Pegasus Wireless v. Verizon: 11-Patent 5G Infringement Suit Dismissed With Prejudice
Pegasus Wireless Innovation filed a sprawling 5G wireless patent infringement action against Verizon and affiliated entities in the Eastern District of Texas, asserting 11 patents across a broad portfolio of 5G-capable devices. After 720 days of litigation, all parties jointly moved to dismiss every claim with prejudice, with each side bearing its own costs — a resolution that bars Pegasus from re-filing these claims against Verizon.
A sweeping 5G patent campaign ends in coordinated dismissal across three parallel cases
Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLC filed this action on December 29, 2023 in the Eastern District of Texas before Judge Rodney Gilstrap, asserting 11 wireless and 5G-related patents against Verizon Communications, Inc. and four affiliated Verizon entities — Verizon Corporate Services Group Inc., Cellco Partnership (d/b/a Verizon Wireless), Verizon Business Network Services, LLC, and TracFone Wireless, Inc. The accused products spanned Verizon’s mobile network and a wide range of 5G-capable handsets sold on the Verizon network, including Google Pixel, Motorola, Kyocera, TCL, and Nokia devices.
On December 18, 2025, the Court granted nine joint motions to dismiss filed collectively by all parties under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(2). All of Pegasus’s infringement claims were dismissed with prejudice — permanently extinguishing those claims — while the defendants’ noninfringement counterclaims were dismissed without prejudice. Verizon’s counterclaims for breach of contract, failure to negotiate in good faith, and declaratory judgment of breach of FRAND obligations were also dismissed with prejudice. Each party was ordered to bear its own costs, expenses, and attorneys’ fees.
The 720-day duration and the coordinated nature of the dismissal across three parallel cases (also involving AT&T and T-Mobile as defendants) strongly suggests a negotiated resolution — likely a licensing agreement or covenant not to sue — reached outside the public record. The simultaneous filing of nine joint motions across all three dockets signals a structured settlement rather than an abandonment of the litigation by Pegasus. The specific financial terms, if any, remain undisclosed. The FRAND counterclaims being dismissed with prejudice is notable: it suggests the parties resolved any SEP licensing disputes as part of their broader agreement.
Filing to Case Dismissed in 720 days
720 days — above the E.D. Texas median for patent cases that resolve before trial
Dismissed with prejudice: what the joint motion outcome means for both parties
Rule 41(a)(2) dismissal with prejudice — claims permanently extinguished
A dismissal with prejudice under Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(2) operates as a final adjudication on the merits. Pegasus cannot re-file these infringement claims against Verizon on the same patents in any court. The joint nature of the motion means both sides consented, which is consistent with a negotiated resolution. The without-prejudice dismissal of noninfringement counterclaims preserves those defendants’ theoretical right to re-raise noninfringement if litigation resurfaces on other grounds.
Permanent bar on re-filingPegasus loses the right to re-litigate these claims against Verizon
With all of its claims dismissed with prejudice, Pegasus Wireless Innovation is permanently barred from asserting these 11 patents against Verizon on the same accused products and conduct. However, the patents themselves remain in force against other parties. The dismissal without prejudice of defendants’ noninfringement counterclaims also means no court has formally declared the patents invalid or not infringed — preserving some portfolio value for Pegasus against third parties.
Portfolio intact vs. third partiesVerizon obtains finality — FRAND counterclaims resolved with prejudice
Verizon and its affiliates secured dismissal with prejudice of Pegasus’s claims, shielding them from re-litigation on these patents. Verizon’s own FRAND-related counterclaims — breach of contract, failure to negotiate in good faith, and declaratory judgment of breach of FRAND — were also dismissed with prejudice, which suggests the FRAND licensing dispute was resolved as part of the broader settlement. Noninfringement counterclaims were preserved without prejudice, giving Verizon optionality if Pegasus pursues related claims.
FRAND dispute resolvedSEP licensing campaign across major US carriers resolved simultaneously
This case was one of three parallel actions filed on the same date targeting AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon simultaneously — a hallmark of coordinated SEP or near-SEP licensing campaigns. The coordinated dismissal across all three dockets, with FRAND counterclaims dismissed with prejudice, suggests Pegasus reached licensing agreements with all three major US carriers. Companies operating in the 5G device and infrastructure supply chain should treat this portfolio as potentially licensed-out but still active against unlicensed parties.
5G SEP licensing resolvedFull party and counsel information
| Role | Name | Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plaintiff | Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLC | Company | Patent assertion entity — holder of US11405942B2 and 10 further 5G wireless patentsSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant | Verizon Communications, Inc. | Company | Verizon Communications, Inc. and affiliated entities including Cellco Partnership, TracFone, and Verizon Business Network ServicesSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Co-Defendant | Verizon Corporate Services Group Inc. | Company | Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Co-Defendant | Tracfone Wireless, Inc. | Company | Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Co-Defendant | Cellco Partnership, (dba Verizon Wireless) | Individual | Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Co-Defendant | Verizon Business Network Services, LLC | Company | Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Andrea Leigh Fair | Attorney | Counsel for Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Bryce Thomas Barcelo | Attorney | Counsel for Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Charles Everingham, IV | Attorney | Counsel for Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Corey Martin Lipschutz | Attorney | Counsel for Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Daniel J Shih | Attorney | Counsel for Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Jordan Mikhail Rux | Attorney | Counsel for Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Joseph Samuel Grinstein | Attorney | Counsel for Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Kalpana Srinivasan | Attorney | Counsel for Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Kevin Downs | Attorney | Counsel for Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Max Lalon Tribble , Jr. | Attorney | Counsel for Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Michael Steelman | Attorney | Counsel for Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Robert Greenfeld | Attorney | Counsel for Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | William Jeffrey Melsheimer | Attorney | Counsel for Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Yoonhee Gloria Park | Attorney | Counsel for Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff law firm | Miller Fair Henry PLLC | Law Firm | Representing Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff law firm | Strong Law PC | Law Firm | Representing Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff law firm | Susman Godfrey LLP | Law Firm | Representing Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff law firm | Susman Godfrey LLP (Los Angeles) | Law Firm | Representing Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff law firm | Susman Godfrey LLP (Houston) | Law Firm | Representing Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant counsel | Deron R. Dacus | Attorney | Counsel for Verizon Communications, Inc.Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant counsel | Elliott C. Riches | Attorney | Counsel for Verizon Communications, Inc.Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant counsel | Evan Matthew McLean | Attorney | Counsel for Verizon Communications, Inc.Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant counsel | J. Ravindra Fernando | Attorney | Counsel for Verizon Communications, Inc.Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant counsel | Michael Christopher Hendershot | Attorney | Counsel for Verizon Communications, Inc.Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant law firm | Alston & Bird LLP | Law Firm | Representing Verizon Communications, Inc.Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant law firm | Jones Day (Palo Alto) | Law Firm | Representing Verizon Communications, Inc.Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant law firm | The Dacus Firm PC | Law Firm | Representing Verizon Communications, Inc.Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Presiding judge | Judge Rodney Gilstrap | Judge | Texas Eastern District CourtSearch in Eureka ↗ |
Official order — verbatim text
The verdict order grants nine joint Rule 41(a)(2) motions filed simultaneously across three parallel cases. The bifurcated dismissal structure — with-prejudice for all of Pegasus’s affirmative claims and FRAND counterclaims, without-prejudice for noninfringement counterclaims — is a deliberate drafting choice consistent with a negotiated exit. The with-prejudice disposition forecloses re-litigation by Pegasus on these patents against these defendants, while preserving defendants’ noninfringement positions for any future context. The equal costs order removes any inference of a prevailing party.
US11405942B2 and 10 further patents — 5G wireless network and device technology
The 11 patents asserted in this case — spanning application numbers from US15/024862 through US17/314064 — cover wireless network technology broadly aligned with 4G LTE and 5G NR standards, including resource scheduling, channel configuration, device connectivity management, and signal transmission protocols. The portfolio appears to have been built through continuation and divisional filings across multiple application families, with priority dates ranging across the mid-2010s to early 2020s. This filing pattern is characteristic of portfolios designed to track standards evolution and capture implementers of 3GPP-compliant technology.
The breadth of accused products — spanning Google Pixel, Motorola, Kyocera, TCL, and Nokia 5G handsets, plus Verizon’s mobile network itself — indicates Pegasus’s theory of infringement reached both network infrastructure and end-user devices. This dual-level assertion strategy, targeting both carriers and device OEMs, is increasingly common in 5G SEP campaigns. Any company manufacturing, importing, or operating 5G-capable devices or infrastructure in the US should treat this portfolio as potentially relevant to their FTO landscape, particularly given that no validity or infringement ruling was issued.
Should your team run an FTO against the Pegasus Wireless 5G patent portfolio?
If your organisation designs, manufactures, imports, or deploys 5G NR-compliant devices, network equipment, or wireless infrastructure in the United States, this 11-patent portfolio warrants FTO attention. The accused product list in this case covered a broad range of commercial 5G handsets sold through a major US carrier — meaning the claim scope likely tracks 3GPP standard-essential or near-essential implementations. MVNOs, device OEMs, and infrastructure vendors not party to Verizon’s apparent licensing resolution may face exposure.
PatSnap Eureka’s FTO Search Agent can map each of the 11 asserted patents against your product’s technical specifications, identify claim elements most likely to read on 5G NR implementations, and flag prosecution history estoppel or prior art that may limit claim scope. Eureka’s portfolio monitoring tools can also alert your team to new continuation filings from the Pegasus application families — critical in a portfolio that has already demonstrated a pattern of continuation-based expansion.
Run a freedom-to-operate analysis on US11405942B2 to assess your product’s exposure
Run FTO in Eureka →Similar 5G wireless patent infringement cases in E.D. Texas
Cases involving 5G wireless patent assertions against major US carriers before Judge Gilstrap in the Eastern District of Texas follow a recognisable litigation pattern worth monitoring.
Related patent case — similar technology
Comparable case in the same technology domain. Patent holder and defendant reached resolution after proceedings.
SettledRelated infringement action — same court
Comparable Google Pixel 6-adjacent infringement action. Patent enforcement dynamics analysed in depth.
Active · District CourtRelated invalidity challenge — appellate outcome
Combined invalidity and infringement action in the same technology space. Decided after substantive proceedings.
DecidedPegasus Wireless Innovation, LLC’s broader IP enforcement history
Pegasus Wireless Innovation, LLC’s full litigation history covering prior enforcement, licensing activity, and inter partes review proceedings.
Portfolio viewWhat this case signals for the 5G wireless patent licensing landscape
A coordinated 11-patent assault on all three US major carriers, resolved in under two years, reveals the playbook and pressure points in 5G SEP assertion.
Coordinated multi-carrier filing is a proven SEP licensing lever
Filing simultaneously against AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon in E.D. Texas maximises negotiating pressure and signals portfolio confidence. The simultaneous resolution across all three dockets suggests a global licensing deal was the objective from the outset. Companies building 5G products or services should monitor PAE portfolios that follow this multi-carrier filing pattern as an early signal of structured licensing demands.
With-prejudice FRAND dismissals indicate a negotiated licensing outcome
When FRAND counterclaims — typically defendants’ strongest leverage against SEP holders — are dismissed with prejudice by joint motion, it strongly suggests the parties reached a licensing agreement satisfying FRAND obligations. The public record is silent on financial terms, but the structured nature of the nine joint motions is consistent with a comprehensive settlement covering all accused products and carriers.
These 11 patents remain live against unlicensed 5G device makers and network operators
No court has adjudicated validity or infringement. The patents are presumptively valid and could be asserted against OEMs, MVNOs, or infrastructure vendors not covered by any Verizon/AT&T/T-Mobile license. R&D and legal teams building on 5G standards should run FTO analyses against this portfolio before product launch, particularly for handset makers and network equipment suppliers.
Judge Gilstrap’s docket and the E.D. Texas forum remain central to 5G SEP strategy
All three parallel cases were filed before Judge Gilstrap in E.D. Texas — the jurisdiction of choice for high-volume patent assertion. The rapid coordination of dismissal motions suggests experienced EDTX counsel on both sides recognised the risk/reward calculus early. Patent portfolio managers should model EDTX filing probability when assessing PAE threat landscapes in the wireless sector.
Pegasus v Verizon — key questions answered
All of Pegasus’s claims against Verizon were dismissed with prejudice by joint motion on December 18, 2025, under Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(2). Verizon’s FRAND counterclaims were also dismissed with prejudice; noninfringement counterclaims were dismissed without prejudice. Each party bears its own costs.
Pegasus asserted 11 patents: US11405942B2, US11540272B2, US10009161B2, US9894644B2, US10616932B2, US10594460B2, US10181931B2, US10638463B2, US11219000B2, US11627631B2, and US10721118B2 — covering 5G wireless network scheduling, channel configuration, and device connectivity technology.
Dismissal with prejudice permanently bars Pegasus from re-filing these specific infringement claims against Verizon on the same patents and accused products. However, the patents remain valid and enforceable against other parties — no court ruled on invalidity or non-infringement — so Pegasus retains the right to assert them against unlicensed third parties.
Yes. Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Ericsson, and Nokia each filed counterclaims alleging breach of contract, failure to negotiate in good faith, and declaratory judgment of breach of FRAND. All FRAND counterclaims were dismissed with prejudice by joint motion, which suggests the parties reached a licensing resolution satisfying FRAND obligations, though financial terms remain undisclosed.
Accused products included Google Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, and 7 Pro; Kyocera DuraForce Ultra 5G UW and DuraSport 5G UW; Motorola edge (2022), edge 5G UW, edge+ 5G UW, moto g stylus 5G, and one 5G UW ace; Nokia 8 V 5G UW; Orbic Myra 5G UW; TCL 10 5G UW and TCL 30 V 5G; and Verizon’s mobile network itself.
Monitor 5G wireless patent risk before your next product launch
The Pegasus portfolio remains enforceable against unlicensed 5G device makers and network operators. PatSnap Eureka’s FTO Search Agent and portfolio monitoring tools help you map claim scope and track new continuation filings before they become litigation threats.
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