Untitled case

Cloud Byte LLC, a likely Patent Assertion Entity (PAE) or Non-Practicing Entity (NPE), has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE) and potentially other defendants in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The case, numbered 2:26-cv-00150, was initiated on February 23, 2026. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is a prominent operating company in the enterprise technology sector, providing servers, storage, networking, software, and financial services. While the specific accused products or services are not detailed in readily available public dockets, the fact that Dell Technologies Inc. has filed an Inter Partes Review (IPR) against Cloud Byte LLC related to a patent also asserted in a case connected to 2:26-cv-00150 suggests that Cloud Byte LLC may be broadly asserting patents related to enterprise IT, cloud computing, or data management technologies.

The sole patent identified as at issue in this litigation is US Patent 9,651,320. A technical sketch of this patent reveals it generally pertains to systems and methods for data storage and management, particularly in cloud environments or distributed systems. Its claims often relate to efficient data access, replication, or recovery mechanisms. The procedural posture of the case places it in the Eastern District of Texas, a venue historically recognized as a "rocket docket" due to its expedited trial schedules and local rules that have been perceived as favorable to patent plaintiffs. Although the Supreme Court's TC Heartland decision in 2017 limited venue options for domestic corporations, plaintiffs, especially PAEs, have found strategies to maintain cases in the EDTX, such as suing foreign affiliates to bypass venue restrictions.

This case is notable due to the plaintiff's likely status as an NPE/PAE, actively enforcing its patent portfolio against a major technology operating company like HPE. The parallel IPR proceeding initiated by Dell Technologies against Cloud Byte LLC highlights a broader pattern of assertion by Cloud Byte LLC across the industry, indicating that this litigation may be part of a larger campaign to monetize its patent assets. The choice of the Eastern District of Texas as the forum further underscores the strategic considerations often employed by patent plaintiffs seeking a venue with a reputation for plaintiff-friendly outcomes and accelerated proceedings.

Cloud Byte LLC's patent infringement lawsuit against Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE), case number 2:26-cv-00150, was filed on February 23, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The case remains active.

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

1. Filing & Initial Pleadings:

• Complaint Filed: Cloud Byte LLC filed its complaint against Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company and Aruba Networks, LLC on February 23, 2026.
• Summons Served: Summons were served on February 25, 2026.
• Extension to Answer: HPE and Aruba Networks, LLC filed an unopposed application for an extension of time to answer the complaint, pushing the agreed new answer date to May 4, 2026.

2. Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings:

• While the case metadata indicates US Patent 9,651,320, the search results suggest that Cloud Byte LLC asserts a portfolio of patents, and that there are related PTAB proceedings on other patents. Specifically, on February 11, 2025, an ex parte reexamination was instituted for U.S. Patent 7,739,544, also owned and asserted by Cloud Byte LLC, relating to a "disk array rebuild system and method." This reexamination was granted less than two months after Unified Patents filed its request, with the Central Reexamination Unit finding "substantial new questions of patentability on all challenged claims."
• It is important to note that while the provided case information specifically identifies US Patent 9,651,320 as at issue in 2:26-cv-00150, the search results for PTAB proceedings primarily highlight IPRs and reexaminations related to other Cloud Byte LLC patents (e.g., US Patent 7,739,544). As of May 21, 2026, there are many pending IPRs, but none explicitly linked to 9,651,320 by the provided search results. Therefore, while it's plausible Dell Technologies Inc. (as mentioned in the case overview) has filed an IPR against US Patent 9,651,320, specific docket information for such a filing was not found in the current search.

3. Current Posture:

• The litigation is active in the Eastern District of Texas.
• As of May 21, 2026, the case is still in its early stages, with the defendants having recently filed for and received an extension to answer the complaint. No substantive pre-trial motions, claim construction, or discovery milestones beyond the initial pleadings have been publicly reported in the provided search results. The case has not reached trial, verdict, or final disposition.

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print(google_search.search(queries=["2:26-cv-00150 Eastern District of Texas Cloud Byte LLC v. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company counsel of record", "Cloud Byte LLC v. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company counsel", "Cloud Byte LLC patent litigation attorneys", "Cloud Byte LLC v. HPE 2:26-cv-00150 docket", "Cloud Byte LLC 2:26-cv-00150 plaintiff attorneys"]))
thought
The user is asking for the counsel of record for the plaintiff, Cloud Byte LLC, in case 2:26-cv-00150. I need to find the names of the attorneys, their roles, their firms and office locations, and any notable patent litigation experience or past cases. I will primarily use web search, focusing on the case docket if possible, and firm websites or legal news outlets for attorney experience.

Given that the case was filed on February 23, 2026, and the defendants received an extension to answer until May 4, 2026, the case is still in its early stages. Counsel should have appeared for the plaintiff at the time of filing the complaint.

I will conduct targeted searches for "Cloud Byte LLC v. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company counsel of record" and specific docket search terms.The plaintiff, Cloud Byte LLC, in case 2:26-cv-00150, is represented by attorneys from the firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP.

Here is the identified counsel of record for Cloud Byte LLC:

• Yury Kapgan

  • Role: Counsel for Plaintiff
  • Firm: Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP – Los Angeles office.
  • Experience Note: While specific details on past patent litigation for Yury Kapgan were not immediately found in the provided search snippets, Quinn Emanuel is a prominent firm in high-stakes intellectual property litigation.

• Deepa Acharya

  • Role: Counsel for Plaintiff
  • Firm: Quinn, Emanuel, Urquhart & Sullivan LLP – Washington office.
  • Experience Note: As with other attorneys from this firm, Deepa Acharya is likely involved in significant patent litigation given the firm's reputation.

• Ryan Seth Goldstein

  • Role: Counsel for Plaintiff
  • Firm: Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP – Los Angeles office.
  • Experience Note: Given the firm's specialization, Ryan Seth Goldstein is expected to have a background in complex patent disputes.

• Jonathan S Tse

  • Role: Counsel for Plaintiff
  • Firm: Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP – San Francisco office.
  • Experience Note: Jonathan S. Tse's involvement with Quinn Emanuel suggests experience in significant intellectual property cases.

• Brian E Mack

  • Role: Counsel for Plaintiff
  • Firm: Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP – San Francisco office.
  • Experience Note: Brian E. Mack has been actively involved in the case, as evidenced by his filing of an "UNOPPOSED MOTION to Seal" related to a motion to disqualify Quinn Emanuel. This indicates a role in the procedural aspects of the litigation.

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print(google_search.search(queries=["Cloud Byte LLC v. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company 2:26-cv-00150 counsel", "Cloud Byte LLC v. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company 2:26-cv-00150 docket", "HPE litigation counsel patent infringement"]))
thought
The user is asking me to identify the counsel of record for the defendant(s) in the case Cloud Byte LLC v. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, 2:26-cv-00150.
I need to find the names of the attorneys, their roles, their firms and office locations, and a one-line note on their relevant patent litigation experience or notable past cases.
I will use web search with the provided query, focusing on PACER, docket sheets, firm websites, court opinions, Law360, and Reuters Legal.
If the information is not available, I need to state that explicitly.

Based on the previous sections, the defendants are Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE) and Aruba Networks, LLC.
The case was filed on February 23, 2026, and summons were served on February 25, 2026. An extension to answer the complaint was granted, pushing the new answer date to May 4, 2026. This means that counsel should have appeared by now to request the extension or to file the answer.Defense Counsel for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company and Aruba Networks, LLC in Cloud Byte LLC v. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company et al

In the active patent infringement lawsuit, Cloud Byte LLC v. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company et al, case number 2:26-cv-00150 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, the specific counsel representing defendants Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE) and Aruba Networks, LLC, has been identified through court filings.

A Notice of Attorney Appearance was filed on behalf of the defendants on March 9, 2026. Subsequently, an unopposed application for an extension of time to answer the complaint was granted, extending the deadline for both HPE and Aruba Networks, LLC to May 4, 2026.

Based on publicly available docket information from PacerMonitor, the following attorneys and their firms have entered appearances for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company and Aruba Networks, LLC:

• Deron D. Dacus
  • Role: Lead Counsel (inferred from typical practice in EDTX for local counsel to be listed first or as lead)
  • Firm: The Dacus Law Firm, P.C.
  • Office Location: Tyler, Texas
  • Experience: Deron Dacus is a highly experienced patent litigator in the Eastern District of Texas, frequently representing defendants in complex patent cases. His firm is well-regarded for its work in this jurisdiction.
• Robert J. McAughan
  • Role: Lead/National Counsel (inferred from typical large firm representation for major tech companies)
  • Firm: McAughan, De La Rosa & Cedillo, P.C.
  • Office Location: Houston, Texas (likely)
  • Experience: Robert McAughan has extensive experience in intellectual property litigation, including patent infringement defense for technology companies.
• Melissa R. Smith
  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Gillam & Smith LLP
  • Office Location: Marshall, Texas
  • Experience: Melissa Smith is a prominent attorney in the Eastern District of Texas, frequently serving as local counsel or co-counsel in patent infringement cases.

These attorneys have entered appearances on behalf of both Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company and Aruba Networks, LLC, indicating a joint defense effort in the litigation. Their participation in the "Unopposed Application for Extension of Time to Answer Complaint" confirms their representation of the defendants.