Untitled case

This active patent infringement lawsuit, 0:25-cv-01460, is currently proceeding in the Minnesota District Court. The plaintiff is MR Technologies GmbH, and the defendants include Seagate Technology LLC et al.. The case is presided over by Judge Patrick J. Schiltz, with Judge David T. Schultz referred for some matters.

The patent at issue is US Patent 12,020,734, titled "Multilayer exchange spring recording media." This patent describes a recording medium designed to address the writeability problems associated with perpendicular recording media, specifically by using a multilayer exchange spring structure comprising a hard magnetic storage layer strongly exchange coupled to a softer nucleation host. While the specific accused product, service, or technology is not explicitly detailed in the provided search results, given the patent's focus on magnetic recording media, it is highly likely that the accused products are related to Seagate's data storage devices, such as hard disk drives. Seagate Technology LLC is a major operating company in the data storage industry. The nature of MR Technologies GmbH (e.g., operating company, NPE/PAE, university) is not definitively established from the initial search.

The choice of the Minnesota District Court as the venue for this patent infringement case could be strategic. Seagate Technology LLC has a significant presence in Minnesota, which might make this a defendant-friendly venue or a convenient location for the plaintiff to establish jurisdiction. The District of Minnesota has specialized procedures for patent cases, covering aspects like case management, patent contentions, claim construction proceedings, and discovery, which can influence the litigation trajectory. The case's notability may stem from its potential impact on the data storage industry, particularly concerning advancements in magnetic recording technology and the continuing evolution of hard disk drive design. There is no information in the search results about IPR linkage or specific NPE assertion patterns for this case, or any broader market context beyond the general relevance of the patent to magnetic recording media.

This patent infringement litigation, Case No. 0:25-cv-01460, is currently active in the Minnesota District Court. The case involves U.S. Patent 12,020,734.

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

Filing & Initial Pleadings:

• April 15, 2025: Mr Tech GmbH (Plaintiff) filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Seagate Technology LLC (Defendant) in the District of Minnesota, asserting U.S. Patent 12,020,734, among others. While the initial search mentioned two dates (April 15 and April 25, 2025) for filing, April 15, 2025, appears to be the primary filing date for the Minnesota action.

Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings and Related Litigation:

• October 9, 2025: Resonac Hard Disk Corp. filed a declaratory judgment action against Mr Tech GmbH in the Northern District of California, Case No. 3:25-cv-08631. This action is related to the Minnesota case and involves the same patent owner, Mr Tech GmbH. This indicates a potential dispute over jurisdiction or an attempt by Resonac to invalidate the patent.
• The asserted patent, U.S. Patent 12,020,734, is described as relating to "multilayer exchange spring recording media" and is a continuation of earlier patents, ultimately deriving from an application filed on June 17, 2006.

As of May 28, 2026, the litigation is active. Further details on the defendant's answer, counterclaims, pre-trial motions, claim construction, discovery, trial events, or final disposition are not publicly available in the provided search results. Similarly, no specific PTAB IPR/PGR proceedings for U.S. Patent 12,020,734 were found in the provided search results beyond the general capability of searching the P-TACTS system.## Key Legal Developments and Outcome for Mr Tech GmbH v. Seagate Technology LLC (0:25-cv-01460)

This is an active patent infringement suit in the Minnesota District Court, initiated by Mr Tech GmbH against Seagate Technology LLC, asserting infringement of U.S. Patent 12,020,734. As of May 28, 2026, the case is in its relatively early stages.

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

• April 15, 2025: Complaint Filed. Mr Tech GmbH filed the patent infringement complaint against Seagate Technology LLC in the District of Minnesota. The primary patent at issue is U.S. Patent 12,020,734. U.S. Patent 12,020,734 is titled "Multilayer exchange spring recording media" and issued on June 25, 2024.

• October 9, 2025: Parallel Declaratory Judgment Action Filed. Resonac Hard Disk Corp. filed a declaratory judgment action against Mr Tech GmbH in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 3:25-cv-08631). This related case, also involving Mr Tech GmbH as a party, is categorized as a declaratory judgment action concerning patents, suggesting a potential challenge to Mr Tech GmbH's patents, possibly including US 12,020,734, or a dispute over the proper venue for the litigation.

As the case is still active and relatively recent, information regarding subsequent pleadings (answer, counterclaims), pre-trial motions (such as motions to dismiss, transfer, or stay pending IPR), claim construction (Markman) outcomes, discovery milestones, trial events, or a final disposition (settlement, dismissal, judgment, or appeal) is not yet publicly detailed in the provided search results. No specific parallel PTAB IPR or PGR proceedings directly citing U.S. Patent 12,020,734 and linked to this litigation were identified in the search results.

Here is the counsel of record representing the plaintiff, MR Technologies GmbH, in case 0:25-cv-01460 in the Minnesota District Court:

Lead Counsel (Russ August & Kabat)

• Marc A. Fenster (Lead Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Experience Note: He is a prominent patent litigator known for securing significant verdicts and settlements for patent holders.
• Reza Mirzaie (Lead Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Experience Note: He frequently represents patent owners in complex infringement disputes, with a focus on high-technology cases.
• Paul A. Kroeger (Lead Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Experience Note: His practice focuses on patent and intellectual property litigation across a range of technologies.
• Dale Chang (Lead Counsel)
  • Firm: Russ August & Kabat, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Experience Note: He has experience litigating patent infringement cases for both plaintiffs and defendants.

Local Counsel (Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.)

• Adam R. Steinert (Local Counsel)
  • Firm: Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., Minneapolis, MN.
  • Experience Note: He practices in intellectual property litigation, representing clients in patent, trademark, and copyright disputes.
• Luke P. De Leon (Local Counsel)
  • Firm: Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., Minneapolis, MN.
  • Experience Note: He focuses on intellectual property litigation, including patent infringement cases.

The attorneys from Russ August & Kabat were noted in a PacerMonitor entry as needing to be admitted pro hac vice, which is typical for out-of-state lead counsel. Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., is a Minnesota-based firm, making their attorneys likely local counsel.

In the patent infringement case MR Technologies GmbH v. Seagate Technology LLC et al. (0:25-cv-01460), several attorneys have been identified as representing the defendant(s), Seagate Technology LLC, and its various subsidiaries. The case was filed on April 15, 2025.

Counsel representing the defendants include:

• Chad Drown (Lead Counsel)

  • Firm: Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, Minneapolis, MN.
  • Experience Note: Chad Drown has a history of representing Seagate Technology LLC in patent-related litigation, as seen in the 2015 case SHUKH v. SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC PLC, where he argued for the defendants-appellees before the Federal Circuit. He was also involved in filings for Seagate Singapore International Headquarters Pte. Ltd. and other Seagate entities in the current case.

• Katherine Razavi (Counsel)

  • Firm: Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
  • Experience Note: Katherine Razavi is noted for filing a motion to dismiss on behalf of Seagate Singapore International Headquarters Pte. Ltd. and other Seagate entities in this case.

It's also worth noting that a Clerk's Notice was issued regarding several non-admitted attorneys, including Marc Fenster, Reza Mirzaie, Brian Ledahl, Ben Wang, Dale Chang, and Paul Kroeger, indicating they would need to be admitted to the U.S. District Court of Minnesota or temporarily admitted pro hac vice to be listed as attorneys of record. This suggests that while they may be involved in the broader legal strategy, their formal appearance in the Minnesota court is pending.

While not explicitly listed as counsel of record for Seagate in this specific case through the provided search results, Robert Pechman, formerly Chief IP Counsel at Seagate Technology for nearly 10 years, is a patent attorney with extensive experience in data storage technologies and strategic patent portfolio development. He is currently with Mueting Raasch Group. His prior role suggests a deep understanding of Seagate's IP landscape.