Defendant
1 case as defendant.
TP-Link is a global provider of networking devices and smart home products, originally founded in Shenzhen, China, in 1996 by brothers Zhao Jianjun (Jeffrey Chao) and Zhao Jiaxing (Cliff Chao). In a significant corporate restructuring completed in 2024, TP-Link Systems Inc. was established as the new global headquarters in Irvine, California, serving U.S. and international customers. This new entity is privately owned by Jeffrey Chao and his wife Hillary, and has separated from the original TP-LINK Technologies Co., Ltd., which now serves the mainland Chinese market. TP-Link is a substantial company, with employee estimates ranging from approximately 8,600 as of June 2026 to 24,000 across its operations, and annual revenue exceeding $2 billion.
The company manufactures a wide array of products including Wi-Fi routers, mesh Wi-Fi systems, range extenders, switches, and mobile hotspots. TP-Link also offers smart home devices under brands like Kasa Smart and Tapo, which include smart plugs, lighting, cameras, and security cameras under the VIGI brand. It produces its products in-house, with manufacturing for the U.S. market primarily based in Vietnam since 2018. TP-Link is recognized for its innovation in wireless technology, being among the first to launch Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and a full line of Wi-Fi 7 products.
In terms of patent litigation, TP-Link demonstrates the posture of an operating company defending its products. The company has no tracked cases as a plaintiff and one tracked case as a defendant. This single case, Velocity Communication Technologies, LLC v. TP-Link, is located in the Eastern District of Texas, a venue known for patent assertion litigation.
Velocity Communication Technologies, LLC filed a patent infringement lawsuit against TP-Link in the Eastern District of Texas. This case is part of a series of lawsuits launched by VCT in 2025.