Hardy Parrish Yang

Hardy Parrish Yang, LLP is an Austin, Texas-based law firm that describes itself as a team of experienced trial attorneys specializing in intellectual property and business litigation. While a specific firm size or AmLaw/Chambers ranking is not widely publicized, its recognition in the 2020 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" suggests it operates as a specialized IP litigation boutique rather than a large, full-service firm. The firm's attorneys have handled cases in various jurisdictions across the United States, including California, New York, Delaware, Virginia, and Florida.

The firm demonstrates experience in patent litigation concerning multimedia streaming and audio technology, as evidenced by its representation in Google LLC v. Personal Audio, LLC, which involved patents related to audio program and message distribution systems and sequencing of audio recordings. Attorneys associated with the firm possess a broader technical background, with experience in technologies such as computer hardware and software, communication networks, digital signal processing, and semiconductors.

Hardy Parrish Yang primarily represents patent owners in enforcing and defending their intellectual property rights. In its notable engagement in Google LLC v. Personal Audio, LLC, the firm acted as lead counsel for Personal Audio, LLC, a patent owner that initiated district court infringement litigation against Google LLC and later defended its patentability in Federal Circuit appeals stemming from inter partes review (IPR) proceedings.

A prominent case for the firm was its representation of Personal Audio, LLC in litigation against Google LLC. In the Federal Circuit appeal, the court affirmed some of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's (PTAB) non-obviousness decisions, upholding the patentability of some claims from Personal Audio's '076 and '178 patents. In the underlying district court case, a jury initially found Google liable for infringement, awarding $15.1 million in damages; however, this verdict was subsequently overturned by a judge who granted Google judgment as a matter of law, citing insufficient evidence for direct infringement on certain claim limitations.

The firm has experience with PTAB proceedings, particularly in defending patent owners through Federal Circuit appeals originating from inter partes review (IPR) decisions. Partner Minghui Yang has significant experience in PTAB proceedings, having served as lead or backup counsel on numerous IPRs and receiving recognition for her performance in representing patent owners.

Key partners in the firm's patent litigation practice include Minghui Yang and William M. Parrish. Minghui Yang brings extensive experience in PTAB proceedings and a broad technical background encompassing computer hardware and software, semiconductors, and wireless communications. William M. Parrish handles a wide range of intellectual property litigation matters, including patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyright, for both plaintiffs and defendants. While Victor G. Hardy was a lead counsel in Google LLC v. Personal Audio, LLC, he is no longer listed as an attorney with the firm as of July 2019.