Zodiac Pool Systems LLC et al. v. Wybotics, Co. Ltd. f/k/a Tianjin Wangyuan Environmental Protection and Technology Co., Ltd.

This patent infringement litigation involves two prominent players in the global pool and spa equipment industry. Plaintiff Zodiac Pool Systems LLC, along with Zodiac Pool Care Europe, are part of Fluidra, a multinational company that designs, manufactures, and distributes innovative equipment for pools, including robotic cleaners. Defendant Wybotics, Co. Ltd., formerly known as Tianjin Wangyuan Environmental Protection and Technology Co., Ltd., is a Chinese manufacturer specializing in robotic pool cleaners. Wybotics is recognized as a significant player in the market, particularly for its cordless models, and sells products under its own "Wybot" and "Winny Pool Cleaner" brands, in addition to its original design manufacturing (ODM) business. The suit alleges that Wybotics' robotic pool cleaners infringe Zodiac's intellectual property. The primary patent at issue, 11880207, generally describes a pool cleaning system and method designed to automatically clean pool surfaces using images from a camera.

The case, 2:25-cv-00582, was filed on May 23, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, with Presiding Judge Rodney Gilstrap and Referring Judge Roy S. Payne. The Eastern District of Texas is a historically significant venue for patent litigation, often chosen by plaintiffs due to its reputation for efficient dockets and a perceived plaintiff-friendly environment. However, the case was removed from the court's active caseload as of December 3, 2025. This inactivation followed a decision in a related case, Wybotics Inc. et al v. Zodiac Pool Systems LLC et al (2:25-cv-08526) in the Central District of California, which was stayed pending the resolution of this Eastern District of Texas action.

This litigation is notable for several reasons, highlighting the intense competition within the robotic pool cleaner market. Wybotics is identified as the world's third-largest maker of robotic pool cleaners and the global leader in cordless models, making this a significant dispute between major industry players. Furthermore, patent 11880207, which is central to this case, is also the subject of at least two ongoing Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)—IPR2026-00201 initiated by Beatbot Technology USA Co Ltd and IPR2026-00160 initiated by Wybotics Co Ltd, both challenging the validity of the patent. This case also follows a prior Section 337 investigation at the International Trade Commission (ITC), Inv. No. 337-TA-1326, where Zodiac also accused Wybotics of infringing other patents related to robotic pool cleaners, an investigation from which Wybotics secured a voluntary dismissal. The parallel IPRs and the previous ITC action underscore Zodiac's broad strategy to enforce its intellectual property against competitors in this growing market segment.

The patent infringement litigation Zodiac Pool Systems LLC et al. v. Wybotics, Co. Ltd., Case No. 2:25-cv-00582, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on May 23, 2025. The case is currently inactive, having been removed from the court's active caseload as of December 3, 2025.

Here's a chronological summary of the key legal developments and outcome:

Filing & Initial Pleadings:

• May 23, 2025: Zodiac Pool Systems LLC and Zodiac Pool Care Europe filed the initial complaint against Wybotics, Co. Ltd., alleging patent infringement.
• September 22, 2025: Plaintiffs Zodiac Pool Systems LLC and Zodiac Pool Care Europe filed a first amended complaint, adding infringement claims pertaining to U.S. Patent No. 11,880,207, along with U.S. Patent Nos. 11,262,766 and 11,003,191, to the initial patents asserted.

Pre-Trial Motions & Case Status:

• December 3, 2025: The case was removed from the court's active caseload. This action in the Eastern District of Texas case (2:25-cv-00582) coincided with an order issued in a related declaratory judgment action, Wybotics Inc. et al. v. Zodiac Pool Systems LLC et al. (Case No. 2:25-cv-08526) in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. In that related case, the California court granted Wybotics' motion to stay, deferring to the Eastern District of Texas action as the first-filed infringement suit. The California court also directed its clerk to remove its case from the active caseload pending resolution in the Eastern District of Texas. While the prompt states the EDTX case itself was removed from the active caseload on this date, the cited docket entries from the California case suggest the stay in California was in favor of the Texas case. However, the consistent "inactive" status for the Texas case indicates an internal reason for its removal from the active docket. The precise reason for the EDTX case's inactive status is not fully detailed in the provided search snippets, but it aligns with a general pause in litigation, often awaiting related proceedings.

Parallel PTAB IPR Proceedings:

• November 25, 2025: Wybotics Co. Ltd. filed an Inter Partes Review (IPR) petition, IPR2026-00160, challenging the validity of U.S. Patent No. 11,880,207. The PTAB subsequently instituted review of this patent on April 14, 2026, and the proceeding is currently pending.
• January 26, 2026: Beatbot Technology USA Co Ltd filed a separate IPR petition, IPR2026-00201, also challenging U.S. Patent No. 11,880,207. This IPR proceeding is currently pending.

Due to the case's inactive status, it has not progressed to claim construction, discovery milestones, trial events, or a final judgment. Its current posture remains inactive, likely awaiting developments such as the outcome of the parallel IPR proceedings challenging the asserted patent.

Here is the identified counsel of record representing the plaintiff(s), Zodiac Pool Systems LLC and Zodiac Pool Care Europe, in Zodiac Pool Systems LLC et al. v. Wybotics, Co. Ltd. f/k/a Tianjin Wangyuan Environmental Protection and Technology Co., Ltd., Case No. 2:25-cv-00582, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas:

Steven Moore

• Role: Likely lead counsel or appearing counsel.
• Firm and Office Location: The specific firm and office location for Steven Moore in relation to this case are not immediately available from the provided search results. Further PACER review would be needed to confirm his firm affiliation on a specific docket entry.
• Relevant Patent Litigation Experience: Information regarding Steven Moore's specific patent litigation experience or notable past cases is not available in the provided search results. He is noted as filing documents on behalf of the plaintiffs in the docket.

Based on public web search results, the specific counsel of record representing defendant Wybotics, Co. Ltd. in Zodiac Pool Systems LLC et al. v. Wybotics, Co. Ltd. f/k/a Tianjin Wangyuan Environmental Protection and Technology Co., Ltd. (2:25-cv-00582 E.D. Tex.) has not been explicitly identified in the available docket information or related public records for this particular district court case. The case has been removed from the court's active caseload, which may limit the public availability of detailed attorney appearance information.

However, in a related Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) inter partes review (IPR) proceeding, IPR2026-00160, where Wybotics Co. Ltd. is the petitioner against Zodiac Pool Systems LLC concerning U.S. Patent No. 11,880,207 (one of the patents at issue in the district court case), Wybotics is represented by attorneys from Perkins Coie LLP.

While it is common for the same legal team to handle parallel district court litigation and PTAB proceedings, without a specific notice of appearance or other docket entry directly from the E.D. Texas case 2:25-cv-00582, these attorneys cannot be definitively named as counsel of record for the defendant in the district court action.

The Perkins Coie LLP attorneys listed in the related IPR for Wybotics include:

• Babak Tehranchi (Attorney) - Perkins Coie LLP.
• Bing Ai (Attorney) - Perkins Coie LLP.
• Kyle Canavera (Attorney) - Perkins Coie LLP.
• Wei Yuan (Attorney) - Perkins Coie LLP.

Perkins Coie LLP has a prominent patent litigation practice with experience in various major venues, including the Eastern District of Texas, and is recognized for its work in post-grant proceedings before the PTAB.