Hundreds of patent infringement cases are filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California every year, making it one of the most popular patent venues nationwide. One hotly contested issue arising early in patent litigation is whether district court judges should stay patent infringement cases to allow co-pending inter partes reviews (IPRs) in the patent office to adjudicate patent validity before jury trials.

The Central District has experienced a recent shift in deciding these disputes, now waiting until after an initial decision by the patent office to decide whether to stay the case. This timeline can have a significant impact on patent litigation, often speeding times to trial and making the Central District a venue with strategic importance for patent owners.

What’s an IPR and Why Do Courts Stay Related Patent Litigation?