WebSock Global Strategies v. Black Box Corp.: Dismissed With Prejudice After 247 Days
WebSock Global Strategies, LLC filed a patent infringement action against Black Box Corp. in the Eastern District of Texas asserting US7756983B2, a patent covering symmetrical bi-directional communication technology. The parties jointly stipulated to dismiss all claims with prejudice after 247 days, with each side bearing its own costs and attorneys’ fees.
A bilateral exit from E.D. Tex. — permanent closure on mutual terms
On November 12, 2024, WebSock Global Strategies, LLC filed suit against Black Box Corp. in the Eastern District of Texas (Case No. 2:24-cv-00913) before Judge Rodney Gilstrap, asserting infringement of US7756983B2, a patent directed to symmetrical bi-directional communication technology. Black Box Corp., a provider of IT infrastructure and network solutions, was identified as a product and services company operating squarely within the communication technology space covered by the asserted patent.
The case closed on July 17, 2025, when the parties filed a Joint Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice, which Judge Gilstrap accepted. All claims were dismissed with prejudice, meaning WebSock Global Strategies permanently relinquished the right to re-assert the same claims against Black Box Corp. based on the same patent. Critically, no fee-shifting was ordered — each party was directed to bear its own costs, expenses, and attorneys’ fees, a common feature of negotiated resolutions.
The 247-day duration suggests the parties reached resolution relatively early in the litigation lifecycle, likely before significant claim construction or dispositive motion practice. The with-prejudice designation and mutual cost-bearing provision are hallmarks of a settlement — though the public record does not disclose any financial terms or licensing arrangements. What drove the resolution, and whether a license to US7756983B2 was granted, remains undisclosed.
Filing to Case Dismissed in 247 days
247 days — resolved well under the typical E.D. Tex. first-instance trial window
Dismissed with prejudice: what the joint stipulation means for both parties
Dismissal with prejudice permanently closes the dispute
A dismissal with prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41 operates as an adjudication on the merits. WebSock Global Strategies cannot re-file the same infringement claims against Black Box Corp. based on US7756983B2 in any federal court. The joint stipulation format means both parties actively agreed to this finality, distinguishing it from a unilateral voluntary dismissal.
Permanent bar on re-litigationWebSock forfeits the right to pursue Black Box on this patent
By agreeing to dismissal with prejudice, WebSock Global Strategies surrendered the ability to pursue Black Box Corp. on US7756983B2 permanently. However, the patent itself remains valid and enforceable against third parties. The mutual cost-bearing provision suggests WebSock avoided an adverse fee award — which would have been a significant risk given the Eastern District’s scrutiny of NPE-style assertions.
Patent survives; this defendant releasedBlack Box secures permanent release from this infringement claim
Black Box Corp. achieved a complete and permanent exit from the litigation without a merits adjudication. No damages, injunction, or royalty obligation is disclosed in the public record. The no-cost-shifting provision means Black Box absorbed its own defense costs but avoided a damages award. Whether any confidential licence or payment was part of the resolution is not reflected in the court record.
Full release, no public liabilityUS7756983B2 remains a live threat for other communication technology players
The dismissal with prejudice resolves only the WebSock–Black Box dispute. US7756983B2 covering symmetrical bi-directional communication technology is still enforceable, and WebSock Global Strategies may assert it against other defendants in the networking and IT infrastructure space. Companies operating products or services involving bi-directional communication protocols should monitor this patent’s assertion history closely.
Active patent risk for sector peersFull party and counsel information
| Role | Name | Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plaintiff | WebSock Global Strategies, LLC | Company | Network communication patent assertion entity — holder of US7756983B2Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant | Black Box Corp. | Company | Black Box Corp. — IT infrastructure and network solutions providerSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Benjamin Charles Deming | Attorney | Counsel for WebSock Global Strategies, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff counsel | Isaac Phillip Rabicoff | Attorney | Counsel for WebSock Global Strategies, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff law firm | Dnl Zito | Law Firm | Representing WebSock Global Strategies, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Plaintiff law firm | Rabicoff Law LLC | Law Firm | Representing WebSock Global Strategies, LLCSearch in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant counsel | Erin Napoleon | Attorney | Counsel for Black Box Corp.Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant counsel | Karima Tawfik Thompson | Attorney | Counsel for Black Box Corp.Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant law firm | Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney – DC | Law Firm | Representing Black Box Corp.Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Defendant law firm | Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC | Law Firm | Representing Black Box Corp.Search in Eureka ↗ |
| Presiding judge | Judge Rodney Gilstrap | Judge | Texas Eastern District CourtSearch in Eureka ↗ |
Official order — verbatim text
The court’s order accepting the Joint Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice confirms a consensual, permanent resolution. The phrasing ‘each party is to bear its own costs, expenses, and attorneys’ fees’ is significant — it forecloses any post-judgment fee motion and reflects a negotiated exit. The denial of all other pending relief as moot indicates no substantive motions were adjudicated on the merits prior to dismissal, consistent with an early-stage commercial resolution.
US7756983B2 — Symmetrical Bi-Directional Communication Technology
US7756983B2, filed under application number US12/109198, covers symmetrical bi-directional communication technology — a foundational area in networking infrastructure enabling equal-bandwidth, two-way data transmission. This class of technology underpins a wide range of IT infrastructure products including managed network services, KVM-over-IP systems, and enterprise communication platforms. The patent’s application date positions it in a period of rapid enterprise networking adoption.
For the IT infrastructure and networking sector, US7756983B2 represents a potentially broad assertion vehicle. Black Box Corp.’s product portfolio — which spans network infrastructure, KVM switching, and managed IT services — sits directly in the technology space addressed by the patent’s claims. The patent’s assertion against a recognised infrastructure vendor signals that WebSock Global Strategies is targeting commercially active products, not fringe implementations. Competitors operating symmetrical communication technology in their product lines should assess exposure proactively.
Should your team run an FTO analysis against US7756983B2?
Any company developing, deploying, or commercialising products involving symmetrical bi-directional communication protocols — including managed networking hardware, enterprise KVM systems, or IT infrastructure software — should consider whether US7756983B2 reads on their implementations. The Eastern District of Texas filing against a major infrastructure vendor signals active enforcement intent, and the patent remains enforceable following this with-prejudice dismissal.
PatSnap Eureka’s FTO Search Agent enables R&D and IP teams to map US7756983B2’s claim scope against product feature sets, identify prior art that may support design-around strategies, and monitor the patent’s litigation and assignment history in real time. Running a targeted FTO before receiving a demand letter substantially reduces both legal exposure and response costs.
Run a freedom-to-operate analysis on US7756983B2 to assess your product’s exposure
Run FTO in Eureka →Similar bi-directional communication patent cases in E.D. Tex.
Cases involving network communication and bi-directional data transmission patents asserted in the Eastern District of Texas before Judge Gilstrap follow recognisable NPE litigation patterns.
What this case signals for the network communication IP landscape
A with-prejudice exit in E.D. Tex. under Judge Gilstrap suggests calculated risk management on both sides.
E.D. Tex. resolved early — litigation cost pressure likely drove the timeline
At 247 days, this case resolved before typical claim construction hearings in the Eastern District of Texas. That timeline is consistent with early-stage settlement discussions, suggesting Black Box Corp. weighed the cost of continued litigation against the cost of resolution. NPE assertions in E.D. Tex. frequently settle in this window.
No fee-shifting is a meaningful signal in NPE litigation
The mutual cost-bearing provision means neither party sought — or succeeded in obtaining — an exceptional case finding under 35 U.S.C. § 285. This suggests the dispute was resolved before any conduct-based or merits-based fee motion ripened, and that both sides considered the outcome commercially acceptable without a fee award.
WebSock v Black — key questions answered
The case was dismissed with prejudice by joint stipulation on July 17, 2025. While the public record does not confirm a financial settlement, the with-prejudice dismissal and mutual cost-bearing provision are consistent with a negotiated resolution. No licensing terms or damages figures are disclosed in court filings.
Dismissal with prejudice permanently bars WebSock Global Strategies from re-asserting the same claims under US7756983B2 against Black Box Corp. in any federal court. However, the patent itself remains valid and enforceable, and WebSock may assert it against other defendants in the networking and IT infrastructure sector.
US7756983B2 covers symmetrical bi-directional communication technology — systems and methods enabling equal-bandwidth two-way data transmission. Black Box Corp. is a provider of IT infrastructure, managed networking, and KVM solutions, products that fall within the technical scope suggested by the patent’s claimed invention.
No. The joint stipulation of dismissal explicitly directed each party to bear its own costs, expenses, and attorneys’ fees. This means no exceptional case finding under 35 U.S.C. § 285 was pursued or granted, which is typical of cases resolved by mutual agreement before substantive motion practice concludes.
WebSock Global Strategies was represented by Benjamin Charles Deming and Isaac Phillip Rabicoff of Dnl Zito and Rabicoff Law LLC. Black Box Corp. was represented by Erin Napoleon and Karima Tawfik Thompson of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC. The case was presided over by Judge Rodney Gilstrap in the Eastern District of Texas.
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