Untitled case

The patent infringement litigation, Case No. 2:25-cv-00752, is currently ongoing in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. The plaintiff is Zophonos Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is identified as a Non-Practicing Entity (NPE) or Patent Assertion Entity (PAE). Zophonos Inc. was incorporated in July 2019 by Levaughn Denton, who is the sole inventor of the twenty patents assigned to the company. The defendants are Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Republic of Korea) and its U.S. subsidiary, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (New York). Samsung is a major operating company in the consumer electronics industry. The core dispute involves Zophonos Inc.'s allegations that Samsung's audio products, including its Galaxy Buds Pro earbuds, Galaxy smartphones, tablets, TVs, soundbars, and devices with SpaceFit Sound Pro Plus technology, infringe three patents related to systems for sensing, analyzing, and autonomously modifying audio frequencies in real-time. While the user specified patent 11900016, the initial complaint asserts infringement of three patents: U.S. Patent Nos. 10,656,906, 11,204,736, and 11,900,016. U.S. Patent 11,900,016, titled "Multi-frequency sensing method and apparatus using mobile-clusters," describes systems and methods where smart devices sense various phenomena (including sound, blue light exposure, RF, and microwave radiation), then analyze, report, and/or control outputs (e.g., displays or speakers) in real-time.

The case is presided over by District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. The Eastern District of Texas is a well-known venue for patent litigation, often characterized as a "rocket docket" due to its expedited trial schedules and procedural rules that are considered plaintiff-friendly. This court historically receives a high volume of patent cases, and judges in the district tend to exercise their discretion in ways that can make defending patent suits predictably expensive for accused infringers. The plaintiff alleges that venue is proper in the Eastern District of Texas because Samsung Electronics America, Inc. maintains a regular and established place of business in the district, and both defendants have committed acts of infringement there. For Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., as a foreign corporation, venue is alleged to be proper in any judicial district.

This case is notable given Zophonos Inc.'s apparent nature as a Patent Assertion Entity and its assertion against a global technology giant like Samsung in the highly active Eastern District of Texas. The technology at issue, dynamic audio processing systems for consumer electronics, is a critical area for companies like Samsung, making the outcome potentially impactful across the industry. Furthermore, there is an existing PTAB case, IPR2026-00085, that was filed against U.S. Patent 11,900,016, although it was not instituted procedurally. The ongoing litigation includes a Markman/Claim Construction Hearing set for November 24, 2026, and jury selection set for May 17, 2027.

The patent infringement litigation, Zophonos Inc. v. Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Case No. 2:25-cv-00752, is currently active in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, before District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. The case involves allegations of infringement concerning U.S. Patent No. 11,900,016, alongside U.S. Patent Nos. 10,656,906 and 11,736,736.

Here are the key legal developments in chronological order:

• 2025-07-30: Complaint Filed
  Plaintiff Zophonos Inc. filed its initial complaint against Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., alleging patent infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 11,900,016, 10,656,906, and 11,736,736. The complaint includes claims of willful infringement and seeks damages and attorneys' fees.

• 2025-12-08: Amended Complaint & Motion to Dismiss
  An amended complaint was filed by Zophonos Inc. by December 8, 2025. Following this, Defendants Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. filed a Partial Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss the First Amended Complaint for Patent Infringement. The details of the ruling on this motion are not yet publicly available in the provided snippets.

• 2025-12-10: Docket Control Order & Markman Hearing Scheduled
  District Judge Rodney Gilstrap signed a Docket Control Order. As part of this order, a Markman/Claim Construction Hearing was set for November 24, 2026, at 09:00 AM.

• 2025-12-10: Joint Motion for Stipulated Discovery Order
  Zophonos Inc. filed a Joint Motion for Entry of Stipulated Discovery Order.

• 2025-12-11: Discovery Order Issued
  A Discovery Order was signed by District Judge Rodney Gilstrap.

• 2025-12-19: Protective Order Issued
  A Protective Order was signed by District Judge Rodney Gilstrap.

• 2027-04-12: Pretrial Conference Scheduled
  A Pretrial Conference is scheduled for April 12, 2027, at 09:00 AM before District Judge Rodney Gilstrap.

• 2027-05-17: Jury Selection Scheduled
  Jury Selection is scheduled for May 17, 2027, at 09:00 AM before District Judge Rodney Gilstrap.

Current Posture:
The case is currently in the pre-trial phase, with significant upcoming dates including the Markman hearing in November 2026 and a scheduled jury trial for May 2027.

Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings:
No parallel PTAB IPR or PGR proceedings specifically against US Patent No. 11,900,016 have been identified in the provided search results. There was a motion to stay proceedings pending inter partes review in a different case (2:24-cv-00752) involving Samsung and Judge Gilstrap, which was denied, but this is distinct from the current litigation (2:25-cv-00752).

In the patent infringement case 2:25-cv-00752, Zophonos Inc. is represented by counsel from Susman Godfrey LLP and Miller Fair Henry PLLC.

Here are the identified counsel of record for the plaintiff:

• Andres Healy

  • Role: Likely lead counsel (filed the initial complaint).
  • Firm: Susman Godfrey LLP
  • Office Location: While not explicitly stated in the provided snippets, Susman Godfrey LLP has multiple offices. Further investigation would be needed to pinpoint his specific office for this case.
  • Relevant Patent Litigation Experience: Susman Godfrey LLP is a prominent litigation firm known for its high-stakes trial work, including patent litigation.

• Chanler Ashton Langham

  • Role: Counsel (filed a Notice of Attorney Appearance). Often, in Eastern District of Texas cases, local counsel is engaged. Given Susman Godfrey's national presence, Langham could be local counsel or an attorney from one of Susman Godfrey's offices or Miller Fair Henry PLLC.
  • Firm: The search results do not explicitly state Langham's firm, only that the appearance was on behalf of Zophonos Inc.. Given that Miller Fair Henry PLLC is also listed as representing Zophonos Inc. in the same source, it is highly probable he is associated with them as local counsel, as they are a Texas-based firm.
  • Office Location: Given the Eastern District of Texas venue, if he is local counsel with Miller Fair Henry PLLC, their office would likely be in the Eastern District of Texas.
  • Relevant Patent Litigation Experience: Specific experience for Chanler Ashton Langham is not detailed in the provided search results.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. are represented by several law firms, including Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP, Lee & Hayes, and Gillam & Smith, LLP. Samsung also utilizes in-house counsel for patent litigation matters.

Here is a breakdown of the counsel identified for the defendants:

Outside Counsel:

• Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

  • Firm Location: Multiple offices, including Washington D.C. (a global full-service IP firm).
  • Relevant Experience: Finnegan is a prominent intellectual property law firm with extensive experience in patent litigation before the PTAB, district courts, and federal courts. They are known for handling complex patent litigation across various industries and technologies, including electronics. The firm has a deep bench of litigators with scientific and technical backgrounds.

• Lee & Hayes

  • Firm Location: Multiple offices, including Atlanta, GA; Rochester, NY; Washington D.C. metro area; Seattle, WA; Spokane, WA; and attorneys in Austin, TX and Portland, OR metro area.
  • Relevant Experience: Lee & Hayes is a nationally recognized IP law firm with experienced litigators in its patent litigation group. They represent large and innovative organizations in patent, trademark, copyright, and litigation services. Dillon Murphy, for example, supports clients with various IP matters, including patent prosecution and litigation, with technical expertise in telecommunications and AI.

• Gillam & Smith, LLP

  • Firm Location: Marshall, Texas.
  • Relevant Experience: Gillam & Smith is a Marshall-based litigation boutique with significant expertise in intellectual property disputes, particularly patent litigation, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in federal courts throughout Texas. They are known for their trial skills and familiarity with the local customs of Texas courts. Melissa Richards Smith is listed as an attorney for Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

In-House Counsel:

• Matthew Bathon

  • Role: Principal Legal Counsel.
  • Company: Samsung Electronics.
  • Relevant Experience: Mr. Bathon's responsibilities include coordinating Samsung's ITC and district court dockets. He previously focused on litigating Section 337 investigations before the International Trade Commission (ITC) and IP disputes in district courts while in private practice.

• Tim Jezek

  • Role: Principal Legal Counsel.
  • Company: Samsung Electronics America.
  • Relevant Experience: Mr. Jezek focuses on IP litigation and related policy issues, with over two decades of litigation and intellectual property counseling experience in both in-house and law firm settings.

• Phillip Lee

  • Role: Principal Legal Counsel.
  • Company: Samsung Electronics US IP Center.
  • Relevant Experience: Mr. Lee is a veteran litigator with extensive experience in patent litigation, patent prosecution, and licensing, having appeared before federal district courts, the Patent Trial Appeal Board, the International Trade Commission, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He manages a docket of patent cases with outside counsel.

• Jae-Il Park

  • Role: Legal Counsel.
  • Company: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Additionally, Jacob Zimmerman filed a Notice of Attorney Appearance - Pro Hac Vice on behalf of all defendants on December 23, 2025. Robert Greenfeld was listed as an attorney for Zophonos Inc. but his termination as attorney was signed on May 5, 2026.