Vampire Labs v. Anker Innovations: Wireless Charging Patent Suit Ends in Stipulated Dismissal
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📋 Case Summary
| Case Name | Vampire Labs, LLC v. Anker Innovations Ltd. |
| Case Number | 1:24-cv-01378 (W.D. Texas) |
| Court | Western District of Texas, Chief Judge Alan D. Albright |
| Duration | Nov 2024 – Jan 2026 423 days |
| Outcome | Defendant Win — Stipulated Dismissal with Prejudice |
| Patent at Issue | |
| Accused Products | Anker 333, 544 Wireless Chargers, PowerWave Pad/Stand |
Case Overview
The Parties
⚖️ Plaintiff
A patent assertion entity (NPE) whose IP portfolio targets wireless power transfer technology, deriving value from licensing and litigation.
🛡️ Defendant
A global consumer electronics manufacturer with a substantial U.S. market presence, known for its wireless charging product lines.
The Patent at Issue
The sole patent in dispute was **U.S. Patent No. 8,358,103** (Application No. 12/511,069), which covers technology related to inductive wireless charging. The ‘103 patent’s claims are directed to wireless power transfer systems operating in compliance with the widely adopted **Qi Specification** — the dominant standard governing interoperable wireless charging across consumer devices worldwide.
- • US 8,358,103 — Inductive wireless charging compliant with Qi Specification
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The Verdict & Legal Analysis
Outcome
On **January 8, 2026**, Vampire Labs and Anker Innovations filed a **joint stipulation of dismissal with prejudice** pursuant to **Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii)**. The court formally closed the case the following day. No damages award, injunctive relief, or court-issued ruling on the merits was entered.
Per the court’s order: *”The court lost jurisdiction when the parties voluntarily dismissed the entire suit under Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii).”* (citing *Def. Distributed v. United States Dep’t of State*, 947 F.3d 870, 872 (5th Cir. 2020)). All pending motions were terminated.
Key Legal Issues
The case was premised on a classic **Qi standard-alignment infringement theory** — asserting that because Anker’s products comply with the Qi Specification, they necessarily practice the claims of U.S. Patent No. 8,358,103. This assertion model carries both strategic advantages and legal vulnerabilities. Without a public claim construction order or invalidity ruling, it is not possible to identify the specific legal turning point that prompted dismissal.
The dismissal **with prejudice** is a critical distinction. Unlike a without-prejudice dismissal, this resolution permanently extinguishes Vampire Labs’ ability to re-assert the same claims against Anker on the same patent. This outcome provides Anker with meaningful IP clearance on the asserted patent, even absent a formal adjudication on the merits.
Freedom to Operate (FTO) Analysis
This case highlights critical IP risks in the wireless charging space. Choose your next step:
📋 Understand This Case’s Impact
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- View patents related to Qi wireless charging
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High Risk Area
Qi-compliant wireless charging
1 Patent at Issue
US 8,358,103 (Qi-aligned)
Strong Defense
Dismissal with prejudice
✅ Key Takeaways
Dismissal with prejudice under Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) forecloses future assertion of the same claims – a meaningful outcome even without adjudication on the merits.
Search related case law →Multi-defendant campaigns targeting standard-compliant products require coordinated claim scope and damages theories across all defendants.
Explore precedents →Frequently Asked Questions
The case involved U.S. Patent No. 8,358,103 (Application No. 12/511,069), directed to inductive wireless charging technology compliant with the Qi Specification.
The parties filed a joint stipulation of dismissal with prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) on January 8, 2026. No damages or injunctive relief were publicly ordered.
The accused products included the Anker 333 Wireless Charger, Anker 544 Wireless Charger, Anker Power Wave Pad, and Anker PowerWave Stand — all Qi-compliant wireless charging devices.
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References
- USPTO Patent Public Search – US8358103B2
- PACER Case Lookup – W.D. Texas
- Cornell Legal Information Institute — Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41
- Wireless Power Consortium — Qi Standard
- PatSnap — IP Intelligence Solutions for Law Firms
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. All case information is drawn from publicly available court records. For platform capabilities, visit PatSnap.