Zynga wins jury verdict of non-infringement in Personalized Media Communications suit

Client(s) Zynga Inc.

Jones Day represented Zynga Inc. in its successful defense of patent infringement allegations brought in Marshall, Texas by non-practicing entity Personalized Media Communications LLC ("PMC"). PMC had alleged that Zynga's popular online social media games such as Farmville and Words With Friends infringed a number of patents owned by PMC. Jones Day and co-counsel from Texas represented Zynga and obtained a jury verdict of non-infringement on all asserted claims. In addition to the jury trial, Jones Day is representing Zynga in a separately pending bench trial on Zynga's claims of prosecution laches, invalidity due to double patenting and lack of standing. Finally, Jones Day also is representing Zynga in inter partes review ("IPR") proceedings against four PMC patents. In July 2013, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board issued detailed orders in all four IPR proceedings finding a reasonable likelihood that all asserted claims were invalid. The IPR trial is scheduled for April 2014. On receiving the jury verdict, Zynga's deputy general counsel Renée Lawson stated, "We are grateful that a jury in Marshall, Texas unanimously agreed with Zynga that PMC's patents do not apply to Zynga's popular social games. Zynga remains committed to doing the right thing by vigorously defending against lawsuits that we believe lack merit. We are very proud of our employees' hard and creative work and will continue to be relentless in protecting Zynga's rights and intellectual property on behalf of our employees and our shareholders."

Personalized Media Communications, LLC v. Zynga, Inc., Civil Action No. 2-12-cv-00068 (E.D. Tex.) (Judge Gilstrap)