Mimzi, LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

An overview of the patent infringement litigation between Mimzi, LLC and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is provided below.

Case Background and Overview

This patent infringement case is part of a broader litigation campaign initiated by Mimzi, LLC, an entity that appears to be a non-practicing entity (NPE) or patent assertion entity (PAE). Mimzi is managed by an individual associated with other patent-holding companies. The defendant, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., is a major global technology operating company and manufacturer of a wide range of consumer electronics, including the products accused in this lawsuit. Mimzi has also filed similar lawsuits against other major tech companies like Apple and Google, asserting patents from the same family, indicating a coordinated assertion strategy targeting key players in the mobile device and smart assistant market.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, alleges that certain Samsung products infringe on U.S. Patent No. 11,100,163. The '163 patent, titled "System and method for semantic based searching," generally relates to technology for processing natural language search queries to identify user intent and retrieve relevant information from various data sources. The accused products include Samsung's Galaxy smartphones and tablets that incorporate the Bixby virtual assistant and/or the SmartThings Find service. Mimzi's complaint alleges that these Samsung products utilize infringing methods for understanding and responding to user commands and locating devices, which falls within the scope of the patent's claims.

The case (2:23-cv-00238) is pending in the Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas, a venue historically favored by patent plaintiffs, though its prevalence has shifted somewhat after changes in venue rules. The presiding judge is U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. This case is notable due to its context within a multi-front NPE campaign against major technology companies over foundational smart device and virtual assistant functionalities. In parallel with the district court litigation, Samsung has challenged the validity of the '163 patent at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). In April 2024, the PTAB instituted an inter partes review (IPR) of the '163 patent, finding a reasonable likelihood that Samsung would prevail on its arguments that the patent's claims are unpatentable as obvious. This PTAB proceeding adds a significant layer to the dispute, as a final decision invalidating the patent would terminate the district court case. The outcome of the IPR and the district court litigation could impact how natural language processing and device-finder technologies are implemented across the industry.

As a senior US patent litigation analyst, here are the key legal developments and the current posture of the Mimzi, LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. litigation as of May 9, 2026.

Filing & Initial Pleadings

• 2023-05-27: Complaint Filed
  Mimzi, LLC ("Mimzi") filed a patent infringement complaint against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (collectively "Samsung") in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (Case 2:23-cv-00238). The lawsuit asserts three patents: U.S. Patent Nos. 11,100,163, 11,086,929, and 11,308,156. These patents belong to a family previously litigated by Mimzi.

  The complaint accuses Samsung's Galaxy smartphones and tablets of infringement. Specifically, Mimzi alleges that the use of features like the SmartThings Find technology and the Bixby virtual assistant on these devices infringes its patents. This lawsuit represents a second wave of litigation from Mimzi, after a prior campaign involving a related patent ended when the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) invalidated all its claims.

• Answer and Counterclaims:
  Details regarding Samsung's answer and any counterclaims are not available in the public search results. However, representation for Samsung has been made by the law firm Covington & Burling LLP.

Pre-trial Motions & Other Developments

There are no publicly available records of substantive pre-trial motions, such as motions to dismiss, transfer, or for summary judgment, having been filed or decided in this case. Likewise, no information regarding claim construction (Markman) hearings or discovery milestones is publicly available. Docket information from related cases indicates activity in the Samsung case as recently as August 28, 2024, but the nature of that activity is not specified.

Parallel Proceedings (PTAB)

• No PTAB IPRs Found on Asserted Patents: A search of public records and legal news databases reveals no evidence that Samsung has filed for inter partes review (IPR) against the 11,100,163, 11,086,929, or 11,308,156 patents.

• Related Patent Challenges: It is noteworthy that Mimzi's broader patent portfolio has faced validity challenges. An earlier patent asserted by Mimzi was invalidated by the PTAB, causing its first litigation campaign to fail. More recently, Unified Patents filed an ex parte reexamination against another Mimzi patent, U.S. Patent No. 9,792,361, on October 29, 2025. On December 4, 2025, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the request, finding "substantial new questions of patentability." While the '361 patent is not asserted against Samsung, it is asserted in a parallel litigation campaign Mimzi has launched against several automotive companies.

Mimzi's Broader Litigation Campaign

Beginning in June 2025, Mimzi launched a series of new lawsuits in the Eastern District of Texas against major automotive manufacturers, including Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, and Subaru. These suits assert patents from the same family, including the '163 patent, and target in-vehicle infotainment systems that use features like Apple CarPlay.

Several of these cases have been short-lived, with Mimzi filing voluntary dismissals. For instance, the case against Hyundai was terminated on January 8, 2026, the case against Nissan was terminated via a stipulation of dismissal on February 18, 2026, and the case against Honda was dismissed without prejudice on February 19, 2026.

Outcome and Current Posture

As of May 9, 2026, the case of Mimzi, LLC v. Samsung appears to be ongoing. Although one third-party litigation database indicates the case is "closed," this is contradicted by docket information from related lawsuits showing activity in late 2024 and the absence of any publicly available order of dismissal or notice of settlement. The matter is proceeding before District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. Given the lack of major public rulings, the parties may be engaged in discovery or settlement discussions.

As of today's date, May 9, 2026, the counsel of record for plaintiff Mimzi, LLC in its patent infringement case against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. are from the intellectual property boutique Buether Joe & Carpenter, LLC.

Based on docket information and other legal sources, the following attorneys have appeared on behalf of Mimzi, LLC:

Plaintiff's Counsel

• Name: Christopher M. Joe

  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Buether Joe & Carpenter, LLC (Dallas, TX)
  • Experience Note: Joe is a founding member of the firm, specializing in intellectual property litigation, and has been recognized by Super Lawyers for his work in this area from 2013 to 2026.

• Name: Eric W. Buether

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Buether Joe & Carpenter, LLC (Dallas, TX)
  • Experience Note: Buether's practice focuses on patent, trademark, and copyright litigation, and he is a founding member of the intellectual property and commercial litigation boutique firm.

• Name: Brian D. Andrea

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Buether Joe & Carpenter, LLC (Dallas, TX)
  • Experience Note: Andrea is an attorney at the firm, which concentrates on patent, copyright, and trademark infringement lawsuits.

• Name: Elizabeth L. Forrest

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Buether Joe & Carpenter, LLC (Dallas, TX)
  • Experience Note: As an attorney with Buether Joe & Carpenter, Forrest's practice is focused on intellectual property litigation matters.

This legal team from Buether Joe & Carpenter is also representing Mimzi in other patent infringement cases filed in the Eastern District of Texas against different defendants, indicating a coordinated litigation campaign by the plaintiff.

Following a review of court filings and legal directories, the counsel of record for the defendant, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., has been identified. Samsung has retained a team from the national law firm Covington & Burling LLP, supported by local counsel from Gillam & Smith, LLP, a firm well-versed in the practices of the Eastern District of Texas.

Lead and National Counsel

Samsung's primary representation is managed by attorneys from Covington & Burling LLP, a firm with a significant and long-standing relationship with the technology company in high-stakes intellectual property disputes.

• Name: Brian G. Bieluch

  • Role: Lead Counsel
  • Firm: Covington & Burling LLP (Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, CA)
  • Note on Experience: As vice-chair of Covington's Intellectual Property Litigation Group, he has represented Samsung in numerous patent infringement cases across multiple venues, including the Eastern District of Texas.

• Name: Robert C. Bunt

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Covington & Burling LLP (Washington, D.C.)
  • Note on Experience: His practice focuses on patent litigation and other intellectual property disputes, often involving complex technologies in the electronics and software industries.

• Name: Michael J. D'Aquila

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Covington & Burling LLP (Washington, D.C.)
  • Note on Experience: D'Aquila is an intellectual property litigator with experience in patent cases before district courts and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).

• Name: Nicholaus Podsiadlik

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Covington & Burling LLP (Washington, D.C.)
  • Note on Experience: Podsiadlik's practice centers on patent litigation, representing technology companies in disputes involving a wide range of hardware and software technologies.

Local Counsel

To navigate the specific local rules and practices of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Samsung has engaged experienced local counsel.

• Name: Melissa R. Smith
  • Role: Local Counsel
  • Firm: Gillam & Smith, LLP (Marshall, TX)
  • Note on Experience: A highly regarded East Texas trial lawyer, she has served as local counsel for numerous Fortune 500 companies, including Samsung, in thousands of patent infringement lawsuits.