Blitzsafe Texas, LLC v. JVCKENWOOD Corporation DC

Blitzsafe Texas, LLC has extended the 2021 round of lawsuits in its long-running litigation campaign, adding Eastern District of Texas suits against Alps Alpine (Alps Electronics) (2:21-cv-00293), Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (2:21-cv-00294), Harley-Davidson (Harley-Davidson Motor Company) (2:21-cv-00295), and Samsung (Harman Becker Automotive Systems) (2:21-cv-00296). Those cases join May 2021 suits filed in the same district against Aptiv (f/k/a Delphi), Continental, EinCar Tech, JVC Kenwood, Marelli Europe, Namsung, Sony, and Zhejiang Geely (Volvo). All target automotive infotainment systems with two patents generally related to integrating mobile devices (e.g., CD players, smartphones, etc.) with a vehicle’s media system.

Blitzsafe Texas, LLC and GM have filed a third request to stay the 2019 case between the two, indicating that an additional 14 days are required to “finalize the settlement documents with a third-party supplier”. In late April, Eastern District of Texas Judge Rodney Gilstrap granted the request indicating that the “Court does not anticipate further extensions”. A dismissal there will end Blitzsafe’s entire wave of 2019 cases, which included now-settled suits against PACCAR, Stellantis (Fiat Chrysler, Maserati), and Unigroup (Navistar). However, a fresh Blitzsafe wave—of cases filed against Aptiv (f/k/a Delphi) (2:21-cv-00160), Continental (2:21-cv-00161), EinCar Tech (2:21-cv-00162), JVC Kenwood (2:21-cv-00163), Marelli Europe (2:21-cv-00164), Namsung (2:21-cv-00165), Sony (2:21-cv-00166), and Zhejiang Geely (Volvo) (2:21-cv-00167)—will keep this campaign, which targets integration of mobile devices into in-vehicle infotainment systems, stretching into its second decade.