Hejmanowski & Page; Fabiano Law Firm; Osborne Law; and Watts Law Offices

Patents:          6,384,850 (Information management and synchronous communications system with menu generation); 6,871,325 (Information management and synchronous communications system with menu generation); and 8,146,077 (Information management and synchronous communications system with menu generation, and handwriting and voice modification of orders).

General Mills Marketing, Inc. et al v. Fritsch GmbH et al, 0-11-cv-02099 (D. Minn).  

Claim:             Amended infringement complaint

New Defendants:      

  • ABP Corporation
  • Bakery De France, Inc.
  • Bridor USA, Inc.
  • Grace Baking Company
  • Il Fornaio (America) Corporation
  • J J Cassone Bakery, Inc.
  • La Brea Bakery, Inc.
  • Otis Spunkmeyer, LLC
  • Rich Products Corporation
  • The New French Bakery, Inc.
  • Tom Cat Bakery, Inc.

Cronos Technologies, LLC v. Vitamin Shoppe, Inc., 1-12-cv-00444 (D. Del.). 

Claim:             Infringement

Defendants:  

  • Vitamin Shoppe, Inc.
  • Nutrisystem
  • J. Crew Group
  • General Nutrition Corp.

Plaintiff:         Cronos Technologies, LLC

Pl. Counsel:    Heninger Garrison & Davis; and Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg

Patent:           5,664,110 (Remote ordering system).

Magnate International Limited v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. et al, 2-12-cv-03109 (C.D. Cal). 

Judge:             Gandhi

Claim:             Infringement

Defendants:

  • Amazon.com, Inc.
  • Kmart Corporation
  • Sears, Roebuck & Co.
  • Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Plaintiff:         Magnate International Limited

Pl. Counsel:    Blakely Sokoloff Taylor and Zafman

Patents:          5,960,815 (Air nozzle of inflating device).

Mobile Transformation LLC v. Hollywood.com, LLC, (D. Del.).

Claim:             Infringement 

Defendant:     Hollywood.com, LLC

Plaintiff:         Mobile Transformation LLC

Pl. Counsel:    Stamoulis & Weinblatt

Patent:           6,351,736 (System and method for displaying advertisements with played data).