Narrative Opinion Summary
In this judicial opinion, the court addressed an unopposed motion by Altera Corporation to vacate a dismissal order for lack of personal jurisdiction issued by the Northern District of California. Altera sought a declaration of noninfringement against Papst Licensing GmbH & Co. KG's patents, which was initially dismissed. Concurrently, Papst pursued an infringement action in Delaware, leading Altera to file identical counterclaims. However, the Delaware case was later transferred to Northern California, where Papst consented to jurisdiction, rendering the original appeal moot. Consequently, the court vacated the dismissal and remanded the case for dismissal as moot, instructing each party to bear its own costs. The court also noted a related case involving Xilinx, Inc., which remains active because Xilinx did not assert its claims as counterclaims in the Delaware action, preserving the non-moot status of its separate appeal. This decision highlights jurisdictional considerations and procedural strategies in patent litigation.
Legal Issues Addressed
Allocation of Costs in Moot Appealssubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: Each party was instructed to bear its own costs related to the appeal, following the determination of mootness.
Reasoning: Each party will bear its own costs related to appeal 2015-1914.
Effect of Non-Mootness on Separate Appealssubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: Xilinx's appeal remains unaffected by the mootness of Altera's appeal since it did not include its claims as counterclaims in Delaware.
Reasoning: However, since Xilinx has not included these claims as counterclaims in Delaware and maintains its separate appeal is not moot, the court does not address 2015-1919 further.
Jurisdictional Mootnesssubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: The case became moot when the Delaware action was transferred to Northern California and Papst agreed to jurisdiction there.
Reasoning: Following the initiation of this appeal, the Delaware action was transferred to Northern California, where Papst agreed to jurisdiction, rendering Altera's appeal moot.
Vacatur of Dismissal for Lack of Personal Jurisdictionsubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: The dismissal order from the Northern District of California was vacated due to the transfer and acceptance of jurisdiction in the Delaware case, rendering the appeal moot.
Reasoning: In light of these developments, the court decided to vacate the California court's dismissal decision and remand the case with instructions to dismiss it as moot.