Brodti, Inc. v. Google LLC: Ad Tech Patent Case Stayed Pending IPR
What would you like to do next?
Choose your path based on your current needs:
📋 Case Summary
| Case Name | Brodti, Inc. v. Google LLC |
| Case Number | 1:24-cv-00173 (D. Del.) |
| Court | District of Delaware |
| Duration | Feb 2024 – Aug 2025 1 year 6 months |
| Outcome | Case Stayed Pending IPR |
| Patents at Issue | |
| Accused Products | Google AdSense and Google Ads platforms |
Case Overview
The Parties
⚖️ Plaintiff
A patent assertion entity focused on monetizing intellectual property in the digital advertising and data analytics space.
🛡️ Defendant
A subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., operating two of the world’s most commercially significant digital advertising platforms: Google AdSense and Google Ads.
The Patent at Issue
The asserted patent, **U.S. Patent No. 11,416,898** (Application No. 16/422,106), covers technology in the digital advertising and data processing domain.
All claims were instituted for IPR review on obviousness grounds under 35 U.S.C. § 103, suggesting the PTAB found a reasonable likelihood that the claimed invention was not sufficiently distinct from prior art. The specific claim language and technical scope remain central to the ongoing PTAB proceeding.
Litigation Timeline & Procedural History
- • **Complaint Filed:** February 9, 2024
- • **IPR Petition Filed:** ~Early 2025
- • **PTAB Institution Decision:** July 24, 2025
- • **Stipulated Stay Filed:** August 14, 2025
- • **Case Administratively Closed:** August 15, 2025
Operating in the Ad Tech Space?
Assess potential infringement risks from patents like this one before launching your product.
The Verdict & Legal Analysis
Outcome
This case did not reach a merits verdict. The court administratively closed the matter pursuant to a stipulated stay on **August 15, 2025**. No damages were awarded, no injunction was issued, and no claim construction ruling was issued by the district court. The case remains dormant pending resolution of **IPR2025-00472** at the PTAB.
Key Legal Issues
The PTAB’s institution of IPR on July 24, 2025, challenged **all claims** of U.S. Patent No. 11,416,898 on **obviousness grounds**. This highlights the vulnerability of adtech patents to post-grant validity challenges, especially for incremental innovations over existing systems. This case illustrates the critical doctrine of **IPR stay stipulation as mutual risk management** in modern patent litigation.
Drafting Ad Tech Patents?
Learn from IPR institution rates. Use AI to draft stronger claims that withstand obviousness challenges.
Power Your Patent Strategy with Eureka IP
From novelty searches to patent drafting, Eureka’s AI-powered tools help you navigate the patent landscape with confidence.
⚠️ Freedom to Operate (FTO) Analysis in Ad Tech
This case highlights critical IP risks in ad tech patent assertion. Choose your next step:
📋 Understand This Case’s Impact
Explore the specific risks and implications from this litigation in the adtech space.
- View related patents in the digital advertising domain
- See key companies active in adtech patents
- Understand common claim construction patterns in adtech
🔍 Check My Product’s Risk
Run a comprehensive FTO analysis for your own technology or product.
- Input your product description or technical features
- AI identifies potentially blocking patents
- Get actionable risk assessment report
High Risk Area
Digital advertising, data processing
IPR Instituted
All claims of US 11,416,898
Obviousness Challenge
Most common validity challenge
✅ Key Takeaways
For Patent Attorneys & Litigators
Early IPR petitioning remains a highly effective defense strategy against patent assertion entities in adtech, often leading to case stays.
Explore PTAB decisions →The PTAB’s willingness to institute IPR on all claims significantly increases leverage for defendants and leads to rapid district court stays.
Search similar case strategies →For IP Professionals
Adtech patent portfolios require continuous validity audits to identify and mitigate obviousness risks, especially given the rapid pace of innovation.
Analyze my portfolio for risks →For Business & R&D Teams
Proactively conduct FTO analysis for adtech products, focusing on identifying patents vulnerable to obviousness challenges.
Start FTO analysis for my product →Thoroughly document design-around efforts and unique features to bolster non-infringement and invalidity defenses.
Try AI patent drafting →Ready to Strengthen Your Patent Strategy?
Join thousands of IP professionals using Eureka to conduct prior art searches, draft patents, and analyze competitive landscapes.