Innovative Display Technologies LLC v. Toyota Motor Corp.

Innovative Display Technologies LLC (IDT) initiated this patent infringement lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corp. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. IDT operates as a Patent Assertion Entity (PAE), also commonly referred to as a Non-Practicing Entity (NPE), and is affiliated with Acacia Research Group LLC and Acacia Research Corporation. [cite: 3, 6, 13 (from prior search), 14 (from prior search), 18 (from prior search), 21 (from prior search)] Toyota, a global automotive manufacturer, is the defendant operating company in this litigation. [cite: 11 (from prior search), 12 (from prior search), 15 (from prior search), 17 (from prior search)] The suit is part of a broader patent assertion campaign by IDT, which has targeted numerous other companies in the automotive and consumer electronics sectors for alleged infringement of similar display technologies. [cite: 3, 6 (from prior search), 13 (from prior search)]

The technology at issue concerns LCD and backlight innovations. The sole patent asserted in this case is U.S. Patent No. 7,300,194. This patent is titled "Light emitting panel assemblies" and describes light emitting panels that provide illumination, often for displays, using a light guide with features designed to extract light efficiently. The accused products or services are Toyota's vehicles, specifically their infotainment systems, which allegedly incorporate the patented display and backlight technologies. [cite: 14 (from prior search), 18 (from prior search)]

The case is currently active in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, a venue historically favored by patent plaintiffs due to its patent-friendly local rules and a reputation for fast-paced litigation and quick trials. [cite: 1 (from prior search), 2 (from prior search), 3 (from prior search), 4 (from prior search), 13 (from prior search)] While the specific presiding judge for this case (2:14-cv-00200) could not be definitively identified from public search results, many patent cases in this district are presided over by a limited number of experienced judges. The case is notable as an example of an NPE employing a broad assertion strategy across an industry, and it has a direct link to inter partes review (IPR) proceedings. Specifically, an IPR petition, IPR2014-01097, was filed against U.S. Patent No. 7,300,194, indicating a challenge to the patent's validity at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). [cite: 3 (from prior search)] The outcome of this specific IPR would have a significant bearing on the district court litigation, potentially impacting the patent's enforceability. As of the latest information, the IPR was instituted, and a final written decision was issued on April 14, 2016, finding claims 1-6, 9, 10, 13, and 14 of U.S. Patent No. 7,300,194 unpatentable. [cite: 23 (from prior search)]

Innovative Display Technologies LLC v. Toyota Motor Corp.: Key Legal Developments and Outcome

This patent infringement lawsuit, filed by Innovative Display Technologies LLC ("IDT") against Toyota Motor Corp. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (Case No. 2:14-cv-00200), concerns U.S. Patent No. 7,300,194, related to LCD and backlight technologies.

Key Legal Developments:

• Filing & Initial Pleadings (2014-03-10): Innovative Display Technologies LLC initiated the patent infringement suit against Toyota Motor Corp. on March 10, 2014.
• Parallel PTAB IPR Proceedings: Toyota Motor Corp., along with other entities, engaged in various Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) proceedings related to patents asserted by Innovative Display Technologies. While specific details for IPRs related to U.S. Patent No. 7,300,194 by Toyota in this specific case were not immediately available in general search results, the lawsuit itself has been referenced in PTAB-related documents, indicating ongoing PTAB activity in parallel with the litigation. Such IPR proceedings can significantly impact district court litigation by challenging the validity of the asserted patent claims. If an IPR is instituted, the PTAB aims to issue a final written decision within 12 to 18 months.

Due to the limited public access to a full, detailed docket for this specific case within the conducted searches, comprehensive information regarding pre-trial motions, claim construction (Markman) outcomes, discovery milestones, trial events, or specific dates for these developments remains partially unconfirmed. The case is officially listed as "Active" as of the latest information, suggesting it has not reached a final judgment or dismissal through trial. Many patent infringement cases resolve through settlement prior to a full trial. Further detailed docket review would be necessary to ascertain the complete chronological sequence and specific outcomes of all procedural steps.

Counsel of Record for Innovative Display Technologies LLC

In Innovative Display Technologies LLC v. Toyota Motor Corp., case number 2:14-cv-00200 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, the following attorneys are identified as representing the plaintiff:

• Justin B. Kimble

  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Nelson Bumgardner Conroy (formerly a founding partner of Bragalone Conroy, PC)
  • Office Location: Justin Kimble's current firm, Nelson Bumgardner Conroy, is listed as having an office in Fort Worth, TX. (While not explicitly stated in provided snippets for this attorney, Bragalone Conroy, PC was in Dallas, TX).
  • Relevant Experience: Mr. Kimble is a registered patent attorney whose practice focuses on patent infringement litigation and patent licensing. He has served as lead counsel for petitioners and patent owners in over 100 inter partes review (IPR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. His experience spans various technologies, including liquid-crystal displays, wearable biometric monitors, and solid-state drives (SSDs).

• Jeffrey R. Bragalone

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Bragalone Olejko Saad PC (formerly a name partner in a Dallas intellectual property boutique and a partner at McKool Smith, P.C.)
  • Office Location: Dallas, TX
  • Relevant Experience: Mr. Bragalone's practice emphasizes complex commercial litigation, particularly patent and other intellectual property matters and technology-related cases. He has represented Innovative Display Technologies, LLC as lead counsel in multiple patent litigation actions in Texas and Delaware concerning liquid crystal displays, all of which resolved favorably for the client. His experience covers technologies such as semiconductors, liquid crystal displays, database software, cellular communications, wireless networks, and memory technology. He was also part of the trial team for Ericsson in Ericsson v. Qualcomm patent infringement litigation, participating in the first Markman hearing in the Eastern District of Texas.

Note: The identification of counsel is based on available public information, including a filing in a related IPR proceeding that references this case. A direct, real-time search of the PACER docket for 2:14-cv-00200 was not performed using the provided tools.

Identifying the counsel of record for defendant Toyota Motor Corp. in Innovative Display Technologies LLC v. Toyota Motor Corp. (2:14-cv-00200 E.D. Tex.) requires reviewing court dockets, which are not directly accessible through the initial web search. While general information about other cases involving Toyota or entities named "Display Technologies" appeared in the search results, specific counsel for this particular 2014 case were not identified.

Therefore, without direct access to the PACER docket for this specific case, the counsel of record representing Toyota Motor Corp. cannot be explicitly identified at this time. Filings for this case may be sealed, or the specific docket entries detailing counsel appearances were not returned in the general web search.