By now this general pattern has become familiar: the formation of an LLC in a state where a monetization outfit would like to file suit, the acquisition from an operating company of a patent portfolio over which the outfit would like to sue, the procurement of financial backing for the litigation, and ultimately, one or more complaints filed in US district court in that state over that portfolio with that funding. While some monetization teams are more open about such efforts, others seek to obscure their own identities as well as the identity of their funder. A recent assignment, and its parallels to others, raises questions about whether an unnamed team in the latter camp has been operating over the past year or so.

AutoNavigare LLC has filed suit against two subsidiaries of Toyota (2:24-cv-00439) in the Eastern District of Texas over the provision of certain Toyota- and Lexus-branded vehicles with navigation systems, targeting various navigation features and the support for Apple CarPlay. In early 2023, Forvia (Faurecia Clarion Electronics) moved 17 US patents, in separate April and May assignments, to AutoNavigare, which has now filed suit over five of those received assets.