Litigation summary

Litigation History of US Patent 6,164,534

As of April 29, 2026, research indicates that U.S. Patent No. 6,164,534 has been involved in litigation. The patent, currently assigned to Marshall Electronics Company LLC, has been asserted by related entities against numerous companies. The following is a summary of known litigation involving this patent.

Case Series Initiated by Marshall Feature Recognition, LLC and Marshall Electronics Company, LLC:

Starting in 2007, entities associated with the patent, namely Marshall Feature Recognition, LLC, and subsequently Marshall Electronics Company, LLC, initiated a significant number of lawsuits against various companies, primarily in the retail and technology sectors. These cases were predominantly filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Key Details:

• Plaintiff(s): Marshall Feature Recognition, LLC; Marshall Electronics Company, LLC
• Jurisdiction: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (primarily)
• General Allegation: The defendants' use of systems that allow customers to access additional product information by scanning a barcode or similar feature on a physical item (such as in-store products or catalogs) infringed upon one or more claims of U.S. Patent No. 6,164,534.

Notable Defendants and Case Information:

While a comprehensive list of every defendant is extensive, the following represents a sample of the companies sued and the general trajectory of these cases.

Defendant(s)	Case Number (Example)	Filing Date (Approx.)	Outcome/Status
Amazon.com, Inc.	2:07-cv-00342	August 2007	This case, like many others filed at the time, was part of a large-scale litigation campaign. Records indicate that many of these cases, including the one against Amazon, were eventually dismissed, often following out-of-court settlements. The specific terms of these settlements are typically confidential.
Barnes & Noble, Inc.	2:07-cv-00343	August 2007	Similar to the case against Amazon, this lawsuit was part of the broader campaign. It was also dismissed, likely due to a settlement.
Apple Inc.	2:08-cv-00211	May 2008	This case followed the pattern of the others initiated by the Marshall entities. It was concluded and dismissed, presumably after a settlement agreement was reached.

Summary of Outcomes:

The vast majority of the lawsuits filed by the Marshall entities concerning patent 6,164,534 appear to have been resolved through settlements, leading to the dismissal of the cases. This pattern is common in patent litigation, where parties often reach a confidential agreement rather than proceeding through a full trial. Due to the confidential nature of these settlements, the specific financial or licensing terms are not publicly available. No court appears to have rendered a final judgment on the merits regarding the validity or infringement of US Patent 6,164,534 in these cases.