March 28, 2011 5:50 PM

Quinn Emanuel's Verhoeven, Google's Go-To Patent Litigator, Gets Busy for Droid Makers

Posted by Andrew Goldberg

Google Inc., whose smartphone partners have been targeted in dozens of patent infringement actions in connection with their use of the Android operating system, is now--according to sibling publication The Recorder--coming to the aid of those handset manufacturers with a powerful legal weapon: Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan partner Charles Verhoeven.

Verhoeven, who, The Recorder notes, led Google to victory in several patent trials last year, has appeared on behalf of HTC Corp. or Motorola Inc. in almost all Android-related suits filed at the International Trade Commission, and in more than a half-dozen suits in federal district court.

While Verhoeven and Google won't comment specifically, lawyers familiar with the cases speculate that Google is providing Verhoeven's services under an indemnity agreement reached with its Android partners.

The Recorder reports that in one closely watched case set for trial next month--Apple's ITC claim against HTC--Verhoeven and his firm are representing the defendant. Apple, which claims that HTC is infringing on ten patents related to smartphone technology, is seeking to ban imports of HTC’s phones.

Verhoeven, also is representing Motorola in three separate Android-related ITC investigations, including one brought by Microsoft claiming infringement for patents related to "synchronizing e-mail, calendars and contacts, scheduling meetings, and notifying applications of changes in signal strength and battery power," according to The Recorder.

Verhoeven's track record on behalf of Google has been impressive. In January 2010, he persuaded a federal jury in Marshall, Texas, that Google had not infringed two patents owned by Function Media, which had sued for $600 million in damages. He also helped Google defeat a $128 million patent infringement suit brought by Bright Response in the Eastern District of Texas in August and win two other patent cases last year on summary judgment. 

CLICK HERE for the full story from The Recorder. 

 

Contact Andrew Goldberg at [email protected]

 

 

•RELATED ARTICLES FROM ALM

As Apple v. Motorola Escalates, It's Weil v. Quinn Emanuel
The Litigation Daily, 11/4/2010

Patent Litigation Weekly: Inside Google's Second Patent Trial
Corporate Counsel, 8/30/2010

Google, Quinn Emanuel Improve the 3-0 This Year in East Texas
The Litigation Daily, 3/25/2010

Make a comment

Comments (0)
Save & Share: Facebook | Del.ic.ious | | Email |

Reprints & Permissions

The comments to this entry are closed.