Foley Secures Victory for MLB Advanced Media, Ends Long-Standing Patent Dispute

Today, Foley & Lardner LLP secured a complete victory in the Federal Circuit on behalf of Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLB Advanced Media), likely ending a 12-year patent dispute. Foley & Lardner partner Cynthia J. Rigsby argued in the Federal Circuit on Tuesday in support of MLB Advanced Media’s District Court victory and received summary affirmance today, remarkably just two days post-argument.

The case dates back to 2003 and stems from a dispute over a method of condensing a recorded baseball game. Plaintiff Baseball Quick claimed patent infringement and sought a royalty on MLB Advanced Media revenues alleged to exceed $400 million as of 2011. Baseball Quick also asked for damages to be trebled and for attorneys’ fees. MLB Advanced Media denied infringement. In December 2014, U.S. District Judge Kathryn Forrest of the Southern District of New York granted MLB Advanced Media’s summary judgment motion, confirming MLB Advanced Media’s technology did not infringe Baseball Quick’s patent either literally, or under the doctrine of equivalents.

Baseball Quick appealed the decision in March 2015 and today a Federal Circuit panel including Judge’s Dyk, O’Malley, and Stoll affirmed the District Court’s decision below.

MLB Advanced Media was represented in the litigation and on appeal by Cynthia Rigsby, Kevin Malaney and Michelle Moran of Foley & Lardner LLP.