Untitled case

Case Overview and Background for MessageLoud, Inc. v. Apple, Inc.

This patent infringement litigation, case number 6:25-cv-00185, was initiated in the Western District of Texas by MessageLoud, Inc. against Apple Inc. MessageLoud, Inc. is a developer of a mobile messaging application designed to read messages such as texts and emails aloud in a hands-free and eyes-free manner, often marketed for commercial drivers and other enterprise clients. As a company that primarily asserts patent rights without directly manufacturing a product in the accused market, MessageLoud, Inc. operates as a Non-Practicing Entity (NPE) or Patent Assertion Entity (PAE). The defendant, Apple Inc., is a multinational technology giant known for its consumer electronics, software, and online services, including iconic products like the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. While the specific accused products were not publicly detailed without subscription, it is highly probable that Apple's mobile devices and their integrated messaging and notification features formed the basis of the infringement allegations, given the nature of the asserted patent.

The core of the dispute revolved around U.S. Patent No. 11,316,964, titled "Hands-free message reading application." This patent generally covers systems and methods for automatically reading messages aloud to a user, particularly to facilitate hands-free and eyes-free operation in various environments. The procedural posture saw the case filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. While the Western District of Texas, particularly its Waco Division, gained notoriety for its "rocket docket" and high volume of patent cases under Judge Alan Albright, this specific case was assigned to District Judge Robert Pitman and referred to Magistrate Judge Dustin M. Howell, reflecting the district's shift to a more randomized judge assignment system for patent cases implemented in July 2022 to address prior venue shopping concerns.

The case is notable not only for involving a prominent technology company as a defendant but also for its resolution pattern. Apple Inc. proactively challenged the asserted patent by filing Inter Partes Review (IPR) petitions at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), including IPR2025-01430 against U.S. Patent No. 11,316,964. However, the district court litigation ultimately concluded with a dismissal with prejudice on November 3, 2025, following a resolution between the parties. This settlement also led to the joint request and authorization for dismissal of the parallel IPR proceedings by the PTAB on December 3, 2025. This outcome indicates that the parties reached a private agreement, leading to the cessation of all related litigation, thus clarifying that the case is no longer active as of late 2025.

Key Legal Developments and Outcome for MessageLoud, Inc. v. Apple, Inc. (6:25-cv-00185)

This patent infringement litigation, filed in the Texas Western District Court, involves MessageLoud, Inc. as the plaintiff and Apple, Inc. as the defendant, concerning U.S. Patent 11316964. The case is currently active.

Here's a chronological overview of the key legal developments to date:

Filing & Initial Pleadings

• Complaint Filing: The exact date of the initial complaint filing by MessageLoud, Inc. is not explicitly detailed in the readily available public docket information, but the case number 6:25-cv-00185 indicates it was filed in 2025.
• Answer and Counterclaims: An "Answer to Counterclaim" was filed on May 6, 2025. A docket entry from September 18, 2025, further notes the Plaintiff's ANSWER to an Answer to Complaint, Counterclaim by MessageLoud, Inc.. This indicates that Apple, Inc. filed an Answer to the Complaint and also asserted counterclaims against MessageLoud, Inc., to which MessageLoud, Inc. then responded.

Pre-trial Motions of Substance

• Judicial Reassignment: An order dated April 24, 2025, reassigned the case to District Judge Alan D. Albright for all proceedings, with Judge David Counts no longer assigned. This is a common occurrence in the Western District of Texas.

Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings

As of May 25, 2026, a comprehensive search for parallel PTAB IPR or PGR proceedings specifically targeting U.S. Patent 11316964 in relation to this litigation did not yield any directly identifiable public records. This suggests that either no such proceedings have been initiated and made public, or the information is not yet widely indexed in the searched databases. IPRs and PGRs are administrative patent challenges at the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) that can serve as an alternative or parallel to district court litigation to assess patentability.

Given the active status of the case and the relatively recent filing in 2025, further significant developments such as claim construction (Markman) outcomes, extensive discovery milestones, trial events, or a final disposition are likely still in progress or have not yet been publicly reported in detail.

The plaintiff in this patent infringement case, 6:25-cv-00185, MessageLoud, Inc., is represented by the following counsel:

• Gaston Kroub

  • Role: Partner
  • Firm: Kroub, Silbersher & Kolmykov PLLC, New York, NY
  • Experience: Mr. Kroub is a top-rated attorney selected to Super Lawyers for Intellectual Property Litigation from 2013 to 2026, with a practice focused on intellectual property litigation and patent matters.

• Sergey Kolmykov

  • Role: Partner
  • Firm: Kroub, Silbersher & Kolmykov PLLC, New York, NY
  • Experience: Mr. Kolmykov is a Super Lawyers-selected attorney (2018-2026) focusing on Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Litigation, Appellate, Entertainment & Sports, and Technology Transactions.

Kroub, Silbersher & Kolmykov PLLC is identified as a premier intellectual property litigation firm specializing in patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret litigation in U.S. Federal District Courts and the International Trade Commission. Both attorneys are specifically named as counsel of record for MessageLoud, Inc. (the Patent Owner) in related Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings concerning the patent at issue in the district court case.

Here is the identified counsel of record representing the defendant, Apple Inc., in MessageLoud, Inc. v. Apple, Inc., case number 6:25-cv-00185 in the Texas Western District Court, based on available public information and common litigation practices for a defendant of Apple's size.

Defendant: Apple Inc.

Counsel of Record (Likely Lead Counsel)

• Name: Mark D. Selwyn
• Role: Lead Counsel (Partner)
• Firm: Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (WilmerHale)
• Office Location: Palo Alto, California
• Relevant Patent Litigation Experience: Mr. Selwyn co-chairs WilmerHale's Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group and has extensive experience litigating patent cases for major technology companies across various technologies, including wireless communications, in federal courts nationwide and before the International Trade Commission (ITC). He is regularly recognized as a top intellectual property lawyer in California and a "Litigation Star" for intellectual property by Benchmark Litigation. Notably, he was granted pro hac vice for Apple Inc. in a similar patent infringement case (Mobility IP Holdings, Inc. v. Apple Inc., 7:2026cv00075) in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Additional Counsel

While direct access to the complete docket for 6:25-cv-00185 is limited by subscription requirements, it is standard practice for large corporations like Apple Inc. to be represented by a team of attorneys, which typically includes:

• Other Attorneys from Lead Counsel's Firm: Additional partners and associates from WilmerHale, likely from their intellectual property litigation practice, would support Mr. Selwyn.
• Local Counsel: Given the venue in the Western District of Texas, Apple would almost certainly engage local counsel with experience in that specific court. However, specific names for this case are not publicly available without docket access.
• In-House Counsel: Apple Inc. maintains a robust in-house legal team, including Principal Legal Counsel and Senior Legal Counsel specializing in IP Litigation, who are directly responsible for driving litigation strategy and managing complex, high-stakes patent disputes globally. While specific in-house attorneys for MessageLoud v. Apple are not identified in public search results, they play a critical role in overseeing outside counsel and providing strategic direction.