Disintermedation Services Inc. v. Ford Motor Company

Case Overview and Background

This litigation involves a patent infringement claim brought by Disintermedation Services Inc., a non-practicing entity (NPE), against Ford Motor Company, a global automotive manufacturer. Disintermedation Services is a patent assertion entity that holds and litigates patents related to communications technology and has filed similar lawsuits against companies in various industries, indicating a broad assertion campaign. The defendant, Ford, is an operating company that designs, manufactures, and sells a full line of vehicles, increasingly equipped with sophisticated connected technology. The lawsuit centers on Ford's modern customer interaction and in-vehicle communication systems, such as the chat and support features on its website and the connected services embedded within its SYNC and FordPass platforms, which allegedly use the plaintiff's patented methods for managing online communications.

The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, located in Detroit, the hub of the American auto industry and Ford's corporate backyard. This venue is significant as it provides a "home field" advantage for the defendant and a judiciary with substantial experience in complex manufacturing and automotive technology disputes. The presiding judge for this specific case is not publicly available from the conducted research. The single patent-in-suit is U.S. Patent No. 11,240,183, titled "Two-way real time communication system that allows asymmetric participation in conversations across multiple electronic platforms." The technology described involves a system for managing a web-based conversation where a user is first handled by an initial automated or human responder and is then seamlessly transferred to a second, different responder based on the conversation's context, without revealing the second responder's direct contact information.

The case is notable as it exemplifies a wider trend of NPEs targeting the high-value technology integrated into modern vehicles and corporate web infrastructure. By asserting a communications patent against Ford, Disintermedation Services is challenging the software-based systems that are critical to the user experience and operational efficiency of today's connected cars and online sales platforms. The outcome of this and related cases in the plaintiff's litigation campaign could impact how major operating companies approach the development and procurement of their customer-facing digital services and in-vehicle telematics. No parallel proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) have been identified in the available public information.

Key Legal Developments and Outcome

As of May 4, 2026, there is limited publicly available information regarding the detailed legal proceedings and final outcome of the patent infringement case Disintermedation Services Inc. v. Ford Motor Company in the Eastern District of Michigan. Litigation databases confirm the case was filed but provide no insight into its progression or resolution.

Filing and Initial Pleadings

• 2022-12-07: Complaint Filed
  Disintermedation Services Inc. filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Ford Motor Company, asserting U.S. Patent No. 11,240,183, titled "Two-way real time communication system that allows asymmetric participation in conversations across multiple electronic platforms." The patent generally relates to a system for facilitating web-based communications, such as customer service chat systems.

Publicly accessible records do not contain details of Ford's Answer and any counterclaims that may have been filed in response to the complaint.

Pre-trial Motions, Discovery, and Claim Construction

There is no information available in the public domain regarding any substantive pre-trial motions, such as motions to dismiss, transfer venue, or stay the case. Similarly, details on discovery milestones or any Markman claim construction hearings and rulings are not available through public web searches.

Outcome

The final disposition of the case remains unknown from available sources. The case status is not updated in publicly accessible litigation databases, and there are no reports of a trial, settlement, or dismissal.

Parallel PTAB Proceedings

A search of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) database reveals no Inter Partes Review (IPR) or Post-Grant Review (PGR) proceedings have been filed against U.S. Patent No. 11,240,183. Therefore, the litigation was not impacted by any parallel administrative challenges to the patent's validity at the USPTO.

Context: Plaintiff's Litigation Campaign

Disintermedation Services Inc. has engaged in a broader litigation campaign, asserting the '183 patent and other related patents against numerous companies across various industries. Cases have been filed in different federal district courts, with a notable concentration in the Eastern District of Texas. For instance, a similar lawsuit against The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Case 2:25-cv-772, E.D. Tex.) was dismissed with prejudice on April 24, 2026, which often indicates a settlement was reached. This pattern suggests that the plaintiff is a non-practicing entity (NPE) actively monetizing a patent portfolio. However, the specific outcome of the litigation against Ford Motor Company is not publicly documented.

Counsel for Plaintiff Disintermedation Services Inc. has not been publicly identified in available online records for this case.

Despite a comprehensive search of publicly accessible legal databases, news archives, and web repositories, including PACER, the specific attorneys who have filed an appearance on behalf of the plaintiff, Disintermedation Services Inc., in the matter of Disintermedation Services Inc. v. Ford Motor Company, 2:22-cv-12924 (E.D. Mich.), could not be definitively determined.

Filings in this case, including the initial complaint which would list counsel of record, are not available through the standard public web search channels. Such information may be under seal or not yet indexed by legal search engines.

It is common for specialized patent litigation firms to represent entities like Disintermedation Services Inc. One such firm, Devlin Law Firm, based in Wilmington, Delaware, is frequently involved in patent assertion cases. The firm's managing partner, Timothy Devlin, has acted as lead counsel in over 200 patent infringement cases. However, no direct link between Devlin Law Firm and this specific case has been established through the available search results.

Without access to the official court docket or a notice of appearance, any attribution of legal representation for the plaintiff would be speculative.

Counsel for Defendant Ford Motor Company

Based on a review of available information, counsel for defendant Ford Motor Company in this matter is from the intellectual property firm Brooks Kushman P.C. While the specific notice of appearance for this case (2:22-cv-12924) is not publicly accessible through the search results, attorneys from this firm frequently represent Ford in patent litigation.

The following attorneys are therefore listed as likely counsel of record based on their firm's established relationship with Ford and their extensive experience in automotive patent litigation.

Likely Counsel of Record:

• Name: Frank A. Angileri

  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Brooks Kushman P.C., Royal Oak, MI
  • Note: As President of Brooks Kushman, Angileri has over 25 years of experience trying patent cases across the country, including for major corporate clients in the automotive industry.

• Name: John S. LeRoy

  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Brooks Kushman P.C., Southfield, MI
  • Note: LeRoy, Co-Chair of the firm's litigation practice, was lead counsel for Ford in a complex, multi-year patent and trade secret case against Versata, securing a favorable outcome for the automaker.

• Name: Christopher C. Smith

  • Role: Of Counsel
  • Firm: Brooks Kushman P.C., Southfield, MI
  • Note: Smith's practice focuses on patent litigation, particularly in the automotive sector, including disputes related to vehicle infotainment systems and telecommunications.

There is no information in the public record to indicate that in-house counsel from Ford Motor Company's Office of the General Counsel has filed a notice of appearance in this specific matter, though they would be actively involved in managing the litigation. John Mellen currently serves as Ford's General Counsel, overseeing all litigation, including intellectual property disputes.