NPE litigation in the Automotive market sector during the first four months of 2020 was up nearly threefold from the same time period last year. Most recently, 21ST CENTURY GARAGE LLC and Sisvel International S.A. (d/b/a Sisvel Group) have taken aim at companies operating in the sector, but the year so far has seen new campaigns launched by plaintiffs ranging from relatively recent entrants to patent monetization (e.g., Quartz Auto Technologies, LLC) to established players (e.g., Conversant Wireless Licensing, S.à.r.l.), as well as additional cases filed in existing campaigns waged by inventor-controlled Omega Patents, L.L.C. and frequent plaintiff Leigh M. Rothschild. From wireless connectivity to more traditional automotive technologies, something about 2020 has drawn more litigation to the sector.

Inventor-controlled Engle Grange, LLC has filed suit against Ford (1:20-cv-00569), targeting the automaker’s provision of certain automobiles, including the Expedition, Explorer, Fusion, and Mustang, equipped with the Ford Intelligent Access and Push-Button Start system. At issue are features for unlocking and starting vehicles with a remote key fob. The plaintiff asserts three patents that generally relate to turning on the ignition system of an automobile by determining the present location of a key fob.