Litigation

MYW Semitech, LLC v. Apple Inc.

ongoing litigation

1:25-cv-00504

Filed
2025-04-24

Patents at issue (1)

Plaintiffs (1)

Defendants (1)

Summary

MYW Semitech, LLC filed a patent infringement complaint against Apple Inc. in the Delaware District Court, asserting patent 11107768.

Case overview & background

Plain-language overview of the case: parties, accused product, patents at issue, and why the suit matters.

MYW Semitech, LLC has initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple Inc. in the District of Delaware, asserting U.S. Patent No. 11,107,768, along with two other related patents, 11,538,763 and 11,894,306, which are part of the same patent family. MYW Semitech is identified as a Delaware LLC, and its litigation history suggests it may be a patent assertion entity (PAE) or non-practicing entity (NPE), as it appears to focus on patent enforcement rather than product development. The patents generally relate to advanced semiconductor chip packaging technology, specifically "fan-out" chip packaging, which aims to create smaller, more powerful, and more efficient integrated circuits by redistributing input/output connections on a carrier layer.

The accused products are Apple's A-series and S-series processors, found in various Apple devices, which allegedly utilize "InFO PoP" (Integrated Fan-Out Package-on-Package) technology. This advanced packaging method involves stacking a memory chip directly on top of a logic chip for a thinner profile and improved electrical and thermal performance. U.S. Patent No. 11,107,768, titled "Chip Package," specifically describes a chip package structure built upon a polymer layer with vertical electrical pathways (metal plugs) in through vias, and an interconnection scheme on top to route signals. The complaint asserts independent claim 1 and several dependent claims, which detail elements like a solid layer of silicon and oxygen, copper plugs, and an interconnection scheme.

The case, 1:25-cv-00504, was filed on April 24, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The case is assigned to Judge Richard G. Andrews and referred to Magistrate Judge Eleanor G. Tennyson. Delaware is a common venue for patent litigation due to its well-established patent law jurisprudence and the fact that many corporations, including Apple, are incorporated there, satisfying venue requirements. The case is notable for involving a patent assertion entity targeting a major technology company over core semiconductor packaging technology. Apple has actively sought Inter Partes Reviews (IPRs) against MYW Semitech's patents, including IPR2026-00065, IPR2026-00066, and IPR2026-00067, which are currently pending or instituted. A motion to stay the district court litigation pending IPR institution was denied without prejudice by Judge Andrews in January 2026, indicating the court's intent to move forward with the schedule despite pending PTAB challenges.MYW Semitech, LLC initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, asserting U.S. Patent No. 11,107,768, among two other related patents (11,538,763 and 11,894,306) from the same family. MYW Semitech, a Delaware LLC, appears to be a patent assertion entity (PAE) or non-practicing entity (NPE), focusing on patent enforcement rather than product development, as suggested by its litigation patterns. Apple Inc., a prominent technology company, is the defendant. The core technology at issue revolves around advanced semiconductor chip packaging, specifically "fan-out" chip packaging, which is designed to create smaller, more powerful, and more efficient integrated circuits by redistributing input/output connections on a carrier layer.

The alleged infringing products are Apple's A-series and S-series processors, found in various Apple devices, which are claimed to utilize "InFO PoP" (Integrated Fan-Out Package-on-Package) technology. This technology involves stacking memory and logic chips for a thinner profile and enhanced performance. U.S. Patent No. 11,107,768, titled "Chip Package," describes a package structure built on a polymer layer, featuring vertical electrical pathways (metal plugs) in through vias and an interconnection scheme for signal routing. The complaint asserts independent claim 1 and several dependent claims of the patent, outlining elements such as a solid layer of silicon and oxygen, copper plugs, and an interconnection scheme.

Filed on April 24, 2025, the case (1:25-cv-00504) is proceeding in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, with Judge Richard G. Andrews presiding and Magistrate Judge Eleanor G. Tennyson referred. Delaware is a preferred venue for patent litigation due to its established patent law precedents and because many corporations, including Apple, are incorporated there. The case holds significance due to the involvement of an NPE asserting patents against a major tech company over critical semiconductor technology. Apple has proactively filed Inter Partes Reviews (IPRs) against MYW Semitech's patents, including IPR2026-00065, IPR2026-00066, and IPR2026-00067. However, a motion by Apple to stay the district court proceedings pending IPR institution was denied without prejudice by Judge Andrews in January 2026, indicating the court's intention to proceed with the established schedule.

Key legal developments & outcome

Major rulings, motions, claim construction, settlements, and the present posture or final disposition.

Key Legal Developments in MYW Semitech, LLC v. Apple Inc. (1:25-cv-00504)

The patent infringement case of MYW Semitech, LLC v. Apple Inc., filed in the District of Delaware under case number 1:25-cv-00504, is currently ongoing. The litigation, initiated in April 2025, centers on allegations that Apple's A-series and S-series processors, found in various Apple products, infringe MYW Semitech's patents related to advanced semiconductor chip packaging technology.

Chronological Summary of Developments:

1. Filing & Initial Pleadings:

  • Complaint Filed (2025-04-24): MYW Semitech, LLC filed a complaint against Apple Inc. in the District of Delaware, alleging infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 11,107,768; 11,538,763; and 11,894,306. The complaint asserts independent claim 1 and a number of dependent claims of the patents. The technology at issue involves "fan-out" chip packaging, aimed at creating smaller, more powerful, and more efficient integrated circuits.

2. Pre-trial Motions of Substance:

  • Scheduling Order Issued (2025-09-05): The court issued a scheduling order (Dkt. 26), indicating the progression of the case through its initial stages.
  • Discovery Activity (2025-09-16 - 2025-10-07): Discovery has been active, with a Request for Production (No. 17) being issued by September 16, 2025, and a deposition scheduled for October 7, 2025.
  • Motions to Stay Pending IPR (Likely): While a specific motion to stay by Apple has not been explicitly detailed in the public records found, there is evidence that such a motion or consideration of a stay pending Inter Partes Review (IPR) has occurred. References within PTAB exhibits mention "Docket Navigator's Statistics for Judge Andrew's Motion for Stay Pending IPR (Post-Institution) Success" in relation to this case. This indicates that the possibility of staying the district court litigation due to parallel PTAB proceedings has been a point of discussion or action.

3. Claim Construction (Markman) Outcomes:

  • Given the case's filing date in April 2025 and the ongoing nature of discovery and potential IPRs, the case has not yet reached the claim construction (Markman) hearing stage where an order would be issued.

4. Discovery Milestones with Strategic Significance:

  • As noted above, document requests and depositions were underway by late 2025, indicating that the parties are engaged in the information-gathering phase of the litigation.

5. Trial Events, Verdict, and Post-Trial Motions:

  • The case is in ongoing litigation, and as such, no trial events, verdicts, or post-trial motions have occurred.

6. Settlement, Dismissal, Judgment, or Appeal:

  • The case remains active and is proceeding through its pre-trial phases. There has been no final disposition via settlement, dismissal, or judgment.

7. Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings:

  • IPR2026-00066 Against Patent 11,538,763 (Filed by TSMC): Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (TSMC) filed an Inter Partes Review petition, IPR2026-00066, challenging U.S. Patent No. 11,538,763, which is one of the patents asserted by MYW Semitech in the district court litigation. This IPR proceeding is currently pending before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). While TSMC is the petitioner, Apple could be a real party-in-interest or have filed separate IPRs.
  • IPR Activity Related to Patent 11,107,768: An "Opp. to Discretionary Denial for '768 Patent" dated March 1, 2026, explicitly refers to the district court case (1:25-cv-00504) in connection with U.S. Patent No. 11,107,768. This strongly suggests that IPR petitions have been filed against the '768 patent as well, and there is an ongoing process regarding their institution.
  • The existence of these IPRs indicates a challenge to the validity of MYW Semitech's asserted patents at the PTAB, which could significantly impact the district court litigation, potentially leading to a stay or affecting claim construction and invalidity defenses. The outcome of these IPRs, particularly institution decisions and final written decisions, will be a critical development for the district court case.

Plaintiff representatives

Counsel of record for the plaintiff(s): attorneys, firms, and roles (lead counsel, of counsel, local counsel).

MYW Semitech, LLC is represented by attorneys from Stamoulis & Weinblatt LLC, acting as local counsel, and Daignault Iyer LLP and The Mort Law Firm PLLC, likely serving as lead counsel through pro hac vice appearances. Additionally, Taylor Lepore has made a pro hac vice appearance for the plaintiff, although her firm's primary focus appears to be in immigration law.

Here is a breakdown of the identified counsel:

Stamoulis & Weinblatt LLC (Wilmington, Delaware)

  • Stamatios Stamoulis (Local Counsel, Co-founder)
    • Firm & Office: Stamoulis & Weinblatt LLC, Wilmington, Delaware.
    • Experience: Mr. Stamoulis has over 20 years of experience in intellectual property and complex commercial law. He has litigated patent infringement cases in the District of Delaware and other districts throughout the country, including the Southern and Northern Districts of California and the Eastern District of Texas. He is recognized as an "IP Star" by Managing Intellectual Property.
  • Richard C. Weinblatt (Local Counsel, Co-founder)
    • Firm & Office: Stamoulis & Weinblatt LLC, Wilmington, Delaware.
    • Experience: Mr. Weinblatt has over 20 years of experience, is a registered patent agent since 2000, and focuses on patent litigation and appellate work. He has argued numerous appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and successfully argued for the reversal of a district court's dismissal on the basis of 35 U.S.C. § 101 in Visual Memory, LLC v. NVIDIA Corp. He is recognized as an "IP Star" by Managing Intellectual Property and a "Super Lawyer" in Intellectual Property Litigation.

Daignault Iyer LLP

  • Ronald M. Daignault (Lead Counsel, Partner – Pro Hac Vice)
    • Firm & Office: Daignault Iyer LLP, office locations not specified in direct relation to this case, but firm website implies multiple locations including Vienna, VA.
    • Experience: Mr. Daignault possesses nearly 30 years of experience as an intellectual property litigator and trial attorney. He has represented patent owners in various technology areas and is recognized as a pharmaceutical Hatch-Waxman litigator. He has served as lead or second-chair counsel in over fifteen bench and jury trials and has argued before several U.S. Courts of Appeals, including the Federal Circuit.
  • Chandran B. Iyer (Lead Counsel, Partner – Pro Hac Vice)
    • Firm & Office: Daignault Iyer LLP, Vienna, Virginia.
    • Experience: Mr. Iyer has over 20 years of experience assisting patent owners in monetizing their intellectual property through litigation, licensing, and Patent Office proceedings, with campaigns resulting in significant recoveries. He has represented clients in U.S. District Courts, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), with significant experience in jury and bench trials.
  • Erin Hadi (Lead Counsel, Associate – Pro Hac Vice)
    • Firm & Office: Daignault Iyer LLP.
    • Experience: Ms. Hadi is a patent litigation associate focusing on both district court and PTAB proceedings. Her experience spans electronic, network technologies, and life sciences. Before joining Daignault Iyer, she was a judicial clerk for the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
  • Richard Juang (Lead Counsel, Partner – Pro Hac Vice)
    • Firm & Office: Daignault Iyer LLP. (Note: While one search result listed Goldberg Segalla LLP, his profile on Daignault Iyer and email communications in related IPRs suggest his primary affiliation for this case is with Daignault Iyer.)
    • Experience: Mr. Juang is an experienced litigator and registered patent attorney with a background in biomedical engineering. His practice is almost exclusively focused on patent litigation, handling all aspects of litigation including examining witnesses at trial, depositions, and drafting briefs in cases involving life sciences, computer hardware and software, medical devices, and Hatch-Waxman litigation.

The Mort Law Firm PLLC (Austin, Texas)

  • Raymond W. Mort, III (Lead Counsel, Founding Member – Pro Hac Vice)
    • Firm & Office: The Mort Law Firm PLLC, Austin, Texas.
    • Experience: Mr. Mort is a registered patent attorney with over two decades of courtroom experience in intellectual property litigation, including defending and enforcing patent rights. He holds a degree in electrical engineering. He has been selected to Super Lawyers for Intellectual Property Litigation.

Lepore Taylor Fox LLP

  • Taylor Lepore (Pro Hac Vice)
    • Firm & Office: Lepore Taylor Fox LLP, Immigration Law Firm, New York/New Jersey (based on firm website's focus).
    • Experience: Ms. Lepore is listed as a pro hac vice attorney for MYW Semitech, LLC in this patent infringement case. However, her firm, Lepore Taylor Fox LLP, appears to be exclusively dedicated to U.S. immigration and nationality law, and specific patent litigation experience for Ms. Lepore is not readily available through general web searches for her or her firm.

Defendant representatives

Counsel of record for the defendant(s): attorneys, firms, and roles (lead counsel, of counsel, local counsel).

Here is the identified counsel of record representing Apple Inc. in MYW Semitech, LLC v. Apple Inc., Case No. 1:25-cv-00504, along with their roles, firms, office locations, and relevant experience:

Lead Counsel / Of Counsel

Given the significant patent litigation practices of these firms and the locations of their attorneys, they are likely serving as lead counsel or of counsel for Apple.

  • Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

    • Daniel W. Richards (Partner)
      • Office: San Francisco, CA
      • Experience: Focuses on patent and IP litigation across various technologies including computer, networking, mobile device, semiconductor, software, and RF display. Experienced in all stages of district court and ITC litigation, including pre-suit investigations, discovery, claim construction, trial, and appeals. Has served as lead counsel or counsel of record in over three dozen PTAB proceedings.
    • Kevin Post (Partner)
      • Office: New York, NY
      • Experience: Works extensively with high-technology and life science companies in complex patent disputes. Has litigated patent cases in numerous jurisdictions, including the District of Delaware, the ITC, the PTAB, and the Federal Circuit. Experienced in cases involving standard-essential patents (SEPs) and FRAND licensing issues.
    • Lance Shapiro (Partner)
      • Office: New York, NY
      • Experience: Handles cases in major patent forums including district courts, the ITC, and the PTAB. Represents clients throughout all phases of litigation, from pre-suit investigations through appeals, and has managed complex matters across diverse technologies such as industrial systems, consumer electronics, and automotive components.
    • Natalie Attalla (Attorney)
      • Office: Menlo Park, CA
      • Specific detailed patent litigation experience for Natalie Attalla in public search results is limited, but she is listed as counsel.
    • Note on firm transition: Several attorneys now at Sheppard Mullin, including James L. Davis and Kevin Post, were previously with Ropes & Gray LLP and moved to Sheppard Mullin in September 2025. Given the filing date of this case (April 2025), it is highly probable that these attorneys transitioned their representation of Apple to Sheppard Mullin.
  • Ropes & Gray LLP (Likely served at the outset of the case, some attorneys may have transitioned to Sheppard Mullin)

    • S. Lara Ameri (Associate)
      • Office: Boston, MA (as of December 2022)
      • Experience: Litigation associate representing clients in patent, copyright, trademark, false advertising, trade secret, and contract disputes across various fields, including wireless technology, telecommunications, e-commerce, and software. Has experience in district court and appellate litigation.
    • Allen S. Cross (Associate)
      • Office: Washington, D.C. (as of 2025, previously Covington & Burling)
      • Experience: Experienced in intellectual property litigation, guiding clients in offensive and defensive IP strategies across technical fields including semiconductor fabrication, LEDs, and medical devices. Has successfully litigated in federal district courts, the Federal Circuit, the PTAB, and the ITC. Previously a patent examiner at the USPTO.
    • James L. Davis, Jr. (Partner)
      • Office: East Palo Alto, CA / Silicon Valley (moved to Sheppard Mullin Silicon Valley in Sep 2025)
      • Experience: Focuses on high-stakes intellectual property litigation at the Federal Circuit, district courts, and PTAB. Serves as lead counsel in various proceedings. Has represented clients across a broad range of technologies, including semiconductors, analog circuits, wireless technology, and consumer electronics. Litigated over 150 post-grant proceedings.
    • Andrew Radsch (Partner)
      • Office: San Francisco, CA (moved to Munger, Tolles & Olson in Nov 2025)
      • Experience: Specializes in complex patent and trade secret disputes in federal courts, at the PTAB, and at the ITC. Advises on litigation matters across industries and technologies including network security, wireless communications, cloud computing, streaming media, and semiconductors.
    • Fan (Frances) Zhang (Attorney)
      • Office location and specific detailed patent litigation experience for Frances Zhang are not readily available in the provided search snippets, beyond her being listed as counsel for Apple.
  • Walker Stevens Cannom LLP

    • Bethany Stevens (Partner)
      • Office: Los Angeles, CA
      • Experience: Represents companies in intellectual property and business disputes, with broad litigation experience in matters involving patent infringement, antitrust claims, false advertising, and unfair competition. Advises on general corporate governance and IP issues.
    • Hannah Cannom (Partner)
      • Office: Los Angeles, CA
      • Experience: Represents companies in intellectual property and business disputes, with an emphasis on patent litigation. Has extensive litigation and appellate experience. Was on the trial team that successfully defended Apple against patent infringement claims by NetAirus Technologies, resulting in a "Top Defense Verdict of 2013."

Local Counsel

  • Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
    • David Ellis Moore (Partner)
      • Office: Wilmington, DE
      • Experience: Potter Anderson attorneys serve as lead or Delaware counsel in a substantial number of patent and trademark cases in the District of Delaware. The firm represents both plaintiffs and defendants in intellectual property disputes across various technologies, including computer and microprocessor technology.
    • Bindu Ann George Palapura (Partner)
      • Office: Wilmington, DE
      • Experience: Similar to Mr. Moore, as a partner at Potter Anderson, Ms. Palapura is involved in intellectual property litigation within the District of Delaware.
    • Andrew Mark Moshos (Attorney)
      • Office: Wilmington, DE
      • Note: Andrew Moshos filed a notice of withdrawal in this case on May 22, 2026.