U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island

The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island (D.R.I.) serves as the federal trial court for the state of Rhode Island, located in Providence. It falls under the First Circuit Court of Appeals, though appeals in patent cases are directed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. As a relatively smaller federal district, with three active Article III judges, it typically does not manage the high volume of patent litigation seen in some of the more well-known patent venues across the country.

The District of Rhode Island does not have a reputation as a "rocket docket" or a notably plaintiff- or defendant-friendly venue for patent litigation. While transfer motions are a common feature of patent cases, the court's track record on such motions reflects standard considerations, including personal jurisdiction and proper venue. There is no publicly available data to suggest a particular leaning or expedited timeline for claim construction or a prevalence of jury versus bench trials specifically in patent cases within the district.

The court has implemented a "Standing Order in Patent Cases" which outlines specific procedures for patent infringement, validity, and unenforceability actions. This standing order governs disclosures for asserted claims and infringement contentions, as well as invalidity contentions, and works in conjunction with the Local Civil Rules and the Standing Order on Scheduling in Civil Cases. While it has specific guidance for patent cases, the District of Rhode Island is not recognized as having distinctive local patent rules akin to those found in districts like the Eastern District of Texas.

One of the most notable patent cases handled by the D.R.I. was Uniloc USA, Inc. et al. v. Microsoft Corporation. This case saw a jury initially award Uniloc $388 million, a verdict that was subsequently vacated by then-District Judge William E. Smith. On appeal, the Federal Circuit reversed portions of the district court's decision, leading to a new trial on damages and a notable rejection of the "25 percent rule of thumb" for calculating patent damages. The case ultimately settled.

Currently, the court's active district judges include Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Judge Mary S. McElroy, and Judge Melissa R. DuBose. Judge William E. Smith, who presided over the Uniloc case, is now a Senior Judge. Judge Melissa R. DuBose assumed her commission as a District Judge in January 2025, filling a seat previously held by Judge Smith.