The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of patent infringement claims against Google LLC in a decision issued Jan. 22, 2026. The court rejected arguments from US Patent No. 7,679,637 LLC, which had appealed the lower court's ruling that their complaint failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
Chief Judge Kimberly Moore wrote the opinion for a three-judge panel that also included Circuit Judges Jimmie Hughes and Jeremy Stoll. The unanimous decision upheld the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington's dismissal of the original lawsuit filed in 2023.
The dispute centered on U.S. Patent No. 7,679,637, which covers web conferencing systems that include "time-shifting capabilities" enabling participants "to observe [a] session in real-time, delayed while the session is still in progress, or after the session has completed," according to the patent abstract. The technology also allows participants to observe sessions at different playback rates while maintaining substantially consistent perceived audio quality.
US Patent No. 7,679,637 LLC filed the original lawsuit in the Western District of Washington in 2023, seeking to enforce their patent rights against Google's products and services. However, District Judge John H. Chun granted Google's motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, finding that the patent holder had not adequately alleged how Google's technology infringed their patent.
The patent holder appealed that dismissal to the Federal Circuit, the specialized appellate court that handles patent disputes. David P. Berten of Global IP Law Group in Chicago argued for the patent holder, with assistance from Alison Aubrey Richards. Google was represented by a team from Jones Day led by John R. Boule III, with additional counsel including T. Kaitlin Crowder, Michael C. Hendershot, Israel Sasha Mayergoyz, Jennifer L. Swize, and Rita J. Yoon.
The Federal Circuit's decision to affirm the dismissal means the patent infringement case against Google is now concluded, unless the patent holder seeks further review from the Supreme Court. The court's brief opinion did not elaborate on the specific reasoning for the affirmance, but such dismissals typically indicate that the plaintiff failed to adequately plead how the defendant's technology meets all elements of the claimed invention.
This case represents another example of the challenges patent holders face in pursuing infringement claims against major technology companies. Courts have increasingly scrutinized patent complaints in recent years, requiring more detailed allegations that specifically map accused products to patent claims. The Federal Circuit has consistently upheld dismissals where patent holders fail to meet these pleading standards.
The web conferencing technology at issue in the patent has become increasingly relevant as remote work and virtual meetings have grown more common. Patents covering video conferencing, screen sharing, and related technologies have been the subject of numerous disputes as companies seek to protect their intellectual property in this competitive market.
Google has faced numerous patent challenges over its various products and services, from search algorithms to advertising technology to mobile operating systems. The company typically defends these cases vigorously, often succeeding in getting cases dismissed at early stages or invalidating patents through post-grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
For patent holders seeking to enforce their rights against large technology companies, this decision underscores the importance of careful claim construction and detailed pleading. Courts require specific allegations showing how each element of the patented invention is present in the accused technology, not just general assertions of infringement.
The case also highlights the continuing importance of the Federal Circuit in patent law, as the specialized court handles virtually all patent appeals from federal district courts. The court's decisions shape how patent law is applied across the country and influence litigation strategies for both patent holders and accused infringers.
With the affirmance now final, unless further appellate review is sought, Google has successfully defended against this particular patent challenge. The decision adds to the body of Federal Circuit precedent on patent pleading standards and provides guidance for future cases involving similar technology and legal issues.
The outcome demonstrates the high bar patent holders must clear to survive motions to dismiss in federal court, particularly when challenging the products of well-represented technology companies with resources to mount vigorous defenses.