In the latest decision addressing antitrust liability for FRAND
commitments, Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn of the Northern District of
Texas dismissed a complaint from Continental Automotive Systems,
Inc. ("Continental") alleging, inter alia, violations of
§§ 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, and declaratory judgment
as to FRAND obligations against Avanci, LLC ("Avanci")
and various members of its patent pool (collectively,
"Defendants").
Continental originally filed suit on May 10, 2019 in the
Northern District of California seeking an anti-suit injunction
against various Defendants, several of which have pending patent
infringement suits against Daimler AG, one of Continentals'
customers, in Europe. The Defendants filed motions to dismiss and
to transfer venue to the Northern District of Texas. After
extensive briefing, Judge Lucy Koh granted the motion to transfer
to the Northern District of Texas on December 11, 2019. The
Defendants then renewed their motions citing to