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Federal Circuit Continues Broad Venue Allowance in Patent Cases

Heartland alleged that it is not registered to do business in Delaware, has no local presence in Delaware, has not entered into any supply contracts in Delaware or called on any accounts there to solicit sales.

Guest Post: Recalibrating Patent Venue

Since then, Senator Flake (R-Az) introduced the VENUE Act of 2016, and last month, petitioners, led by a group including James Dabney and John Duffy, filed a petition for writ of certiori in the TC Heartland case in the Supreme Court.

Patent Venue: Limits on Venue in Patent Infringement Litigation

The pending Federal Circuit mandamus action of In re TC Heartland involves an interesting legal question that has now been fully briefed.

Federal Circuit: TC Heartland changed the law; pre-decision waiver of venue challenges are nullified

In its 2017 TC Heartland decision, the Supreme Court changed course -- holding that for business-defendants in patent cases venue is only proper in districts where (1) the defendant is incorporated or (2) the defendant infringes the patent and has a regular and established place of business.   Except for nationwide retailers, this significantly limits the locations where venue is proper.

Venue in Multi-District States

1400(b).  In TC Heartland the Supreme Court held that "a domestic corporation 'resides' only in its State of incorporation for purposes of the patent venue statute."  TC Heartland LLC v.

Get that Case Out of Here! Federal Circuit Continues to Allow Mandamus Actions to Cure Improper Venue

TC Heartland falls directly in line with the prior supreme court decision in Fourco Glass (1957).  However, during the interim, the Federal Circuit had expanded its definition of proper venue to include any court that has personal jurisdiction over the defendant.  Thus, for someone who studies only Supreme Court law, TC Heartland was a continuation of an unchanged law.

In Defense of the Federal Circuit: TC Heartland and Patent Venue

Against this background, TC Heartland doesn’t seem like a case the Supreme Court would hear simply to affirm.

Metallizing Forfeiture Post-Helsinn

The recent Supreme Court decision in TC Heartland LLC v.

Patent Venue at the Supreme Court: Correcting a 26 Year Old Legal Error

TC Heartland v.

TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Oral Arguments.

Last week's oral arguments in TC Heartland LLC v.

Guest Post: TC Heartland and Statutory Interpretation

After the certiorari grant in TC Heartland, Dennis solicited a blog post from anyone who thought the case was not a slam dunk.

Choosing a District for Patent Infringement Filing and Giving Meaning to Section 1400(b)

The new pending mandamus petition of  In re TC Heartland (Fed.

Looking-Back: TC Heartland; Waiver; and a Change in the Law

denied Yahoo's motion to dismiss, holding (on oral decision): (1) that Yahoo had waived its right to challenge venue; and (2) that TC Heartland did not change the law (since Fourco has been the controlling law all along).  Note here, the second point - change in law - is important because it can excuse prior waiver.  Under Second Circuit law: “[A] party cannot be deemed to have waived objections or defenses which were not known to be available at the time they could first have been made.” Holzsager v.

Where does a Defendant “Reside” for Jurisdictional Purposes in Patent Infringement Cases?

In re TC Heartland LLC (on mandamus to the Fed Cir.

TC Heartland: Statutory Interpretation, Fairness, and E.D.Texas

The topside briefs have been filed in TC Heartland with strong support for the petitioner who is looking to dismantle the notion of nationwide venue against accused patent infringers.

Supreme Court Patent Cases: Malpractice, Obviousness, and Venue

 Last week I wrote about the TC Heartland case as a mechanism for limiting venue.

TC Heartland Law Professor Amicus Brief

In TC Heartland, the accused infringer has asked the Supreme Court to reset the law of venue and give effect to the statutory statement that infringement actions be brought either (1) "in the judicial district where the defendant resides" or (2)" where the defendant has committed acts of infringement and has a regular and established place of business."  28 U.S.C.

Venue Challenges Part 2

While law professors call for venue patent reform, the TC Heartland venue and personal jurisdiction challenge appears to still have legs.

Plano as the Venue Center for E.D.Texas

In TC Heartland (2017) the Supreme Court ruled that a patent infringement lawsuit against a US company can only be filed in a venue (1) where the defendant is registered as a corporation (i.e., "a Delaware Corporation"); or (2) a venue where the defendant "has committed acts of infringement and has a regular and established place of business."  Quoting 28 U.S.C.

BigCommerce: Venue in States with Several Districts

1400(b) states that a “civil action for patent infringement may be brought in the judicial district where the defendant resides…”  In TC Heartland the Supreme Court's central holding is that “a domestic corporation ‘resides’ only in its State of incorporation for purposes of the patent venue statute.”  TC Heartland LLC v.

Patent Venue: Cyberspace does not Expand Place of Business

The decision here further solidifies the impact of the TC Heartland case -- spreading jurisdiction out and away from E.D.

Raising Venue Post TC Heartland

There's going to be a lot of litigation over whether a defendant who failed to object to venue pre-TC Heartland can raise it now.

TC Heartland: Next Step in Limiting Patent Venue and Jurisdiction

In the pending mandamus action of TC Heartland, the merits panel has taken one step forward by ordering oral arguments - set for March 11, 2016.

Where Does Infringement Occur?  Lessons from Extraterritoriality Cases

§ 271(a) and TC Heartland dealt with 28 U.S.C.

Supreme Court Patent Cases: Post Sale Exhaustion

Both J&J and Eon are only marginally patent cases, the core procedure case now pending is TC Heartland that would substantially upset the status quo of patent lawsuit concentration in E.D.

USPTO Working Group on Regulatory Reform

The Imminent Outpouring from the Eastern District of Texas

When the Supreme Court reverses the Federal Circuit's venue ruling in the TC Heartland case, a reversal widely expected, it will return patent venue to the time prior to 1988, when the residence of a corporation for patent venue purpose was limited to (i) a district within the state of incorporation, or (ii) a district where the corporation has a regular and established place of business and has allegedly committed an act of infringement.

Goodbye E.D.Texas as a Major Patent Venue

In a case with the potential to truly shake-up the current state of patent litigation, the Supreme Court has granted certiorari in the patent venue case TC Heartland v.

Historic Underpinnings of the Inventor Rights Act of 2019

Venue - Reset to 2017: Under TC Heartland LLC v.

Am I my Server Rack?: Do Edge Nodes Satisfy the Venue Rules?

Google filed for dismissal under TC Heartland -- arguing that it did not reside in E.D.

Venue in Multi-District States

The potential confusion comes from the Supreme Court's central holding in TC Heartland that “a domestic corporation ‘resides’ only in its State of incorporation for purposes of the patent venue statute.” BigCommerce is a Texas Company, but its HQ is in Austin (W.D.Texas) and argues that the Supreme Court's statement was incomplete.  Now, on mandamus, the Federal Circuit has sided with BigCommerce -- holding that the rule is more nuanced for multi-venue states.… The Federal Circuit's decision here has to be correct, and the only difficulty is the loose Supreme Court wording in TC Heartland.

Patent Venue: Half Christmas Pie, And Half Crow

Janicke returns to the Patently-O Patent Law Journal with a look back at his predictions about venue prior to the Supreme Court's decision in TC Heartland LLC v.

And… a court says “You could’ve done what TC Heartland’s Defendant did”

June 27, 2017), the court held a venue challenge waived, writing in part: the "intervening twenty- seven years may have created reliance on VE Holding by litigants, including Nintendo, but that does not change the harsh reality that a party could have ultimately succeeded in convincing the Supreme Court to reaffirm Fourco, just as the petitioner in TC Heartland did.”…

Chamberlain’s Garage Door Opener invalid as an Abstract Idea

Venue was apparently improper under TC Heartland.

Plaintiff has Burden of Establishing Proper Venue in Patent Cases

In TC Heartland, the Supreme Court ruled that patent-venue is a unique patent law question.

The US Venue Laws do Not Protect Alien Defendants

In what appears to me as dicta, the Federal Circuit went on to explain its position that the Delaware court is a proper venue for the foreign corporation.  Rather, according to the court, TC Heartland did nothing to disturb the “long-established rule that suits against aliens are wholly outside the operation of all the federal venue laws, general and special.” Quoting Brunette Machine Works, Ltd.

Supreme Court 2017 – Patent Preview

§ 271(f)(1) for supplying single component); Impression Products (using patents as a personal property servitude); Sandoz (BPCIA patent dance); and last-but-not-least TC Heartland (Does the general definition of "residence" found in 28 U.S.C.

Supreme Court Reins In Patent Venue

In TC Heartland LLC v.

Sen. Orrin Hatch on Patent Reform

Venue: The Senate will consider the impact of TC Heartland and whether further guidance is needed from Congress.  The statement suggests Hatch's position that the limitations are beneficial because they limit "patent trolls’ ability to forum-shop."…

Millions of Papers, Papers for Me

Mentor Graphics v. Synopsys: Covering All the Bases

Guest Post: What Would Happen to Patent Cases if They Couldn’t all be Filed in Texas?

Today, the Federal Circuit heard oral argument in the mandamus petition brought in the TC Heartland case.

Google Servers – Not Enough for Venue

Texas for patent infringement -- holding that the district is an improper venue under TC Heartland LLC v.

Special Rights for Inventor Owned Patents

Broadened Venue for filing of infringement lawsuits.  Here, the proposal does not recapture all of the venue "lost" in TC Heartland. …

Logo Placement Relevant for Infringement in Design Patent Cases

Heartland.  Since the case was already far-along in the litigation process (post summary judgment), Judge Hernandez who handled the case in Oregon also got himself temporarily assigned to the case in California and ran the trial from there.  On appeal, Columbia argued that the transfer was improper because Seirus had waived its venue argument.

“Travel Trailer” Preamble has Meaning — Case Rolls Back to the PTO

Heartland RV (Thor Indus.) filed its patent application back in 2012 claiming a movable-wall-structure for a travel trailer.  In the example given in the patent, the wall might divide the back "garage portion" of the trailer from the front "living quarters."  The wall can then be adjusted according to the size of your ride.

First Post-Samsung Design Patent Damages Verdict

 The transfer was deemed appropriate under the TC Heartland case.

No Federal Cause of Action in Patent Assignment Dispute

Patentlyo Bits and Bytes by Anthony McCain

Gene Quinn: SCOTUS Reverses Federal Circuit In TC Heartland…

Supreme Court Update: Are Secondary Indicia of Invention Relevant to Eligibility?

Briefing: TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Food Brands Group LLC, No 16-341 (Does the general and broad definition of "residence" found in 28 U.S.C.

N.D. Cal New Disclosure Rules

 However, that option will be severely limited if the Supreme Court tightens patent venue in the pending TC Heartland case.

Patentlyo Bits and Bytes by Anthony McCain

Walter Olson: TC Heartland v.

Supreme Court Update: Extending the ITC’s Reach Beyond US Borders

Venue in Patent Cases:  TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Food Brands Group LLC, No 16-341 (Does the general and broad definition of "residence" found in 28 U.S.C.

Supreme Court Patent Cases – September 28 Update

Venue in Patent Cases:  TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Food Brands Group LLC, No 16-341 (Does the general and broad definition of "residence" found in 28 U.S.C.

Letter to Congress from 28 Law Professors & Economists Urging Caution on the VENUE Act

The Federal Circuit recently confirmed in In re TC Heartland (Fed.

Support for Mandamus Action to Limit Patent Forum Shopping

Last week I discussed the TC Heartland mandamus petition here and here. Two amicus briefs have now been filed in support of the petition.

Patent Attorney – Law Firm – Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Chicago, or Denver

Our locations span coast to coast, cover the heartland, and extend to the U.K.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

PTAB Request Amicus Support for its Decision on Immunity

Yes, All Elements Rule Still Applies to Infringement

USPTO Director Andrei Iancu on Patent Policy

When Natural Laws are Wrong

Oil States: Engaging with History, Private Property, and the Privy Council

Secrecy in Court; Takings; and A Proposal for Redaction with Replacement

Cert petition granted in Oil States

Justice Neil Gorsuch

Eligibility: Get Technical or Get Denied

Patentlyo Bits and Bytes by Anthony McCain

Prof. Radin’s Patent Notice and the Trouble with Plain Meaning

Almost Cut My Hair

ANDA filing creates Nationwide Personal Jurisdiction

Federal Circuit: No New Card Game Patents Unless you Also Invent a New Deck

VS Tech v. Twitter: Patentable Subject Matter