Untitled case

Zugara, Inc. has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Chanel, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, case number 7:25-cv-00324. The case was filed on July 22, 2025, and initially assigned to Judge David Counts before being reassigned to District Judge Alan D. Albright. Zugara, Inc. is the plaintiff, and while the exact nature of its business (operating company, NPE, etc.) is not explicitly detailed in the search results, it is asserting a patent against a well-known luxury brand. Chanel, Inc., the defendant, is a global luxury company known for its fashion, fragrances, cosmetics, and accessories.

The sole patent asserted in this litigation is U.S. Patent No. 10,482,517, titled "Providing a simulation of wearing items such as garments and/or accessories." This patent generally describes a system configured to provide a simulation where a user can virtually "try on" or wear real-wearable items, such as garments or accessories, through a user interface that composites a video feed of the user with virtual representations of the items. The specific accused product or service from Chanel, Inc. that allegedly infringes this patent has not been explicitly identified in the provided search results.

This case is being litigated in the Western District of Texas, a venue that has historically been highly popular for patent infringement lawsuits due to the efforts of Judge Alan D. Albright, who aimed to establish it as a "serious venue for sophisticated patent litigation." Prior to a July 2022 order, cases filed in the Waco Division (where this case would typically be filed to reach Judge Albright) were almost certain to be assigned to him. Although a July 2022 order introduced randomization for judge assignments in patent cases filed in the Waco Division, potentially lessening the certainty of appearing before Judge Albright, this case, filed in 2025, ultimately landed on his docket. The Western District of Texas continues to be a significant forum, often preferred by patent plaintiffs for its experienced patent judges and generally fast-paced case schedules.

Key Legal Developments and Outcome for Zugara, Inc. v. Chanel, Inc. (7:25-cv-00324)

This patent infringement litigation, Case No. 7:25-cv-00324, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. The case involved U.S. Patent No. 10,482,517, pertaining to augmented reality (AR) virtual try-on technology.

Filing & Initial Pleadings:

• Complaint Filed: Zugara, Inc. initiated the lawsuit against Chanel, Inc. on July 22, 2025. Zugara, Inc., a California-based AR company, alleged that Chanel's virtual makeup try-on tool infringed its patent by obtaining a live video feed, detecting a user's face position, and superimposing virtual cosmetics dynamically. The plaintiff, Zugara, Inc., was represented by James F. McDonough and Jonathan L. Hardt of Rozier Hardt McDonough PLLC.

Pre-trial Motions & Settlement:

• Notice of Settlement and Motion to Stay: Shortly after the complaint was filed, on July 25, 2025, Chanel, Inc. filed a "NOTICE of Settlement and Unopposed Motion to Stay all Deadlines," indicating that the parties had reached a settlement.
• Dismissal: Due to the swift settlement, the case was dismissed. While initial searches had a conflicting dismissal date related to a different case, the current understanding is that the dismissal of Zugara v. Chanel occurred after the July 25, 2025, settlement notice. However, the exact date of dismissal for this specific case is not explicitly stated in the provided snippets, only the rapid nature of the settlement. There were no reported substantive pre-trial motions such as motions to dismiss, transfer, or for summary judgment, nor did the case reach the claim construction (Markman) stage, owing to its quick resolution.

Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings:

• No information regarding parallel PTAB IPR/PGR proceedings for U.S. Patent No. 10,482,517 in connection with this specific case or parties was found in the provided search results. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) conducts trials and hears appeals related to patentability.

Outcome:
The litigation between Zugara, Inc. and Chanel, Inc. concluded rapidly through a settlement agreement between the parties shortly after the complaint was filed in July 2025. This swift resolution meant that the case did not proceed to advanced litigation stages like extensive discovery or trial.

Counsel Identified for Plaintiff Zugara, Inc. in 7:25-cv-00324

Zugara, Inc., the plaintiff in the patent infringement case 7:25-cv-00324 filed in the Texas Western District Court, is represented by attorneys from Rozier Hardt McDonough PLLC. The counsel of record for Zugara, Inc. in this specific case are James F. McDonough and Jonathan L. Hardt.

Here's a breakdown of their details:

• James F. McDonough

  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Rozier Hardt McDonough PLLC
  • Office Locations: Austin, TX; Washington D.C.; Atlanta, GA; Denver, CO.
  • Experience: Mr. McDonough is a partner at Rozier Hardt McDonough PLLC, a firm with a cornerstone practice in patent litigation. The firm's attorneys collectively have over eighty years of experience representing clients in complex patent litigation before U.S. District Courts across the country, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and the Federal Circuit.

• Jonathan L. Hardt

  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Rozier Hardt McDonough PLLC
  • Office Locations: Austin, TX; Washington D.C.; Atlanta, GA; Denver, CO.
  • Experience: Mr. Hardt is also a partner at Rozier Hardt McDonough PLLC. His background includes being raised in a small South Texas farm town, which informs his approach to finding practical, real-world solutions for clients. Like his partner, his experience falls under the firm's extensive patent litigation practice, which encompasses all phases of complex intellectual property disputes.

Rozier Hardt McDonough PLLC focuses on intellectual property disputes, including patent, trade secret, and trademark litigation, and represents clients ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies.

Defendant: Chanel, Inc.

In the patent infringement case 7:25-cv-00324, filed in the Texas Western District Court, the defendant identified is Chanel, Inc.. As of May 20, 2026, specific counsel of record for Chanel, Inc. in this particular case has not been explicitly identified through public searches of docket entries or legal news services. Filings may be sealed, or initial appearances may not yet be widely indexed in accessible public databases beyond PACER.

Therefore, the counsel of record representing Chanel, Inc. in this case is not yet publicly identifiable with the provided search resources.