It’s not often that patent and antitrust laws collide. But in a recent instance where that happened to Samsung Electronics Co., Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton’s Michael Scarborough pulled out an important victory.
Samsung and other Android smartphone makers had been targeted by Cascades Computer Innovation LLC, a descendant of the “original patent troll.” Cascades was upset that the companies were working with RPX Corp., a self-described “defensive patent aggregator” that buys up patents and licenses them to technology heavyweights such as Samsung. This strategy aims to insulate the technology companies from predatory patent suits by nonpracticing entities like Cascades. Cascades accused Samsung and others of violating the Sherman Act by conspiring to boycott it. On Tuesday, Oakland U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers threw out the suit.
