On February 22, 2021, VLSI Technology LLC and Intel Corp. initiated the nation’s first in-person patent jury trial since November 2020. In an article discussing the dispute, Jackson Walker partner Wasif Qureshi shared insights on the significance of the suit and why patent cases are being filed in Waco, Texas.
In the article, Wasif noted:
“The VLSI/Intel Waco trial will be closely watched for a number of reasons. VLSI and its affiliate Fortress Investment Group are embroiled in patent and antitrust disputes with Intel in courts around the U.S. and abroad. VLSI’s damages claims against Intel amount well into the many billions of dollars.
Perhaps more so though than the VLSI/Intel war itself, the trial will be closely eyed for what it may mean for future patent cases in Waco. It will be interesting to see how the various Covid-19 safety precautions Judge Albright has put into place will play out. If the trial is fairly seamless with all the safeguards, we can expect a faster clip of trials in Waco even as the pandemic continues. Judge Albright has only held one patent jury trial before this, a few months ago where Roku obtained a defense verdict of non-infringement. We will be looking to see if any trend lines emerge from the verdict in the VLSI/Intel trial as to how Waco juries see patent issues.
Some of the thought behind plaintiffs filing patent cases in Waco was that Waco juries may be more like Eastern District of Texas juries, which have awarded significant damages in many patent cases. If VLSI does prevail, the amount of damages awarded by the jury in relation to the billions VLSI is seeking will become a consideration for Waco patent litigants going forward. A sizable verdict may further accelerate the flurry of patents cases being filed in Waco. Also, I’m pretty sure that this will be the first patent trial ever that anyone in the world can call in and listen to (per Judge Albright’s Feb. 10 order in the case).”
To read more, view The Texas Lawbook article “Highly-anticipated VLSI v. Intel Trial Begins. Here’s Why it’s Important” (subscription required). For insights about the shift in patent litigation caseloads in Texas, view the following articles:
- “Violate My Patents? See You in Texas | The Texas Lawbook”
- John Jackson to Speak at IPWatchdog CON2020 on “Litigating Patents in Texas”
- Law360 Quotes Wasif Qureshi on Impact of the TC Heartland Decision
Meet Wasif
Wasif Qureshi practices intellectual property law, with a particular focus on patent litigation. Wasif delivers winning results for his clients, drawing from his engineering background and extensive experience across all phases of litigation. He counsels a diverse range of clients, from startups to Fortune 100 companies. In his nearly 20 years of experience, Wasif has appeared in over 200 district court and International Trade Commission patent infringement suits. He has also successfully argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Wasif’s clients count on him to craft creative and efficient legal strategies that keep business interests in focus.
