Non-practicing entity US Ethernet Innovation’s (“USEI”) infringement action against Samsung was brought to a close last Friday, with E.D. Tex. Judge Michael H. Schneider granting the parties’ joint motion for dismissal with prejudice. USEI filed this action against Samsung and peripheral printing device manufacturer OKI Data Americas on June 22, 2012, alleging that certain OKI and Samsung printers employing Ethernet technologies infringe four USEI patents.

We previously commented on this case in our February 2013 post, when Magistrate Judge Love issued an order denying co-defendant OKI’s motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim and for improper joinder, holding, inter alia, that standards-compliant system-on-a-chip (SoC) suppliers may be properly joined with their customers under the AIA.  Samsung later moved for Summay Judgment of Invalidity, which was denied in October 2013. OKI then settled with USEI and was dismissed from the case in November 2013.

Last month, Samsung and USEI attended mediation before former Chief Judge David Folsom of the Eastern District of Texas.  The mediation apparently resolved the dispute, because Samsung and USEI jointly moved to dismiss the action and the Court entered final judgment dismissing the case with prejudice on March 21.