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Newegg Sues Patent Troll After Troll Dropped Its Own Lawsuit (arstechnica.com)

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the everyone-sue dept.

WheezyJoe writes: Not satisfied that a patent troll dropped its lawsuit against them, Newegg has sued the troll. So-called "patent holding company" Minero Digital sought to exact royalty payments on a wide range of USB hubs, suing, among others, Newegg's subsidiary Rosewill. But the "non-practicing entity" dropped its East Texas lawsuit against Rosewill within days of getting a call from the Newegg's lawyer. However, Minero dismissed its Texas lawsuit "without prejudice", meaning it can refile the case at a time of its choosing. So, Newegg filed its own lawsuit against Minero in Los Angeles federal court, asking a judge to lay down a ruling that Minero's case against Rosewill is baseless. Says Newegg's Chief Legal Officer Lee Cheng, "Minero's case does not have merit, and its patent is not only expired but would suck even if it wasn't expired. Now that they have started the litigation, it would be irresponsible for Newegg to not finish it."

6 of 174 comments (clear)

  1. Idea for anti-troll group by the_povinator · · Score: 5, Interesting
    A group of companies should form a NATO-like pact, binding the companies to employ scorched-earth tactics whenever sued by a patent troll.

    Carthage must be destroyed!

    --
    The .sig is dead, and I believe I had a hand in killing it.
    1. Re:Idea for anti-troll group by MightyMartian · · Score: 5, Insightful

      And its fields salted. Defeat of patent trolls shouldn't be the object. Utter and complete destruction and the disbarment of their lawyers should be the proper goal. Don't just defeat those evil sociopathic monsters, make sure they're living in a gutter after it's done.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  2. Re:LOL by dreamchaser · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They are not asking for any financial compensation. They are doing it a) because they can and b) because the troll had it dismissed without prejudice, meaning they could file again.

  3. Finally, a lawyer I can understand! by QuietLagoon · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... its patent is not only expired but would suck even if it wasn't expired....

  4. Re:LOL by alvinrod · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It also serves as warning for other patent trolls to stay away from Newegg because they will fight back. Even if it costs them money to continue with this lawsuit, it potentially saves them significantly more in the future from all of the lawsuits that they don't have to deal with as a result of any ruling that results from this case or even showing that they have no problem standing up to the bullies of the patent world.

  5. Re:Furthermore by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 5, Funny

    Once the lawyers have been disbarred, all parties involved should then be brought on criminal charges of extortion:

    The obtaining of property from another induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, or under color of official right.

    You're obviously not a lawyer. That's both a criticism of your suggested legal tactics and an endorsement of you as a human being.

    --
    Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.