Estech Systems, Inc.

Estech Systems IP LLC has followed up its separate December 2023 complaints against 3CX, HP (Plantronics, Polycom), NEC, and Yealink Network Technology with new ones filed separately against 8x8 (3:24-cv-02522), Dialpad (3:24-cv-02524), Freshworks (3:24-cv-02525), Intermedia.net (3:24-cv-02526), Ooma (3:24-cv-02527), Sangoma Technologies (2:24-cv-00285), Zoom Video Communications (3:24-cv-02528), and Zultys (3:24-cv-02529). The asserted patents are broadly directed to various aspects of Voice over IP (VoIP) technology, such as caller ID, call quality monitoring, voicemail systems, and phone directories.

Estech Systems IP LLC has filed its first cases since January 2022, suing 3CX (8:23-cv-02968), NEC (3:23-cv-02828), Plantronics (Polycom) (6:23-cv-00876), and Yealink Network Technology (2:23-cv-00623), in four separate districts. The NEC case was filed in the Northern District of Texas, which requires plaintiffs to file a certificate of interested parties; there, Estech Systems IP has not done so, disclosing only that Estech Systems, Inc. (Estech) is its parent. District Judge Jason K. Pulliam has been initially set to preside over the NEC case in the Western District of Texas, but earlier suits were assigned to Judge Alan D. Albright, whom Estech contended, in a recent appeal, wrongly granted another defendant summary judgment of noninfringement. Meanwhile, the Middle District of Florida suit against 3CX has already been dismissed, without prejudice and with leave to amend, because the “complaint constitutes an impermissible shotgun pleading”.

Estech Systems IP LLC, a subsidiary of Estech Systems, Inc. (Estech), has revived the litigation campaign that Estech launched in April 2020, suing 99 Cent Only Stores, Abbott Laboratories, BMW, Carvana, Charles Schwab, Conduent, Extra Space, First American Financial (Republic Title of Texas), Fiserv, Liberty Mutual, Marriott, McKesson, Petco, Public Storage, Primoris Services, Randstad, SoFi, and Toyota in separate Eastern District of Texas suits. The asserted patents are broadly directed to various aspects of Voice over IP (VoIP) technology (e.g., Caller ID, call quality monitoring, voicemail systems, and phone directories), with the defendants accused of infringement through the provision or use of VoIP products.

Jury selection for the earliest cases filed by telecommunications equipment manufacturer Estech Systems, Inc., in April 2020, is slated for August 2 in the courtroom of District Judge Rodney Gilstrap. The defendants in that consolidated action—BBVA, BOKF, Hilltop Holdings (PlainsCapital Bank), Target, and Wells Fargo—have filed a second motion for summary judgment of noninfringement, arguing “license and release” under an apparent agreement between Estech and Microsoft. Meanwhile, Cisco (together with subsidiary Cisco Technology) has sued Estech, also in the Eastern District of Texas, asserting affirmative patent infringement claims, as well as seeking declaratory judgments of noninfringement of four VoIP patents held by Estech.

Telecommunications equipment manufacturer Estech Systems, Inc. has expanded its sole litigation campaign, begun this past April, with new suits suit against Burnco Rock Products (Burnco Texas) (2:20-cv-00275), Burrow Global (2:20-cv-00276), Hancock Whitney (Hancock Whitney Bank) (2:20-cv-00277), and U.S. Dermatology Medical Management (d/b/a U.S. Dermatology Partners) (2:20-cv-00278) in the Eastern District of Texas and against Energy Transfer (6:20-cv-00773), Gensler Architecture (M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates) (6:20-cv-00774), Howard Midstream Energy Partners (6:20-cv-00777), HWC Wire & Cable (6:20-cv-00776), and SWBC Mortgage (6:20-cv-00778) in the Western District of Texas. Each defendant is accused of infringing various combinations of four Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) patents through their respective VoIP and voicemail systems.