Stoic Ventures LLC, an affiliate of IP Valuation Partners LLC (IPVal), has filed its first litigation, asserting a single wireless communications patent (9,356,763) against ZTE (2:17-cv-00032) and Le Technology, Inc. (2:17-cv-00062), a California-based subsidiary of Chinese company LeEco. Both defendants are accused of infringement through the provision of Android smartphones offering LTE connectivity.

Since April 2015, a group of 11 NPEs managed by Nicolas J. Labbit have collectively filed over 250 patent infringement suits against operating companies. Each of the NPEs detailed in this report were incorporated in Texas in 2015 and launched their first and only litigation campaigns this year. Labbit appears to have formed a solo practice after working as an associate at Stevens Love, a small law firm in Longview, Texas that no longer exists. According to Texas State Bar records, Labbit graduated from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (now Texas A&M University School of Law) in May 2010.

Frequency Systems, LLC debuted its litigation campaign with 26 suits, targeting companies making or selling wireless routers. Defendants in the campaign include ASUSTek (2:15-cv-00684), Belkin (2:15-cv-00685), Cisco (2:15-cv-00687), HP (2:15-cv-00691), LG Electronics (2:15-cv-00696), Motorola Mobility (2:15-cv-00698), Sharp (2:15-cv-00701), and Western Digital (2:15-cv-00704). The cases assert a single patent, related to selection of multiple antennas (8,417,205). RPX reviewed the patent in an open market opportunity in August 2013 (Sun Mgmt LLC – OMA). Apacewave Technologies developed the patent-in-suit and assigned it to Sun Management in July 2012. Frequency Systems is the current owner of the asserted patent, although USPTO records do not show an assignment to the entity.