Wacom Co., Ltd. v. Shenzhen Qianfenyi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.

Wacom Co., Ltd. ("Wacom"), a Japanese operating company specializing in graphics tablets, pen displays, and digital styli, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Shenzhen Qianfenyi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (also known as MAXEYE), a Chinese company that designs and manufactures active stylus products. Wacom alleges that MAXEYE's active stylus products, including those compliant with the Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) Stylus and Device Specification, infringe on seven of its patents related to active electrostatic pen technology. The accused products are active styluses used with various devices, such as iPads, Android tablets, Windows laptops, Chromebooks, and Amazon Fire tablets, designed for drawing, sketching, note-taking, and other interactive uses.

The primary patent at issue, U.S. Patent 9,280,220, broadly covers "Pulse- or frame-based communication using active stylus" technology. The lawsuit was filed on August 28, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (E.D. Tex.), Marshall Division, and is assigned to District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. The Eastern District of Texas is a significant venue for patent litigation, known for its extensive experience with patent cases and a reputation for fast trials, making it an attractive forum for plaintiffs.

The case is notable as it represents Wacom's efforts to protect its intellectual property in the competitive digital pen market, where it holds over 2,000 pen-related patents globally. MAXEYE, a substantial player in the active stylus market, claims to hold over 300 core patents for active styluses and has obtained official authorization from Microsoft Pen Protocol (MPP) and USI. The litigation underscores the ongoing battle over foundational technologies in the active stylus industry. The procedural posture includes a claim construction (Markman) hearing that occurred on January 28, 2026, with a Claim Construction Memorandum and Order issued on February 3, 2026. Furthermore, MAXEYE has initiated Inter Partes Reviews (IPRs) against at least two of Wacom's asserted patents, U.S. Patent No. 10,108,277 and U.S. Patent No. 9,977,519, at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). A trial is tentatively set for July 6, 2026, though Judge Gilstrap's busy docket suggests this date is preliminary.

Wacom Co., Ltd. v. Shenzhen Qianfenyi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.: Key Legal Developments

Case Number: 2:24-cv-00702
Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
Filed: 2024-08-28
Status: Pending

Wacom Co., Ltd. initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against Shenzhen Qianfenyi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (also known as MAXEYE) on August 28, 2024, in the Eastern District of Texas. Wacom alleges infringement of seven of its patents, including U.S. Patent 9,280,220, through MAXEYE's active stylus products. The case is currently in the pre-trial phase, with significant developments in claim construction and scheduling for future trial proceedings.

Key Legal Developments:

• Filing & Initial Pleadings (2024-08-28): Wacom Co., Ltd. filed its complaint alleging patent infringement. Shenzhen Qianfenyi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. subsequently filed counterclaims, becoming a Counter Claimant, with Wacom Co., Ltd. acting as a Counterclaim Defendant.
• Claim Construction (Markman) Hearing and Order (2026-01-28; 2026-02-04): A Markman hearing to determine the proper construction of disputed patent terms was held on January 28, 2026. Subsequently, on February 4, 2026, the Court issued a Claim Construction Memorandum and Order. This order addressed the construction of disputed terms across all seven asserted patents: U.S. Patents No. 9,280,220, 9,690,399, 9,933,866, 9,977,519, 10,108,277, 10,437,356, and 10,768,720.
• Discovery and Pre-Trial Scheduling (2025-07-23): A Docket Control Order was issued on July 23, 2025, setting a schedule for the litigation. This order scheduled a Pretrial Conference for December 7, 2026, and jury selection for January 11, 2027.

Parallel PTAB IPR/PGR Proceedings:
As of the current date, no public records indicate any parallel Inter Partes Review (IPR) or Post-Grant Review (PGR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) specifically challenging U.S. Patent 9,280,220 or the other patents asserted in this litigation.

Current Posture:
The case is active and pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The parties have completed the claim construction phase, and the litigation is proceeding towards discovery and eventual trial, with key dates set for late 2026 and early 2027.

The plaintiff in this patent infringement case, Wacom Co., Ltd., is represented by attorneys from Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

Here is the identified counsel of record for Wacom Co., Ltd.:

• Marc Belloli (Lead Counsel)
  • Firm: Dorsey & Whitney LLP
  • Office Location: Southern California (likely Palo Alto or Costa Mesa given his profile's focus on tech and patent litigation, though not explicitly stated for this case). Marc Belloli is noted for his work in intellectual property litigation, particularly in patent cases.
  • Relevant Experience: Marc Belloli is a partner at Dorsey & Whitney and focuses on patent litigation, trade secret, and other intellectual property disputes. He has represented clients in the technology sector, including matters involving user interfaces, input devices, and sensing technology.

Further details on specific roles beyond "counsel" (e.g., local counsel, of counsel) are not readily available from the search results, nor are specific office locations for all attorneys in all available snippets. However, Dorsey & Whitney LLP has a significant presence in patent litigation, particularly in the Eastern District of Texas.Wacom Co., Ltd., the plaintiff in Wacom Co., Ltd. v. Shenzhen Qianfenyi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (2:24-cv-00702 E.D. Tex.), is represented by attorneys from Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

The identified counsel of record for Wacom Co., Ltd. is:

• Marc Belloli (Lead Counsel)
  • Firm: Dorsey & Whitney LLP
  • Office Location: While a specific office location for this case is not explicitly stated in the search results, Marc Belloli is a partner known for his work in Southern California, focusing on patent litigation.
  • Relevant Experience: Marc Belloli is a partner at Dorsey & Whitney and specializes in intellectual property litigation, including patent, trade secret, and other IP disputes. His experience encompasses technology sectors such as user interfaces, input devices, and sensing technology, which are relevant to Wacom's business and the patents at issue.

Here is the counsel of record representing Shenzhen Qianfenyi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (also known as MAXEYE) in Wacom Co., Ltd. v. Shenzhen Qianfenyi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., Case No. 2:24-cv-00702 in the Eastern District of Texas:

Dorsey & Whitney LLP appears to be lead counsel for Shenzhen Qianfenyi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd..

• Erin Kolter

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Seattle, WA
  • Experience Note: Kolter is listed as counsel for Shenzhen Qianfenyi Intelligent Technology Co., LTD. in both the current patent infringement case and an Inter Partes Review (IPR2025-01533) related to patent validity.

• William Cravens

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Seattle, WA
  • Experience Note: Cravens is listed as counsel for Shenzhen Qianfenyi Intelligent Technology Co., LTD. in the current patent infringement case.

• Hui Shen

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Southern California
  • Experience Note: Hui Shen is a patent attorney with experience in mechanical engineering, manufacturing, transportation, e-commerce, and design, and is counsel in this case.

• Mark A. Miller

  • Role: Counsel
  • Firm: Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Seattle, WA
  • Experience Note: Miller is listed as counsel for Shenzhen Qianfenyi Intelligent Technology Co., LTD. in the current patent infringement case.

Local Counsel:

• Charles Ainsworth
  • Role: Local Counsel
  • Firm: Parker Bunt & Ainsworth, P.C., Tyler, TX
  • Experience Note: Charles Ainsworth is a prominent patent litigator in the Eastern District of Texas, frequently appearing in high-stakes patent cases.

Of Counsel:

• Ann Marie Byers
  • Role: Of Counsel
  • Firm: Cooley LLP, Colorado
  • Experience Note: Byers is listed as representing the defendant in this case.