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Judicial Conference & Congressional Attention Stir Change

This time last year, the Western District of Texas (WDTX) was getting a lot of attention from Washington DC policymakers. That is, a plaintiff’s ability to guarantee that its case would be heard by Judge Albright simply by filing in his Waco court was seen as “unseemly” and, coupled with the fact that his court had close to 30% of the nation’s patent docket, improper. Likewise, to many, the twenty or so successful mandamus filings reversing the Judge on issues of venue only amplified the urgency for legislative and/or judicial intervention.

Whether you agree with the above sentiment or not, it was clear as far back as last summer that these practices were plainly living on borrowed time. Back then, it was clear within DC policy circles that if the Judicial Conference did not step in and put an end to Judge Albright’s perceived monopoly on patent cases, that the legislators were prepared to take action.

Yesterday, the Chief Judge of the WDTX took action.Continue Reading WDTX Scatters Patent Docket – Now What?

CAFC Cautions Against IPR Stay Considerations in Venue Dispute

A mandamus is considered an extraordinary remedy — especially in the venue context where district courts are accorded broad discretion.  Nevertheless, where a motion to transfer presents an indisputable right, mandamus is proper. Recently, the Federal Circuit has been uncharacteristically outspoken that the WDTX is doing it wrong.

The most recent WDTX mandamus on this issue, while unsuccessful, found the Federal Circuit once again pointing out improper analysis.
Continue Reading Judge Albright Faulted for Considering IPR Stay Likelihood in NDCA

Unified Patents Insights Webinar This Thursday

This Thursday April 1st, Unified Patent’s Insight Webinar series (free) will present its April offering at 12PM(EST):

The PTAB and the Western Way: How Judge Albright’s Court and the Board Interact
In the webinar, the panel will  explore the impact of the Western District of Texas on the patent…

Delaware Cases Slipping 4-6 Months

The practice of denying AIA trial petitions in view of competing district court trial dates has brought some negative attention to the Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) over the past few months. At the same time, patent litigation has increased over the first two quarters of the year by 20%.  This surge has been greatly aided by the exploding popularity of the Western District of Texas (WDTX) with non-practicing entities — a district that the PTAB is increasingly deferring to in its discretionary denials based upon competing trial dates.

While Patent Owners are quick to point to a looming district court trial date as being set in stone, in reality, these dates are often reset once the PTAB hurdle is cleared.
Continue Reading District Court Trial Dates Tend to Slip After PTAB Discretionary Denials