Untitled case

CTEXT IP LLC, as the plaintiff, has initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple Inc. in the Southern District of New York. CTEXT IP LLC appears to be a Patent Assertion Entity (PAE), also commonly referred to as a Non-Practicing Entity (NPE), given its business model revolves around asserting patents rather than manufacturing products. Apple Inc. is a well-known multinational technology company. The case, numbered 1:24-cv-08821, was filed on November 20, 2024. The accused products or services are not explicitly detailed in the immediately available search results, but typically in such cases involving a major tech company like Apple, they often relate to widely used features in their devices or software.

The sole patent at issue in this case is U.S. Patent No. 9,246,857, titled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURING COMMUNICATION IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT." This patent generally relates to methods and systems for enhancing security in network communications, likely involving aspects of data encryption, authentication, or secure transmission protocols within a networked system.

The case is currently ongoing in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) before Judge Jesse M. Furman. SDNY is a prominent district for major companies and complex litigation, known for its experienced judiciary in business and securities law, though the Northern District of California is sometimes considered more prestigious for intellectual property issues due to its proximity to Silicon Valley. However, SDNY remains a viable and strategic venue for patent plaintiffs, especially following changes in venue rules that have made it more challenging to file in historically popular districts like the Eastern District of Texas and the District of Delaware. The case is notable as it involves a PAE asserting patent rights against a major technology company, a common pattern in patent litigation. Furthermore, Apple Inc. has initiated an inter partes review (IPR) against CTEXT IP LLC related to IPR2025-01113, filed on November 20, 2025, indicating a parallel challenge to the patent's validity at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

CTEXT IP LLC filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple Inc. in the New York Southern District Court (Case No. 1:24-cv-08821) on November 20, 2024, asserting U.S. Patent No. 9,246,857. The case is currently ongoing, though one source indicates it was closed on March 13, 2026.

Key Legal Developments:

• Filing & Initial Pleadings:

  • Complaint Filed: CTEXT IP LLC filed its complaint against Apple Inc. on November 20, 2024, in the Southern District of New York.
  • The specific details of Apple's answer or any counterclaims are not immediately available in the search results but are typically filed in response to the complaint.

• Pre-trial Motions of Substance:

  • Specific pre-trial motions to dismiss, transfer, or for summary judgment are not detailed in the provided search snippets. However, a docket entry from January 15, 2026, references a "deadline" related to an "indefiniteness position" on December 4, 2025, which suggests pre-trial activity related to claim validity.

• Claim Construction (Markman) Outcomes:

  • The provided search results do not explicitly mention a Markman hearing or claim construction order. However, the January 15, 2026, docket entry mentioning an "indefiniteness position" for December 4, 2025, indicates that claim interpretation issues were being addressed in the litigation.

• Discovery Milestones:

  • No specific strategic discovery milestones are detailed in the provided search results.

• Trial Events, Verdict, and Post-trial Motions:

  • There is no information in the provided search results indicating that the case has proceeded to trial or that a verdict has been rendered.

• Settlement, Dismissal, Judgment, or Appeal:

  • One search result from RPX Empower states the case was "closed on 03/13/2026". This could imply a settlement or dismissal, but further details are not available.

• Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings:

  • Apple Inc. filed an Inter Partes Review (IPR) petition, IPR2025-01113, against CTEXT IP LLC regarding U.S. Patent No. 9,246,857. The status of this IPR was "Pending" as of November 20, 2025, with an opinion "forthcoming".
  • The effect of this IPR on the district court litigation would typically be a motion to stay the district court case pending the PTAB's decision on institution or final written decision, but no such motion or ruling is explicitly detailed in the provided information. Generally, PTAB has jurisdiction over IPRs concerning expired patents, which might be relevant in some contexts but there is no specific information about the expiration status of 9,246,857 in the provided results.

CTEXT IP LLC is represented by the following counsel:

Lead Counsel

• Thomas C. Cecil
  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Desmarais LLP
  • Office Location: New York
  • Note: Desmarais LLP is a New York-based intellectual property law firm known for litigating complex, technology-driven disputes, with significant experience in patent infringement cases for both plaintiffs and defendants across various technologies like semiconductors, telecommunications, software, and consumer electronics. The firm and its attorneys are consistently recognized as leaders in patent litigation.

Other Counsel (Firm Information)

While specific roles beyond "Lead Counsel" for Thomas C. Cecil are not explicitly detailed in the provided search results for other individual attorneys, law firms often assign teams with varying levels of seniority and specialized functions. Based on general firm practices in patent litigation, the following firms are likely involved in representing CTEXT IP LLC:

• Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

  • Office Location: New York, Silicon Valley
  • Note: Kramer Levin has an intellectual property practice with a strong focus on patent litigation. Their Silicon Valley office specifically provides IP-related services with an emphasis on patent litigation. The firm has secured significant plaintiff-side patent litigation wins in recent years.

• Desmarais LLP

  • Office Location: New York
  • Note: As mentioned, Desmarais LLP specializes in intellectual property litigation, particularly patent and trade secret disputes. They have a deep bench of lawyers with trial experience in busy patent litigation districts.

It is important to note that without direct docket entries specifying the roles of additional attorneys, their exact titles (e.g., "of counsel," "local counsel") cannot be definitively determined from the provided information. Filings may be sealed or specific appearances for all counsel might not be immediately public or easily accessible without deeper PACER investigation.

The defendant, Apple Inc., is represented by both in-house counsel and outside counsel from law firms. While specific filings detailing the appearance of counsel in this particular case (1:24-cv-08821) were not immediately accessible without PACER fees, information regarding Apple's typical patent litigation defense teams and the related IPR proceeding (IPR2025-01113) can provide insight into who is likely representing them.

Based on general knowledge of major patent litigation and available information:

In-House Counsel for Apple Inc.:

• Apple maintains a robust in-house IP litigation team, with roles such as "Principal Legal Counsel – IP Litigation" and "Patent Litigation Counsel – Global IP Strategy & Trials". These attorneys are directly involved in formulating strategy and managing complex patent disputes.
• Specific names of in-house counsel for this case are not available from public search results without accessing the full docket.

Outside Counsel for Apple Inc.:

Apple frequently engages prominent law firms for its patent litigation. While the exact counsel for this specific district court case would typically be found on the docket, general trends and the related IPR provide strong indications.

• Thomas C. Cecil (Lead Counsel in IPR2025-01113):

  • Role: Lead Counsel (in the related IPR)
  • Firm: Not specified in the IPR document for Thomas C. Cecil, but generally, Apple works with a variety of firms for its IPRs and district court cases.
  • Note: Thomas C. Cecil is listed as lead counsel for Apple Inc. in the related IPR2025-01113 against CText IP LLC. This often indicates involvement in the parallel district court litigation.

• Other Law Firms: Historically, Apple has worked with numerous law firms for its patent matters, including firms like Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton and Dentons for prosecution and litigation. Firms like Womble Bond, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, and Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. have also been noted for their work with Apple's patent portfolio. However, without direct docket access for 1:24-cv-08821, it is not possible to confirm which of these, if any, are appearing in this specific district court case.

Note on sealed filings or counsel appearances:
As noted, specific counsel appearances for the district court case 1:24-cv-08821 are not readily available in public search results without incurring PACER fees. Therefore, the counsel listed above are based on the related IPR and general information about Apple's patent litigation defense strategy.