I am guessing their leases kept them there. It would have cost more to break their leases then fight litigation. I am guessing they are at a point where the leases are up or the litigation got more costly than breaking the lease.
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Apple Plans to Close Stores in Eastern District of Texas in Fight Against Patent Trolls [Updated]
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I am guessing their leases kept them there. It would have cost more to break their leases then fight litigation. I am guessing they are at a point where the leases are up or the litigation got more costly than breaking the lease.
FWIW closing those two stores didn't accomplish what they wanted anyway. The judge for the Western District has already broadcast they're open for patent litigation business. That western area encompasses Apple's brand new Austin tech center so the chances of it closing are small.
There's already infringement cases filed in the new favorite venue and more will be piling on.
There's already infringement cases filed in the new favorite venue and more will be piling on.
Austin Texas is in Travis County, Travis is in the Western Court District of Texas. So I’m not sure where you got your information
The goal wasn’t to prevent patent lawsuits. The goal was to prevent them in EDTex. Mission accomplished.
I keep wondering if the courts in East Texas are on the take from people who file the suits and also if the juries get paid by the winner?? Judges everywhere seem open to bribes and juries are just ordinary people and likely to be open to it.
No, they are not.
Plaintiff’s generally get to decide where patent suits are filed (subject to recently firmed-up restrictions). If a district wants to get a lot of patent lawsuits (which can help the economy due to lots of visiting lawyers, witnesses, support personnel, etc.) they can therefore setup a system friendly to plaintiffs, so that plaintiff’s will choose to sue there.
The Western District judge is known to be patentee friendly just as is the judge in the Eastern District.
"Mission Accomplished" is probably appropo. We know how that worked out for Mr. Bush and I expect this one will be equally ineffective.
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I'm confused. Isn't that what I said?
Not sure what you are talking about. There are MANY western district judges. Since you think there is only one, it seems “is known” might be incorrect.
https://www.txwd.uscourts.gov/judges-information/judges-directory-biographies/index.html
Alan Albright....
A relatively short explainer as you don't seem to be aware of it;
https://www.wacotrib.com/news/court...cle_9cc6d86c-8dfc-5fb6-800e-917dbd0107e3.html
Before Judge Albright’s appointment there had been only 10 patent litigation cases filed in Waco during the entire history of that division and over several years. Since the Honorable Judge Albright took over the Waco bench just a few short months ago there have already been 24 NEW patent litigation cases filed.
EDIT: Perfect timing to prove my point. Global Foundries just upped the patent case count in West Texas. A LOT.
14 cases and counting so far in the past day or so and targeting Apple among several others.
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And another patent suited filled against Apple this week, an OLED patent aggregator having an issue with them. Guess where it was filed?
West Texas District Court: The new East Texas.
Still think "mission accomplished" when Apple closed their store in the Eastern District to avoid patent suits like this one in a patentee-friendly venue?