Piney Woods Mobility LLC v. T-Mobile USA, Inc.

Piney Woods Mobility LLC, identified as a frequent filer and likely a Non-Practicing Entity (NPE) or Patent Assertion Entity (PAE), has initiated patent infringement litigation against T-Mobile USA, Inc., a major wireless carrier. The lawsuit, filed on February 13, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, alleges that T-Mobile's "Family Mode" ecosystem and its associated devices infringe upon six patents related to two-way position information sharing technology. The accused product, T-Mobile Family Mode, is a service that enables parental controls, real-time location tracking, and management of children's online activities across various connected devices, a foundational concept for modern family safety applications.

The six patents asserted by Piney Woods Mobility LLC are:

• U.S. Patent No. 9,615,204, "Techniques for Communication Within Closed Groups of Mobile Devices," which describes a system for exchanging GPS or other position data between wireless devices for purposes such as group activities or child location monitoring, primarily within defined "Buddy Lists."
• U.S. Patent No. 8,712,441, "Methods and Systems for Temporarily Sharing Position Data Between Mobile-Device Users," which claims methods and systems for setting up and symmetrically sharing position data between two mobile devices.
• U.S. Patent No. 9,031,581, "Apparatus and Method for Obtaining Content on a Cellular Wireless Device Based on Proximity to Other Wireless Devices," covering methods and apparatuses for a device to transmit content based on its proximity to other devices.
• U.S. Patent No. 9,185,522, "Apparatus and Method to Transmit Content to a Cellular Wireless Device Based on Proximity to Other Wireless Devices," which also claims methods and apparatuses for a device to transmit content based on its proximity to other devices, focusing on device-side logic for managing location-based content exchange.
• U.S. Patent No. 9,253,616, "Apparatus and Method for Obtaining Content on a Cellular Wireless Device Based on Proximity," claiming apparatuses and methods for obtaining content based on proximity to other devices, with a focus on server-side processing of location information.
• U.S. Patent No. 9,736,618, "Methods and Systems for Temporarily Sharing Position Data Between Mobile-Device Users," which, similar to the '441 patent, claims methods and systems for temporarily sharing position data between mobile devices, focusing on establishing and managing such relationships.

The case is proceeding in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, a venue historically favored by patent plaintiffs, including NPEs, due to its plaintiff-friendly local rules, judges, and juries. While the specific judge for the T-Mobile case (2:26-cv-00123) is not explicitly stated in the immediate search results, related cases filed by Piney Woods Mobility on the same day against AT&T and Verizon (2:26-cv-00121 and 2:26-cv-00124) are assigned to District Judge Rodney Gilstrap, making it highly probable he is also assigned to this case. This litigation is notable as part of a broader assertion campaign by Piney Woods Mobility LLC, which filed similar lawsuits against other major telecommunications companies (AT&T and Verizon) and technology companies (Samsung and Apple) around the same time, targeting widely adopted location-sharing and parental control services. The plaintiff also alleges that T-Mobile had actual or constructive notice of the patent family since at least September 2010, forming a basis for a willful infringement claim. No parallel Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings were immediately evident from the search results.

The patent infringement litigation Piney Woods Mobility LLC v. T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Case No. 2:26-cv-00123) is in its early stages, having been filed on February 13, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Key developments to date are primarily related to the initial filing, with no public record of advanced proceedings like claim construction, trial, or final disposition. No parallel PTAB proceedings directly involving these patents and parties have been identified through public web searches.

Here's a chronological summary of the legal developments:

Filing & Initial Pleadings

• 2026-02-13: Complaint Filed. Piney Woods Mobility LLC filed a complaint against T-Mobile USA, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The complaint alleges that T-Mobile's Family Mode ecosystem and associated devices infringe U.S. Patent No. 9,615,204 and five other related patents: U.S. Patent Nos. 8,712,441, 9,031,581, 9,185,522, 9,253,616, and 9,736,618. The plaintiff also alleges willful infringement, asserting that T-Mobile has had actual or constructive notice of the patent family since at least September 2010. This lawsuit is part of a series of patent infringement lawsuits filed by Piney Woods Mobility LLC against major wireless carriers and device manufacturers, including AT&T, Verizon, and Samsung Electronics, on the same date and concerning similar location-sharing technologies.
• Answer & Counterclaims: As of June 4, 2026, specific details regarding T-Mobile's answer or any counterclaims are not publicly available through general web search queries. Given the recent filing date, these initial pleadings are likely either recently filed, pending, or under seal.

Pre-trial Motions of Substance

• No substantive pre-trial motions, such as motions to dismiss, transfer, or stay pending IPR, have been publicly reported or reached a decision at this early stage of the litigation.

Claim Construction (Markman) Outcomes

• The case has not yet reached the claim construction (Markman) stage, which typically occurs later in patent litigation.

Discovery Milestones with Strategic Significance

• No specific discovery milestones or orders with strategic significance have been publicly reported.

Trial Events, Verdict, and Post-Trial Motions

• The case has not proceeded to trial, verdict, or post-trial motions.

Settlement, Dismissal, Judgment, or Appeal

• There has been no publicly reported settlement, dismissal, judgment, or appeal in this active litigation.

Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings on the Asserted Patents

• A search of the USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) records using the asserted patent numbers (US9615204, US8712441, US9031581, US9185522, US9253616, US9736618) and party names (Piney Woods Mobility LLC, T-Mobile USA, Inc.) did not identify any instituted or pending Inter Partes Review (IPR) or Post-Grant Review (PGR) proceedings directly involving these specific patents and parties. While T-Mobile USA, Inc. has been involved as a petitioner in other IPR proceedings for different patents, no such actions have been identified for the patents asserted by Piney Woods Mobility LLC in this case.

The search results indicate that while the case Piney Woods Mobility LLC v. T-Mobile USA, Inc. (2:26-cv-00123) itself hasn't garnered extensive individual press coverage, it is part of a broader litigation campaign by Piney Woods Mobility LLC against several major tech and telecom companies.

Specifically, Piney Woods Mobility LLC is identified as a frequent filer and Non-Practicing Entity (NPE) that initiated patent infringement lawsuits in February 2026 against T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Apple, and Samsung, asserting patents related to two-way position information sharing technology. The plaintiff describes these patents as "foundational" to "two way position information sharing technology". The complaints target various services within the carriers' mobile networks, as well as mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and earbuds from companies like Apple and Samsung. The lawsuit against T-Mobile, like others in the campaign, alleges willful infringement, claiming T-Mobile had actual or constructive notice of the patent family since at least September 2010.

While there is no specific reporting on damages sought or awarded in the T-Mobile case, a related article by RPX Empower on February 28, 2026, details the scope of Piney Woods Mobility's campaign, noting the simultaneous filings against multiple industry giants. Another analysis mentions that all patents-in-suit are now expired, which could influence the ongoing litigation, potentially limiting the scope of injunctive relief and focusing on past damages. R. David Donoghue's "February 2026 Retail Patent Litigation Report" also lists Piney Woods Mobility among active NPEs in February 2026, highlighting the trend of such entities targeting major retailers and their supply chains.

The broader context of these lawsuits suggests that Piney Woods Mobility is strategically asserting its patent portfolio against a wide range of companies offering location-sharing and parental control services. The lack of specific, detailed news coverage for the T-Mobile case alone, beyond its initial filing and its inclusion in the wider campaign, is common for cases in their early stages, especially when part of a larger, multi-defendant patent assertion effort. No analyst takes, executive statements, or industry reactions specifically about the T-Mobile case have been widely reported in the search results.

Sources

• rpxcorp.com
• exparte.com
• retailpatentlitigation.com
• exparte.com
• retailpatentlitigation.com

Based on available information, the plaintiff Piney Woods Mobility LLC is represented by attorneys from Garteiser Honea, PLLC.

The following attorneys have appeared on behalf of Piney Woods Mobility LLC in related patent infringement cases, and are likely to be involved in Piney Woods Mobility LLC v. T-Mobile USA, Inc.:

• Christopher A. Honea

  • Role: Likely lead counsel. He is listed as filing documents in related cases.
  • Firm: Garteiser Honea, PLLC
  • Office Location: While specific office locations for Garteiser Honea, PLLC are not directly stated in the search results, the firm appears to be active in patent litigation in the Eastern and Western Districts of Texas.
  • Relevant Experience: Christopher Honea has been identified as counsel for Piney Woods Mobility LLC in multiple patent infringement lawsuits in Texas federal courts, including against Apple Inc. and Verizon Communications, Inc., indicating significant experience in patent litigation for plaintiffs.

• Randall T. Garteiser

  • Role: Likely lead counsel. He is listed as counsel for Piney Woods Mobility LLC in a related case.
  • Firm: Garteiser Honea, PLLC
  • Office Location: (See above for firm location.)
  • Relevant Experience: Randall Garteiser is also identified as counsel for Piney Woods Mobility LLC in patent infringement actions, suggesting substantial experience in this field.

• M. Scott Fuller

  • Role: Counsel. He is listed as representing Piney Woods Mobility LLC in a related case.
  • Firm: Garteiser Honea, PLLC
  • Office Location: (See above for firm location.)
  • Relevant Experience: M. Scott Fuller is listed as representing Piney Woods Mobility LLC in patent litigation, indicating experience in patent infringement cases.

The information available suggests that Garteiser Honea, PLLC, serves as the primary counsel for Piney Woods Mobility LLC in its patent enforcement efforts.

Based on publicly available information, the specific counsel of record representing T-Mobile USA, Inc. in Piney Woods Mobility LLC v. T-Mobile USA, Inc., case number 2:26-cv-00123, has not been explicitly identified in the direct search results for this case. Direct access to the official court docket via PACER would provide definitive counsel listings, which is beyond the scope of this web search.

However, based on filings in a closely related case by the same plaintiff and T-Mobile's history of patent litigation in the Eastern District of Texas, the following attorneys and firms are likely involved in defending T-Mobile:

• Matthew Sean Yungwirth

  • Role: Likely lead or significant counsel.
  • Firm & Office Location: Not definitively identified from the search results in this context, but his appearance for "All Defendants" in a parallel case suggests a role that could be either in-house or from a major defense firm.
  • Relevant Patent Litigation Experience: Matthew Sean Yungwirth filed a "NOTICE of Attorney Appearance" on behalf of "All Defendants" in Piney Woods Mobility LLC v. AT&T Inc. et al, case number 2:26-cv-00121, another patent infringement case filed by Piney Woods Mobility LLC in the Eastern District of Texas on the same day as the T-Mobile case.

• Deron Dacus

  • Role: Likely local counsel or co-counsel.
  • Firm & Office Location: The Dacus Firm, Tyler, Texas.
  • Relevant Patent Litigation Experience: Deron Dacus of The Dacus Firm served as co-counsel for T-Mobile and Ericsson in General Access Solutions Ltd. v. T-Mobile USA Inc., et al., No. 2:23-cv-00158 (E.D. Tex.), a patent infringement case where a complete defense verdict was issued. His firm is based in the Eastern District of Texas, making him a frequent local counsel for out-of-state firms.

While Alston & Bird has also successfully defended T-Mobile in other Eastern District of Texas patent cases, there is no direct indication from available public searches that they are specifically representing T-Mobile in Piney Woods Mobility LLC v. T-Mobile USA, Inc., 2:26-cv-00123.