DISH Technologies LLC et al. v. MBB Ventures LLC

In a new front of the ongoing streaming wars, operating companies DISH Technologies LLC and its subsidiary Sling TV LLC have filed a patent infringement lawsuit against MBB Ventures LLC. The plaintiffs are major players in the U.S. pay-television market; DISH is a long-established satellite TV provider, and Sling TV is a pioneer in over-the-top (OTT) internet television services. The defendant, MBB Ventures LLC, operates Spankbang.com, a large adult video streaming website. The complaint alleges that the defendant's video-on-demand service infringes multiple patents by using adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming. This ubiquitous technology automatically adjusts the quality of a video stream in real time based on a user's network conditions to prevent buffering. The primary patent cited is U.S. Patent No. 11,470,138, which relates to methods for such adaptive content streaming, along with at least three other patents from the same family acquired from MOVE Networks.

The case was filed on May 6, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware (D. Del.), a premier venue for patent litigation. The District of Delaware is known for its experienced judiciary and sophisticated procedures for handling complex patent disputes. Its prominence as a patent venue grew significantly after the Supreme Court's 2017 decision in TC Heartland, which restricted patent lawsuits to districts where the defendant is incorporated or has a regular and established place of business. Given that a large number of U.S. companies are incorporated in Delaware, the court handles a substantial portion of the nation's patent cases. The procedural posture is very early, with the complaint having just been filed.

This lawsuit is notable as part of a broader, aggressive litigation campaign by DISH to enforce its ABR patent portfolio against a wide array of online streaming services. Filings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) show that DISH has asserted patents from this same family against numerous other streaming companies, including fuboTV, Vidgo, and BritBox. This pattern of widespread assertion by an operating company against competitors and adjacent industry players highlights the strategic value of streaming-related intellectual property. The case is also significant due to parallel validity challenges against the '138 patent. Court and PTAB records indicate that the patent has been subject to inter partes review (IPR) petitions filed by other accused infringers. The outcome of these PTAB proceedings could be dispositive for the district court case, as a finding of unpatentability would invalidate the asserted patent claims.

Key Legal Developments and Procedural History

As of today's date, May 8, 2026, the patent infringement litigation between DISH/Sling and MBB Ventures is in its nascent stages. The public record reflects only the initiation of the lawsuit, with significant legal developments yet to unfold.

Chronological Overview of Case Events:

• 2026-05-06: Complaint Filed & Case Initiation. DISH Technologies LLC and Sling TV LLC filed a patent infringement complaint against MBB Ventures LLC in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The case was assigned to Judge Gregory B. Williams and referred to Magistrate Judge Christopher J. Burke for discovery matters. The complaint alleges that MBB's adult video streaming service, Spankbang.com, infringes U.S. Patent No. 11,470,138 and other patents in its family related to adaptive bitrate streaming technology. Plaintiffs are seeking remedies including damages and a permanent injunction.
• 2026-05-06: Summons Issued. A summons was issued to the defendant, MBB Ventures LLC, formally notifying it of the lawsuit and the requirement to respond to the complaint.

The case is currently pending service of process on the defendant. No answer, counterclaims, or initial motions have been filed. The docket does not yet show an appearance of counsel for MBB Ventures LLC.

Parallel PTAB Proceedings

A critical component of DISH's broader litigation campaign involves the validity of the asserted patents before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). While MBB Ventures has not yet filed its own challenges, other companies targeted by DISH have initiated inter partes review (IPR) proceedings against the '138 patent and related patents from the same family. The outcomes of these parallel proceedings will likely have a significant impact on this district court case.

Notably, other defendants in parallel litigations, such as fuboTV, have filed IPR petitions challenging the validity of the claims in the asserted patent family. These PTAB proceedings often run concurrently with district court litigation and can lead to a stay of the district court case pending the PTAB's final decision. If the PTAB finds the patent claims invalid, it can resolve the district court case entirely. The status and outcomes of these related IPRs will be a key factor to monitor as the MBB Ventures case progresses. As of this date, there is no public record of a stay being sought or granted in this specific matter, which is expected given that the defendant has not yet appeared.

Plaintiff's Counsel of Record

Based on a review of the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, the following attorneys and their firm are representing the plaintiffs, DISH Technologies LLC and Sling TV LLC.

Stamoulis & Weinblatt LLC

• Stamatios Stamoulis (Likely Lead Counsel & Local Counsel)

  • Firm & Location: Stamoulis & Weinblatt LLC, Wilmington, DE.
  • Experience Note: Co-founder of his firm, he has over 20 years of experience in patent litigation in Delaware and other key patent venues like the Eastern District of Texas and has been repeatedly recognized as an "IP Star" by Managing Intellectual Property.

• Richard C. Weinblatt (Likely Lead Counsel & Local Counsel)

  • Firm & Location: Stamoulis & Weinblatt LLC, Wilmington, DE.
  • Experience Note: A registered patent attorney and co-founder of the firm, his practice focuses on patent litigation and appellate work before the Federal Circuit, with experience at specialized IP firms like Fish & Richardson.

It is common practice in the District of Delaware for a complaint to be filed by local counsel, who are members of the Delaware bar. Additional counsel from other states, who may serve as lead trial counsel, are often added to the case via pro hac vice admission after the initial filing. As of May 8, 2026, only attorneys from Stamoulis & Weinblatt LLC have appeared on the docket for the plaintiffs.

As of May 8, 2026, counsel for the defendant, MBB Ventures LLC, has not yet appeared on the docket in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.

The lawsuit was initiated by DISH Technologies LLC and Sling TV LLC on May 6, 2026. Given the very recent filing date, it is standard procedure for a defendant to be served with the complaint and then secure legal representation to file an appearance and response within the time frame stipulated by federal rules, which is typically 21 days after service.

A review of the case docket (1:26-cv-00526) and legal news reporting confirms the commencement of the action but does not yet name any attorneys for the defense. No notice of appearance or responsive pleading has been filed by MBB Ventures LLC.

Consequently, information regarding the defendant's legal team, including the names of attorneys, their roles, and their law firms, is not yet a matter of public record. Filings are not sealed; rather, the case is in its earliest procedural stage before the defendant's counsel has been formally named to the court.