Activemap LLC v. [Defendant Not Specified]

Activemap LLC, identified as a non-practicing entity (NPE) or patent assertion entity (PAE), has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against The Tile Shop, LLC. Activemap LLC was founded in the early 2000s by the original inventors of technology related to interactive electronic maps and has been licensing its portfolio to various companies, partnering with Vectis IP Ltd for global licensing efforts. Activemap's patents are considered foundational for digital maps, particularly for "store locator website functionality," and have been cited as prior art by numerous leading technology companies.

The lawsuit, filed under case number 2:26-cv-00167 in the Texas Eastern District Court, asserts US Patent 10,444,943. US Patent 10,444,943, titled "Interactive electronically presented map," generally describes a computer-implemented method for providing interactive geographic area representation displays. This method involves presenting an initial display with a portion of a geographic area, information about items at multiple map locations, and selectable identifying information for at least two of those items. While the specific accused products or services of The Tile Shop, LLC are not detailed in the available snippets, Activemap's broader assertion patterns suggest the infringement allegations likely target the use of interactive mapping ecosystems, such as store locator functionalities, on The Tile Shop's website. The case was assigned to District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III, within the Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas, a venue widely recognized for its patentee-friendly reputation.

This case is notable as part of Activemap LLC's broader pattern of asserting its interactive mapping patents against various retailers, including Nordstrom, National Vision, Lowe's, The Gap, Petco, and others, targeting their interactive mapping features on retailer websites. Unified Patents has identified and charted prior art against Activemap's patents, including US Patent 10,444,943, indicating potential challenges to the patent's validity. Although the prompt states the litigation is "Active," court records show that case 2:26-cv-00167 against The Tile Shop, LLC was "Terminated" on April 24, 2026, with a "DISMISSING CASE WITH PREJUDICE" entry. This suggests a resolution, likely a settlement or dismissal, for this specific defendant. However, Activemap continues to pursue similar claims against other entities.

Key Legal Developments and Outcome for Activemap LLC v. The Tile Shop, LLC (2:26-cv-00167)

This patent infringement litigation, filed by Activemap LLC against The Tile Shop, LLC, concluded swiftly with a voluntary dismissal by the plaintiff. The case involved U.S. Patent 10,444,943, along with U.S. Patents 8,468,464 and 10,908,782.

Filing & Initial Pleadings:

• Complaint Filed: Activemap LLC initiated the lawsuit against The Tile Shop, LLC on February 27, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. The case was assigned to District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III, and Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne. The nature of the suit was patent infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 271.

Final Disposition:

• Voluntary Dismissal with Prejudice: The case was voluntarily dismissed with prejudice by Activemap LLC on April 24, 2026. This notice of dismissal was filed by the Plaintiff as Docket No. 7.
• Order of Dismissal: Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne signed an order on April 23, 2026, accepting and acknowledging the Plaintiff's notice of dismissal and directing the Clerk of Court to close the case. The case was officially terminated on April 24, 2026. A dismissal with prejudice typically indicates a final resolution of the claims, often as a result of a settlement between the parties.

Given the rapid termination of the case within two months of filing, there were no reported significant pre-trial motions, claim construction (Markman) outcomes, discovery milestones, or trial events.

Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings:

• Unified Patents, an organization focused on deterring abusive patent litigation, identified and charted prior art against U.S. Patent 10,444,943 (among others owned by Activemap LLC) which it characterized as a Non-Practicing Entity (NPE). These patents relate to interactive mapping ecosystems on retailer websites and have been asserted against numerous retailers. While Unified Patents' efforts indicate a potential basis for an IPR, there is no public record of an Inter Partes Review (IPR) being filed at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) specifically against US Patent 10,444,943 related to this case or prior to its dismissal.

The following attorneys from Garteiser Honea PLLC represent the plaintiff, Activemap LLC, in this patent infringement case:

• Randall T. Garteiser

  • Role: Partner, Lead Counsel.
  • Firm: Garteiser Honea PLLC, Tyler, Texas.
  • Experience Note: Mr. Garteiser is a trial attorney licensed in California and Texas, with prior experience litigating at Quinn Emanuel in Silicon Valley. He has handled patent disputes for clients involving smartphones, tablets, and software.

• Christopher A. Honea

  • Role: Partner, Lead Counsel.
  • Firm: Garteiser Honea PLLC, Tyler, Texas.
  • Experience Note: Mr. Honea co-chairs the firm's Intellectual Property Litigation Group and has extensive experience in patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright litigation, including significant work in the Eastern District of Texas. He notably represented i4i, Inc. in a patent infringement case against Microsoft that resulted in a $290 million verdict. His practice areas include computer architecture and software, and software security.

• Michael S. Fuller (also known as Scott Fuller)

  • Role: Partner, Lead Counsel.
  • Firm: Garteiser Honea PLLC, Tyler, Texas.
  • Experience Note: Mr. Fuller has 25 years of experience in patent litigation, particularly in the areas of computer architecture and software, and software security. He is noted for his "Elite Ratings" in District Court litigation.

Garteiser Honea PLLC is an intellectual property litigation boutique with a presence in East Texas.

The patent infringement case Activemap LLC v. [Defendant Not Specified], case number 2:26-cv-00167 in the Texas Eastern District Court, was filed on February 27, 2026, against The Tile Shop, LLC. However, the case is no longer active and was terminated on April 24, 2026, when a "Motion to Dismiss (Demurrer) Granted" resulted in an "ORDER DISMISSING CASE WITH PREJUDICE" signed by Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne.

Due to the rapid dismissal of the case, the specific counsel of record representing The Tile Shop, LLC has not been readily identified in the publicly available search results (such as general docket overviews or news articles) for this specific case number. Court filings detailing initial appearances by defense counsel are typically found on the PACER docket, which was not directly accessed for specific documents beyond the overview. Therefore, without direct access to the docket entries showing appearances for The Tile Shop, LLC prior to the dismissal, specific details about their counsel (names, roles, firms, and experience) cannot be provided at this time.