Kaiher Technology v. SCAN2CAD: Starlink Connector Design Patent DJ Action Dismissed
Kaiher Technology Co., Limited sought a declaratory judgement against SCAN2CAD INC. over design patent USD1063856S, covering a Starlink Gen 3 Power Supply connector. The Northern District of Illinois dismissed the case without prejudice after just 58 days, citing lack of jurisdiction and improper venue — leaving the underlying design rights dispute unresolved on the merits.
DJ Action Over Starlink Connector Design Ends on Procedural Grounds
On 26 May 2025, Kaiher Technology Co., Limited filed a declaratory judgement action in the Northern District of Illinois against SCAN2CAD INC., seeking a court ruling on design patent USD1063856S (U.S. Application No. 29/952144). The patent covers the ornamental design of a Starlink Gen 3 Power Supply connector — a component in the rapidly expanding satellite internet infrastructure supply chain. Kaiher was represented by SHM Law Firm, while SCAN2CAD retained Lance Liu.
The case was closed on 23 July 2025 — just 58 days after filing — when Judge Mary M. Rowland dismissed the action without prejudice. The court found two independent procedural defects: lack of jurisdiction and improper venue. A dismissal without prejudice means the case was not decided on its merits, and Kaiher retains the right to refile in a court with proper jurisdiction and venue over SCAN2CAD.
The swift dismissal suggests the Northern District of Illinois was not the appropriate forum to begin with, raising questions about SCAN2CAD’s jurisdictional contacts with Illinois and whether a more appropriate venue — such as where SCAN2CAD is incorporated or principally operates — was available. The underlying dispute over rights in the Starlink connector design patent remains entirely unresolved, and the ‘without prejudice’ termination leaves both parties in a commercially uncertain position regarding enforcement and freedom to operate.
Filing to Dismissed without Prejudice in 58 days
58 days — resolved well below the median district court patent case lifespan
Dismissed without prejudice: what the ruling means for both parties
Dual procedural bar: jurisdiction and venue both failed
A dismissal without prejudice for lack of jurisdiction and improper venue means the court did not examine the substance of the design patent dispute at all. Jurisdiction and venue are threshold requirements — if either is absent, the court has no authority to proceed. Here, Judge Rowland found both defects simultaneously, suggesting Kaiher’s choice of the Northern District of Illinois lacked a strong factual basis for either prong.
No merits rulingKaiher can refile — but must identify the right court
Because the dismissal was without prejudice, Kaiher Technology is not barred from bringing a new declaratory judgement action. However, the ruling signals that Kaiher must now identify a district where personal jurisdiction over SCAN2CAD is proper — typically where SCAN2CAD is incorporated, headquartered, or has meaningful business contacts. Refiling in the wrong forum again risks a repeat outcome and additional cost.
Refile rights preservedSCAN2CAD avoids merits challenge — for now
SCAN2CAD successfully defeated the action on procedural grounds without the court ever examining the validity or enforceability of USD1063856S. This is a tactical win: the design patent survives this challenge intact and SCAN2CAD’s enforcement position is preserved. However, the dispute is not extinguished — if Kaiher refiles in a competent court, SCAN2CAD will face the same substantive questions on the merits.
Patent rights intactStarlink connector design rights remain in legal limbo
For manufacturers and distributors of Starlink-compatible accessories, this outcome provides no clarity on whether USD1063856S is valid or infringed. The unresolved design patent creates ongoing FTO uncertainty for any company producing or sourcing Gen 3 Power Supply connectors. Companies in the satellite internet accessory supply chain should monitor whether Kaiher refiles and in which jurisdiction, as a merits ruling in any future action could reshape the competitive landscape.
FTO uncertainty persistsFull party and counsel information
| Role | Name | Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plaintiff | Kaiher Technology Co., Limited | Company | Technology company and declaratory judgement petitioner — holder of USD1063856SSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant | SCAN2CAD INC. | Company | SCAN2CAD INC. — respondent in declaratory judgement action over Starlink connector designSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Hongchang Deng | Attorney | Counsel for Kaiher Technology Co., LimitedSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Yi Yi | Attorney | Counsel for Kaiher Technology Co., LimitedSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff law firm | SHM Law Firm | Law Firm | Representing Kaiher Technology Co., LimitedSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant counsel | Lance Y. Liu | Attorney | Counsel for SCAN2CAD INC.Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant law firm | Lance Liu | Law Firm | Representing SCAN2CAD INC.Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Presiding judge | Judge Mary M. Rowland | Judge | Illinois Northern District CourtSearch in Eureka ↗ |
Official order — verbatim text
Judge Rowland’s dismissal language — ‘for lack of jurisdiction and for improper venue’ — identifies two independent, concurrent grounds for dismissal rather than a single defect. This phrasing is consistent with a court disposing of a case at the threshold without reaching subject-matter merits. The without-prejudice designation confirms no claim preclusion attaches, meaning the design patent dispute over USD1063856S is fully preserved for future litigation in a court with proper authority over SCAN2CAD.
USD1063856S — Starlink Gen 3 Power Supply connector ornamental design
USD1063856S, filed under U.S. Application No. 29/952144, is a design patent — meaning it protects the ornamental or aesthetic appearance of a Starlink Gen 3 Power Supply connector rather than its functional characteristics. Design patents in the U.S. have a 15-year term from grant and are evaluated by the ‘ordinary observer’ test for infringement. The ‘USD’ prefix confirms this is a granted U.S. design patent, covering the specific visual form factor of this connector variant used in SpaceX’s third-generation Starlink terminal hardware ecosystem.
The commercial significance of this patent lies in the rapid growth of the third-party Starlink accessory market. As Starlink Gen 3 terminals expand globally, a design patent on the power supply connector form factor could create a gatekeeping position for compatible accessories — affecting manufacturers producing replacement connectors, adapters, and mounting hardware. For IP teams in consumer electronics and satellite accessory supply chains, USD1063856S represents a data point in an emerging wave of design-level IP filings targeting satellite internet peripheral form factors.
Should you run an FTO against USD1063856S for Starlink connector products?
Any company designing, manufacturing, importing, or distributing connectors compatible with the Starlink Gen 3 Power Supply interface should assess their exposure to USD1063856S. Design patent infringement turns on visual similarity to the protected ornamental design — functional equivalence alone is not a defence. Because this case was dismissed without a merits ruling, the patent’s enforceability and scope have never been tested in court, making independent FTO analysis essential for hardware OEMs and accessory distributors.
PatSnap Eureka’s FTO Search Agent allows R&D and IP teams to map the claim scope of USD1063856S against your connector designs, identify design-arounds, and surface related design patent filings in the satellite accessory space. Eureka can also monitor future filings by the parties to this case, giving you early warning if enforcement activity resumes in a competent forum.
Run a freedom-to-operate analysis on USD1063856S to assess your product’s exposure
Run FTO in Eureka →Similar design patent DJ actions in satellite and connector IP
Explore related declaratory judgement actions involving design patents on electronic connectors and satellite hardware accessories litigated in U.S. district courts.
What this case signals for the satellite accessory IP landscape
A fast procedural dismissal leaves design patent rights over Starlink connectors unresolved — and raises the stakes for supply chain participants.
Venue missteps in DJ actions can gift patent holders a tactical reset
Filing a declaratory judgement action in an improper forum doesn’t just delay resolution — it allows the patent holder to maintain enforcement posture while the challenger absorbs legal costs. Any party considering a DJ action over a design patent should map the defendant’s jurisdictional contacts rigorously before filing.
Without-prejudice dismissals keep the commercial uncertainty clock running
Unlike a with-prejudice dismissal, this outcome preserves Kaiher’s right to refile, meaning SCAN2CAD’s patent is neither validated nor invalidated. Companies sourcing or supplying Starlink Gen 3 connector components cannot rely on this case as clearance — a future merits ruling remains possible.
Kaiher v SCAN2CAD — key questions answered
The Northern District of Illinois dismissed the case without prejudice on two independent procedural grounds: lack of personal jurisdiction over SCAN2CAD and improper venue. The court did not reach the merits of the design patent dispute. A without-prejudice dismissal means Kaiher retains the right to refile in a court with proper jurisdiction and venue.
USD1063856S is a U.S. design patent (Application No. 29/952144) covering the ornamental design of a Starlink Gen 3 Power Supply connector. The patent was the subject of a declaratory judgement action filed by Kaiher Technology Co., Limited against SCAN2CAD INC. in 2025. The patent protects visual form factor rather than function.
A dismissal without prejudice means the case ended without a ruling on the merits and the plaintiff may refile. A dismissal with prejudice bars the plaintiff from bringing the same claims again. In Kaiher v. SCAN2CAD, the without-prejudice dismissal preserves Kaiher’s ability to bring a new DJ action in the correct forum, leaving the patent dispute legally unresolved.
Yes. Because the dismissal was without prejudice, Kaiher Technology is not precluded from refiling. To succeed, Kaiher would need to identify a federal district court where personal jurisdiction over SCAN2CAD is proper — typically where SCAN2CAD is incorporated, headquartered, or conducts substantial business — and where venue requirements are satisfied.
USD1063856S creates design-level IP risk for any party manufacturing or selling connectors with ornamental features similar to the Starlink Gen 3 Power Supply connector. Because the patent was never adjudicated on the merits in this case, its enforceability is untested. Companies in the satellite accessory supply chain should conduct FTO analysis against the patent’s design claim scope before commercialising competing connector form factors.
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