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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

WACO DIVISION

IKORONGO TEXAS LLC and 

IKORONGO TECHNOLOGY LLC,

 Plaintiffs,

v.

LYFT, INC.

 Defendant.

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CAUSE NO. 6:20-cv-00258-ADA

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO TRANSFER

Before the Court is Defendant Lyft Inc’s Opposed Motion to Transfer (ECF No. 30), 

Plaintiffs Ikorongo Texas LLC and Ikorongo Technology LLC’s (collectively, Ikorongo) 

Response (ECF No. 56), and Lyft’s Reply (ECF No. 59). After having reviewed the parties’ briefs, 

case file, and applicable law, the Court has determined that Lyft’s Motion to Transfer should be 

DENIED.

I. Background

Ikorongo Texas filed this action on March 31, 2020, pursuant to the Court’s original 

jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a). ECF No. 1. Ikorongo Texas and Ikorongo 

Technologies then filed an amended complaint on April 1, 2020. ECF No. 2. Plaintiffs allege patent 

infringement claims against Lyft relating to two U.S. Patents, Nos. RE 45,543 and RE 47,704. Id.

at 3. 

On September 11, 2020, Lyft filed an opposed Motion to Transfer under 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1404(a). Defendant Lyft, Inc.’s Opposed Mot. to Transfer Venue (hereinafter “Mot. to 

Transfer”), ECF No. 30. In Lyft’s Motion to Transfer, Lyft argues transfer to the Northern District 

of California is proper because: (1) Ikorongo could have originally filed suit in the proposed 

transferee venue and (2) the convenience of the parties and interests of justice weigh in favor of 

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transfer. Id. at 9–18. On January 5, 2021, Ikorongo filed a response to Lyft’s Motion. Pls.’ Resp. 

in Opp’n to Def.’s Mot. to Transfer Venue and Br. in Supp. (hereinafter “Resp.”), ECF No. 56. On 

January 19, 2021, Lyft filed a reply. Reply in Supp. of Def. Lyft, Inc.’s Mot. to Transfer Venue

(hereinafter “Reply”), ECF No. 60. 

II. Legal Standard

In patent cases, motions to transfer under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) are governed by the law of

the regional circuit. In re TS Tech USA Corp., 551 F.3d 1315, 1319 (Fed. Cir. 2008). Under 

§ 1404(a), “[f]or the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, a district court

may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it might have been brought or

to any district or division to which all parties have consented.” 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a). Section 

1404(a)’s threshold inquiry is whether the case could initially have been brought in the proposed 

transferee forum. In re Volkswagen AG, 371 F.3d 201, 202–03 (5th Cir. 2004) [Volkswagen I]. If 

that inquiry is satisfied, the Court determines whether transfer is proper by analyzing and weighing 

various private and public interest factors. Humble Oil & Ref. Co. v. Bell Marine Serv., 321 F.2d 

53, 56 (5th Cir. 1963); In re Apple Inc., 979 F.3d 1332, 1338 (Fed. Cir. 2020) (applying Fifth 

Circuit law). The private interest factors are “(1) the relative ease of access to sources of proof; 

(2) the availability of compulsory process to secure the attendance of witnesses; (3) the cost of 

attendance for willing witnesses; and (4) all other practical problems that make trial of a case easy, 

expeditious and inexpensive.” In re Volkswagen of Am., Inc., 545 F.3d 304, 315 (5th Cir. 2008) 

(en banc) [Volkswagen II] (quoting Volkswagen I, 371 F.3d at 203). The public interest factors are 

“(1) the administrative difficulties flowing from court congestion; (2) the local interest in having 

localized interests decided at home; (3) the familiarity of the forum with the law that will govern 

the case; and (4) the avoidance of unnecessary problems of conflict of laws [or in] the application 

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of foreign law.” Id. (quoting Volkswagen I, 371 F.3d at 203) (alterations in original). The factors 

are neither exclusive nor exhaustive, and no one factor is dispositive. Id. In applying these factors,

the court enjoys considerable discretion and assesses the case “on an ‘individualized, case-by-case 

consideration of convenience and fairness.’” In re Vistaprint Ltd., 628 F.3d 1342, 1346 (Fed. Cir. 

2010) (quotation omitted). The burden to prove that a case should be transferred for convenience 

falls squarely on the moving party. See id. Although the plaintiff’s choice of forum is not a separate 

factor entitled to special weight, respect for the plaintiff’s choice of forum is encompassed in the 

movant’s elevated burden to “clearly demonstrate” that the proposed transferee forum is “clearly 

more convenient” than the forum in which the case was filed. Id. at 314–15. While “clearly more

convenient” is not necessarily equivalent to “clear and convincing,” the moving party “must

show materially more than a mere preponderance of convenience, lest the standard have no real

or practical meaning.” Quest NetTech Corp. v. Apple, Inc., No. 2:19-cv-118, 2019 WL 6344267,

at *7 (E.D. Tex. Nov. 27, 2019). 

III. Discussion

The Court now turns to examine Lyft’s § 1404(a) arguments. Lyft argues the Northern

District of California is both a proper and more convenient venue for this action. Mot. to Transfer 

at 9–18. 

A. Lyft Has Not Met the Threshold Requirement as to Ikorongo Texas LLC, But It Has 

Met the Threshold Requirement as to Ikorongo Technology LLC.

Lyft has not met its burden to show that Ikorongo Texas’s current action could have 

initially been brought in the Northern District of California. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1400(b), a patent 

infringement action “may be brought” in any judicial district “where the defendant has committed 

acts of infringement and has a regular and established place of business.” 28 U.S.C. § 1400(b). 

Ikorongo alleges Lyft committed acts of infringement in the United States and does not dispute it 

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has a regular and established place of business in the Northern District of California. However, 

Ikorongo argues that this case could not have been brought in the Northern District because 

Ikorongo Texas owns exclusive rights under the Asserted Patents only in a geographic location 

that includes this District. Resp. at 5. According to Ikorongo, this ownership only permits Ikorongo 

Texas to file suit in this geographic location because Lyft’s alleged acts of infringement with 

respect to Ikorongo Texas only occur within this geographic location. Id. at 8.1

The Court agrees. Waterman v. Mackenzie, 138 U.S. 252 (1891) and 35 U.S.C. § 261, 

which Ikorongo references in support of its argument, provide the principles that an applicant, 

patentee, or the individual’s assigns or legal representatives can convey an exclusive right under 

his application to the whole or any specified part of the United States. These rights include the 

right to sue infringers. Waterman, 138 U.S. at 255. The Specified Part allows Ikorongo Texas to 

protect its rights to the patent within the prescribed geographic region.

Lyft argues that the Court should focus on a defendant’s contacts with the transferee forum 

when determining the threshold issue rather than if a plaintiff can sue in the transferee forum based 

on contractual permissions. Reply at 2, 3. Lyft incorrectly casts Ikorongo Texas’s Specified Part 

as incidental to Lyft’s contacts with the proposed transferee forum. Of course, a defendant’s mere 

contacts with the proposed forum does not satisfy the threshold question’s test. As noted above, a 

plaintiff can bring an action in any district where the defendant has a regular and established place 

of business and where the defendant has committed acts of infringement. 28 U.S.C. § 1400(b). 

While Lyft protests that the Specified Part cannot fix venue, it misses the fact that infringement 

itself is not fixed in one venue. Indeed, the Supreme Court recognized as far back as Waterman 

1

Because neither party argues that Lyft cannot satisfy this issue as to Ikorongo Technology LLC, the Court will 

simply state the threshold issue has been satisfied as to Ikorongo Technology.

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that assignment of an exclusive right to make, use, and vend a patented machine within a district 

gives the grantee the right to sue for infringement within that district because the assignment 

excludes all others, even the patentee, from making, using, or vending like machines within that 

particular district. Waterman, 138 U.S. at 256. Thus, the focus turns not to where Lyft committed

any alleged acts of infringement but to where Lyft committed any alleged acts of infringement as 

to Ikorongo Texas. Any alleged infringement by Lyft of Ikorongo Texas’s Specified Part could 

have only occurred within the geographic locations described in the specialized part. As with the 

hypothetical grantee in Waterman, Ikorongo Texas only has the right to sue for infringement that 

occurred within the districts included in its assignment. 

Lyft argues that the Court should not endorse Ikorongo’s “gamesmanship” because any 

patent holder could defeat § 1404 by simply creating a new entity and assigning that new entity 

the right to sue only in a particular district. Reply at 2–3. The Court does not agree. First, a suit 

brought on any Specified Part still must satisfy the venue requirements of § 1400(b). An assignee 

cannot simply avoid transfer by pointing to its geographically limited right. The district still must 

be either the district where the defendant resides or where the defendant has committed acts of 

infringement and has a regular and established place of business. In other words, assignment 

cannot grant a plaintiff access to a forum it could not access already. Second, regardless of whether

an entity’s right to sue has been limited by a Specified Part, an action may always be brought in 

the judicial district where the defendant resides. 28. U.S.C. 1400(b). A § 1404 motion to transfer 

to that district will always satisfy the threshold issue. Thus, Lyft has not met the threshold issue as 

to Ikorongo Texas. However, even assuming, arguendo, that Lyft has met the threshold issue as to 

Ikorongo Texas, the Volkswagen private and public interest factors do not support transfer. 

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B. The Volkswagen Private and Public Interest Factors Disfavor Transfer

In order to determine whether Lyft has demonstrated good cause, the Court must weigh the 

private and public interest factors catalogued in Volkswagen II. The private interest factors include:

“(1) the relative ease of access to sources of proof; (2) the availability of compulsory process to 

secure the attendance of witnesses; (3) the cost of attendance for willing witnesses; and (4) all 

other practical problems that make trial of a case easy, expeditious and inexpensive.” Volkswagen 

II, 545 F.3d at 315 (quoting Volkswagen I, 371 F.3d at 203). The public interest factors are “(1) 

the administrative difficulties flowing from court congestion; (2) the local interest in having 

localized interests decided at home; (3) the familiarity of the forum with the law that will govern 

the case; and (4) the avoidance of unnecessary problems of conflict of laws [or in] the application 

of foreign law.” Id. (quoting Volkswagen I, 371 F.3d at 203) (alterations in original). If, when 

added together, the relevant private and public interest factors are in equilibrium, or even if they 

do not clearly lean in favor of the transferee venue, the motion must be denied. Volkswagen II, 545 

F.3d at 315. Once again, the Court’s ultimate inquiry is which forum will best serve the 

convenience of the parties and the interests of justice. Koster v. Am. Lumbermens Mut. Cas. Co., 

330 U.S. 518, 527 (1947). 

In this case, the relevant factors do not support Lyft’s motion to transfer this case. Lyft has 

not shown that the Northern District of California is “clearly more convenient” than the Western 

District of Texas when weighing the Volkswagen private and public interest.

1. The Private Interest Factors Do Not Clearly Establish that the Northern District 

of California is a More Convenient Venue

In considering private factors, the Court necessarily engages in a comparison between the 

hardships the defendant would suffer through the retention of jurisdiction and the hardships the 

plaintiff would suffer from transferring the action to the transferee venue. Cf. Iragorri v. United 

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Technologies Corp., 274 F.3d 65, 74 (2d Cir. 2001) (stating courts engage in such a comparison 

for forum non conveniens analyses). The Court will assess each of these factors in turn.

i. The Relative Ease of Access to Sources of Proof

A court looks to where documentary evidence, such as documents and physical evidence, 

is stored when considering the first private interest factor. Volkswagen II, 545 F.3d at 316. “To 

properly consider this factor, parties must “describe with specificity the evidence they would not 

be able to obtain if trial were held in the [alternate forum].” Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno, 454 U.S. 

235, 258 (1981).

Lyft claims the ease of access to sources of proof compared across venues weighs heavily 

in favor of transfer, stating that the greatest volume of evidence is with its own engineers and key 

third parties located in the Northern District of California. Mot. to Transfer at 10–11. Specifically, 

Lyft argues that working files as well as electronic and physical paper documents concerning the 

conception and development reside on local computers in the Northern District of California. Id.

at 10. Additionally, Lyft alleges that Ikorongo has not identified any evidence in this District. Id.

at 11. 

Ikorongo responds to Lyft’s contentions by advancing two arguments. First, Ikorongo

argues this factor weighs against transfer because Lyft could access sources of proof just as easily 

in this District as in the proposed transferee district and that certain sources of proof are not even 

accessible in the proposed transferee district. Resp. at 9–10. According to Ikorongo, key thirdparty documents from Google are electronically accessible from anywhere and are not physically 

present in the Northern District of California. Id. Additionally, Ikorongo challenges the 

competence of Lyft’s evidence on this factor. Id. at 10–11. 

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In its reply, Lyft reiterates that key third-party sources of proof are located in the Northern 

District of California and that its own documents are stored on local computers within that district. 

Reply at 3–4. 

The Court determines the ease of access to sources of proof factor weighs in favor of 

transfer. Given that Lyft is the accused infringer, it will likely have the bulk of the documents that 

are relevant in this case. See, e.g., In re Genentech, Inc., 566 F.3d 1338, 1345 (Fed. Cir. 2009) (“In 

patent infringement cases, the bulk of the relevant evidence usually comes from the accused 

infringer. Consequently, the place where the defendant's documents are kept weighs in favor of 

transfer to that location.”). Therefore, the Court finds that the location of the documents relevant 

in this case tilts this factor towards transfer.2

2

Although the Court wishes to make clear that it has followed Fifth Circuit precedent regarding this factor, the Court 

believes that the factor itself is at odds with the realities of modern patent litigation. In patent disputes like the one 

now before the Court, relevant documents are typically located on a server, which may or may not be in the 

transferee district (or given the use of cloud-based storage, may be located on multiple servers in multiple districts, 

or even multiple countries) and are equally accessible from both the transferee and transferor districts. Therefore, in 

this Court's view, there is no difference in the relative ease of access to sources of proof from the transferor district 

as compared to the transferee district when the vast bulk of documents are electronic. District courts — particularly 

those with patent-heavy dockets that have very significant document productions — have recently begun to 

acknowledge this reality. Uniloc USA Inc. v. Samsung Elecs. Am., No. 2:16-cv-00642-JRG, ECF No. 216 at 8-9 

(E.D. Tex. Apr. 19, 2017) ("Despite the absence of newer cases acknowledging that in today's digital world 

computer stored documents are readily moveable to almost anywhere at the click of a mouse, the Court finds it odd 

to ignore this reality in favor of a fictional analysis that has more to do with early Xerox machines than modem 

server forms."). The Court emphasizes that this factor was meant to be one of convenience, developed in a now 

antiquated world where hauling hundreds of boxes of physical documents across the country was most impractical. 

Indeed, it seems odd that, despite the likely relative ease of access to all kinds of relevant documents in today’s 

digital world, a party (and a technologically savvy one at that) can automatically tilt a private factor in this analysis 

in its favor and away from a plaintiff’s selected forum simply by raising its hand and acknowledging its status as the 

alleged infringer. However, under current Fifth Circuit precedent, the physical location of electronic documents 

affects this factor’s outcome. See, e.g., Volkswagen II, 545 F.3d at 316. Even though it would not have changed the 

outcome of this motion, this Court expresses its hope that the Fifth Circuit will consider addressing and amending its 

precedent to explicitly give district courts the discretion to fully consider the ease of accessing electronic documents.

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ii. The Availability of Compulsory Process to Secure the Attendance of 

Witnesses

When balancing this factor, the Court considers the availability of compulsory process to 

secure the attendance of witnesses whose attendance may require a court order. Volkswagen II, 

545 F.3d at 316.

In its initial brief, Lyft asserts this factor weighs in favor of transfer because the majority

of third-party witnesses who it expects to testify, two inventors, and various prior art witnesses are 

located in the Northern District of California. Mot. to Transfer at 12. Ikorongo responds to Lyft’s 

arguments by stating the factor weighs against transfer. Resp. at 11–13. Ikorongo argues Lyft has 

not provided evidentiary support that the majority of third-party witnesses reside in the proposed 

transferee district and that the Court should not credit this argument. Id. at 11. Ikorongo also argues 

that the factor weighs against transfer because third-party Google is located in this District. Id. at 

12. Finally, Ikorongo alleges that third-party end users reside in this District, and it might need to 

subpoena those individuals for trial. Id. at 12. In response, Lyft simply states Ikorongo has no say 

in who Lyft calls at trial and that Ikorongo can call third-party end users in the proposed transferee 

district as well. Reply at 4.

After considering the parties’ arguments, the Court finds this factor neutral. First, as to 

Lyft’s arguments that third-party witnesses, inventors, and prior art witnesses are not within the 

Court’s subpoena power, this Court has previously held that certain third parties with locations 

within this District and their employees do fall within the Court’s subpoena power. Parkervision, 

Inc. v. Intel Corp., No. 6:20-cv-00108, 2021 WL ________, at *7 (W.D. Tex. Jan. 26, 2021). 

Additionally, as this Court has previously held, to the extent that Lyft intends to use these witnesses 

as third-party art witnesses as it indicates in its Motion, the Court notes that prior art witnesses are 

generally unlikely to testify at trial, and the weight afforded their presence in this transfer analysis 

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is minimal. CloudofChange, LLC v. NCR Corp., No. 6:19-cv-00513, 2020 WL 6439178, at *4 

(W.D. Tex. Mar. 17, 2020); Fintiv, Inc., 2019 WL 4743678, at *5; East Tex. Boot Co., LLC v. 

Nike, Inc., No. 2:16-cv-0290-JRG-RSP, 2017 WL 28559065 at *4 (E.D. Tex. Feb. 15, 2017).

Second, and perhaps more to the point, Lyft has not shown any potential witness is 

unwilling to testify. When no party has alleged or shown any witness’s unwillingness, a court 

should not attach much weight to the compulsory process factor. Duha v. Agrium, Inc., 448 F.3d 

867, 877 (6th Cir. 2006); CloudofChange, LLC, 2020 WL 6439178, at *4. Here, neither Lyft nor 

Ikorongo have identified any unwilling witnesses. Indeed, while Lyft points to certain third-party

employees as witnesses within the subpoena power of the Northern District of California, the Court 

is reluctant to give these witnesses weight because these parties collaborate with Lyft to implement 

their technology into Lyft products, which makes it unlikely that the employees would be unwilling 

to testify at a trial concerning Lyft. Parus Holdings Inc. v. LG Elecs. Inc., No. 6:19-cv-00432, 

2020 WL 4905809, at *4 (W.D. Tex. Aug. 20, 2020). Absent any showing of unwillingness, the 

Court will not attach much weight to this factor. Consequently, the Court finds this factor neutral. 

iii. The Cost of Attendance for Willing Witnesses

The convenience of witnesses is the most important factor in a § 1404(a) analysis.

Genentech, Inc., 566 F.3d at 1342. While a court should not consider the significance of identified 

witnesses’ testimonies, it should consider whether the witnesses may provide materially relevant 

evidence. Id. at 1343.

To assist in analyzing this factor, the Fifth Circuit adopted a “100-mile rule.” Volkswagen

I, 371 F.3d at 204–205; see also Volkswagen II, 545 F.3d at 317. “When the distance between an 

existing venue for trial of a matter and a proposed venue under § 1404(a) is more than 100 miles, 

the factor of inconvenience to witnesses increases in direct relationship to the additional distance 

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to be traveled.” Volkswagen I, 371 F.3d at 204–05. Consequently, the threshold question is whether 

the movant’s proposed venue and a plaintiff’s chosen venue are more than 100 miles apart. See 

Volkswagen II, 545 F.3d at 317. If the distance is greater, then a court will consider the distances 

between the witnesses and the two proposed venues. See id. Importantly, the venue need not be 

convenient for all witnesses. Genentech, Inc., 566 F.3d at 1345. If a substantial number of 

witnesses reside in one venue and no witnesses reside in another, the factor will weigh in favor of 

the venue where witnesses reside. See id.

As previously stated by this Court, “given typical time limits at trial, the Court does not 

assume that all of the party and third-party witnesses listed in 1404(a) briefing will testify at trial.” 

Fintiv, Inc., 2019 WL 4743678, at *6. Indeed, the Court assumes only a few party witnesses and 

even fewer non-party witnesses (if any) will testify at trial. Id. Consequently, long lists of potential 

party and non-party witnesses do not affect the Court's analysis for this factor. Id.

Lyft argues that this factor weighs in favor of transfer because its relevant party witnesses 

and third-party witnesses are within the Northern District of California. Mot. to Transfer at 12–13.

Lyft also argues that, given the COVID-19 pandemic and public health orders in the proposed 

transferee district, the Court should transfer the case to minimize travel and risk. Id. at 14–15. In 

response, Ikorongo argues that Lyft has not carried its burden to show that the proposed transferee 

district is clearly more convenient because relevant witnesses are scattered across the country. 

Resp. at 13–15. According to Ikorongo, the varied locations of these witnesses make this District 

more convenient than the proposed transferee district. Id. Additionally, Ikorongo also argues Lyft

failed to carry its burden on this factor because the cost of bringing witnesses to the Northern 

District of California far exceeds the cost of bringing them to this District. Id. at 14–15. Finally, 

Ikorongo believes Lyft’s arguments regarding travel during the COVID-19 pandemic are 

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speculative. Id. at 14. Lyft replies by stating it has many employees in the proposed transferee 

district who might have relevant and material information. Reply at 4–5. Lyft also states that any 

cost savings due to the difference in food and lodging costs between the two districts are irrelevant

because its employees would not require food and lodging in the proposed transferee district. Id.

at 5. Finally, Lyft argues that Ikorongo cannot make significant health choices for Lyft employees 

as it relates to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Id. 

The Court finds that this factor weighs only very slightly in favor of transfer. First, the 

convenience of party witnesses is typically given little weight because the witnesses’ employer 

could compel their testimony at trial. Turner v. Cincinnati Ins. Co., 6:19-cv-642-ADA-JCM, 2020 

WL 210809, at *4 (W.D. Tex. Jan. 14, 2020); Freehold Licensing, Inc. v. Aequitatem Capital 

Partners, LLC, A-18-cv-413 LY, 2018 WL 5539929, at *7 (W.D. Tex. Oct. 29, 2018). Some courts 

have considered how far these witnesses would need to travel if few or no witnesses reside within 

the current district. See, e.g., Genentech, Inc., 566 F.3d at 1345 (determining the convenience 

factor favored transfer, and not only slightly, in part because the defendants’ employees and 

managers would not have to travel as far and the foreign plaintiff had no connection to the current 

venue); contra Fintiv, Inc., 2019 WL 4743678, at *6 (stating the cost of attendance for party 

witnesses did not weigh for or against transfer because there were several potential witnesses in 

both potential venues). However, because courts give the convenience of party witnesses little

weight, the Court finds this consideration neutral irrespective of where these individuals may 

reside.

The Court also finds the arguments advanced by Lyft regarding the COVID-19 

pandemic speculative. With trial almost a year away and the seemingly weekly changes in 

vaccination availability, virus hot spots, and statewide restrictions, the Court cannot assess 

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convenience on the basis of this consideration. While the Court in no way attempts to diminish 

the concern and danger associated with living in a pandemic-ravaged world, the Court also 

recognizes that come trial time, the current prospects of these two venues might easily flip. 

As to Lyft’s argument that Ikorongo cannot make a travel choice for Lyft’s employees, the 

Court agrees. Lyft gets to make that choice when deciding whether to compel an unwilling 

employee to testify at the trial. 

The Court agrees with Lyft that Ikorongo’s failure to identify specific third-party witnesses 

in this District should factor into the analysis. The Court also recognizes that Lyft has established 

that it would be more convenient for certain third-party witnesses to testify in the Northern District 

of California. However, as mentioned above, this Court has previously recognized that only a few 

party witnesses and even fewer non-party witnesses will likely testify at trial. Fintiv, Inc., 2019 

WL 4743678, at *6. Moreover, given this reality, the Court finds the difference in cost of food and 

lodging somewhat relevant. Perhaps if every party and third-party witness were to testify, the costsavings between the two districts would offset or significantly tilt in favor of the proposed 

transferee district. Given the likelihood that not every identified third-party witness will testify, 

the Court finds these considerations not insignificant when evaluating this factor. Consequently, 

this factor weighs only slightly in favor of transfer. 

iv. Other Factors That Make Trial Easy, Expeditious, and Inexpensive

When considering a transfer motion, the court considers “all other practical problems that 

make trial of a case easy, expeditious and inexpensive.” Volkswagen II, 545 F.3d at 315. Lyft

initially asserted that this factor weighs neutrally because the case is in its infancy. Mot. to Transfer 

at 15–16. Ikorongo responded by arguing that transferring the case would actually be less 

expeditious because Ikorongo has filed suit against other entities, such as Bumble, in this District 

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on some of the same patents Resp. at 16–17. Ikorongo also claims that transfer would make the 

case more expensive and hinder the progress of the case. Id. at 17–18. Lyft counters by arguing 

the factor favors transfer because trying the case in this District would lead to unnecessary 

expenses and challenges. Reply at 6. Lyft also argues that the related cases should not factor into 

the analysis, especially given Ikorngo did not file a consolidated case. Id. 

The Court finds this factor weighs against transfer. Even if transfer may not cause delay as 

Lyft argues, the Court notes such a finding would not weigh for or against transfer. The fact that a 

transfer would not cause a delay does not mean it rises to the level of a practical problem that 

clearly shows the proposed transferee venue is more convenient. It simply shows transfer is 

feasible. 

While cases involving the same patents but different defendants, products, and witnesses 

will not necessarily be expedited by being in the same court, judicial economy may be served by 

having the Court try cases that involve the same patents. See Hammond Dev. Int’l, Inc. v. Google 

LLC, 1:20-cv-00342-ADA, 2020 WL 3452987 (W.D. Tex. June 24, 2020) (denying motion to 

transfer venue and finding that judicial economy was served by having the same district court try 

cases involving the same patents due to consolidation of the cases). As Ikorongo correctly points 

out, it has filed suit against Bumble in this District for infringing on patents asserted in this action, 

and Bumble withdrew its motion to transfer. Lyft’s argument that the lack of a consolidated case

prohibits the Court from considering the judicial economy of each case staying with the same court 

contradicts § 1404 principles and precedent. Granted, the co-pendency of suits does not 

automatically tip this factor in favor of the non-movant. In re Google Inc., No. 2017-107, 2017 

WL 977038, at *2 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 23, 2017). However, this simply means that the mere existence 

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of co-pending cases does not weigh against transfer. It does not mean co-pending cases should 

never affect the weight of this factor.

An examination of the previously cited case proves instructive. In Google, there were copending cases against Walmart, Google, and Amazon. Id. All three filed motions to transfer to the 

same venue. Id. at *1. The district court denied Walmart’s motion to transfer and found this factor 

weighed against transfer in large part because of the co-pending cases against Google and Amazon. 

Id. at *2. The district court then denied Google’s motion to transfer and found this factor weighed 

against transfer in large part because of the co-pending cases against Walmart and Amazon. Id. 

The Court of Appeals held that the district court incorrectly analyzed this factor because “[b]ased 

on the district court’s rationale . . . the mere co-pendency of related suits in a particular district 

would automatically tip the balance in non-movant’s favor regardless of the existence of copending transfer motions and their underlying merits.” Id. The outcome of the district court’s 

analysis of this factor would, at best, depend on which transfer motion the court ruled on first. Id. 

In other words, mere co-pendency cannot weigh against transfer; it must implicate issues of 

judicial economy, potentially inconsistent rulings, or expeditious litigation.

Here, co-pendency does raise these concerns. Ikorongo has a co-pending case against 

Bumble implicating the same patents in this District. That case will continue in this District. The 

Court emphasizes it does not find this factor weighs against transfer merely because Ikorongo has 

filed suits against multiple defendants in this District. Rather, judicial economy and the possibility 

of inconsistent rulings causes the Court to find this factor weighs against transfer, given that at 

least one of the co-pending cases will remain in this District.

2. The Public Interest Factors Do Not Clearly Establish the Northern District of 

California is a More Convenient Venue

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The relevant public-interest factors also do not favor transfer. As previously noted, these 

factors include: (1) the administrative difficulties flowing from court congestion; (2) the local 

interest in having localized interests decided at home; (3) the familiarity of the forum with the law 

governing the case; and (4) the avoidance of unnecessary problems of conflict of laws or the 

application of foreign law. Volkswagen II, 545 F.3d at 315. The Court will also consider each of 

these factors in turn.

i. Administrative Difficulties

Administrative difficulties manifest when litigation accumulates in congested centers 

instead of being handled at its origin. Gulf Oil, 330 U.S. at 508. This factor concerns “whether 

there is an appreciable difference in docket congestion between the two forums.” Parsons v. 

Chesapeake & Ohio Ry. Co., 375 U.S. 71, 73 (1963); Koehring Co. v. Hyde Constr. Co., 324 F.2d 

295, 296 (5th Cir. 1963). The relevant inquiry under this factor is the speed with which a case 

comes to trial and is resolved. Genentech, Inc., 566 F.3d at 1347.

Lyft states that, while this Court may be able to try this case earlier than the Northern 

District of California, time-to-trial is the most speculative of factors in this analysis. Mot. to 

Transfer at 16. Lyft also notes that the average time-to-trial in the Northern District of California 

was 2.3 months faster than this District for the twelve-month period ending March 31, 2020. Id. at 

16–17. Ikorongo, on the other hand, argues against transfer because the Court has set a trial date 

of January 2022 and surmises that the Northern District of California will suffer from more 

congestion than usual given the continued suspension of in-person proceedings due to the current 

COVID-19 pandemic. Resp. at 18–19. Ikorongo also points out that the Northern District of 

California only had one year where its average time-to-trial was faster than this District. Id. at 18. 

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Lyft responds by simply stating the previous five years’ data do not reflect the increase in patent 

litigation in this District. Reply at 6.

This Court recently had reason to analyze the difference in congestion between the 

Northern District of California and this District. Parus Holdings Inc., 2020 WL 4905809, at *7. 

At that time, this Court’s time-to-trial was 25% faster than the Northern District of California. Id. 

The Court notes this time-to-trial statistic post-dates the statistics cited by Lyft. Further, the 

comparison of time to trial throughout the Western District of Texas may overlook a faster timeto-trial within the Waco Division. Importantly, the Waco Division has its own patent-specific 

Order Governing Proceedings ("OGP") that ensures efficient administration of patent cases. In 

fact, a trial date has already been set in January 2022, which is roughly 11 months away. These

facts indicate a greater efficiency of bringing cases, especially patent cases, to trial in the Western 

District of Texas than in the Northern District of California. This factor weighs against transfer.

ii. Local Interests

There is “a local interest in having localized controversies decided at home.” Gulf Oil Corp. 

v. Gilbert, 330 U.S. 501, 511 (1947); Piper Aircraft, 454 U.S. 235, 260 (1981).

Lyft argues that the Northern District of California has a stronger local interest in this 

litigation than the Western District of Texas because Lyft integrates the accused functionality in 

the proposed transferee district. Mot. to Transfer at 17. To further bolster this position, Lyft points 

out that Ikorongo Texas formed only a few weeks before it filed suit against Lyft and has a North 

Carolina address. Id. In response, Ikorongo alleges Lyft ignores the fact that Ikorongo Texas’s 

claims relate to infringement in Texas and this District. Resp. at 19. Lyft replies by stating 

Ikorongo’s argument that Ikorongo Texas has exclusive patent rights in this District ignores 

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Ikorongo Technology’s rights in the proposed transferee district. Reply at 6. Lyft also argues no 

accused product development occurred in this District. 

The Court finds this factor weighs neutrally for the reasons that follow. First, Lyft rightly 

arguesthat the infringement of an accused product offered nationwide does not allow for any venue 

to claim a substantial interest. In re Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., 587 F.3d 1333, 1338 (Fed. Cir. 

2009). Such arguments in this regard typically speak more to whether an entity could reasonably 

expect to be hailed into court in this District, not whether this District is more convenient for 

parties, witnesses, and in the interest of justice. The localized interest of a district exists when “the 

cause of action calls into question the work and reputation of several individuals residing in or 

near that district who presumably conduct business in that community.” Id. at 1336. Such a 

situation presents itself here. 

However, these interests are mitigated because a company’s presence in a particular district 

weighs only slightly in favor of transfer because “it is generally a fiction that patent cases give rise 

to local controversy or interest, particularly without record evidence suggesting otherwise.”

Found. Med., Inc., 2017 WL 590297, at *4. Along with this fiction, Ikorongo Texas’s claims do 

specifically relate to infringement in this District. This fact holds true regardless of when the entity 

formed because Ikorongo Texas has the exclusive right to assert infringement claims that arise 

within this District. Accordingly, the Court finds that the local interest in having localized interests 

decided at home weighs neutrally.

iii. Familiarity of the Forum with the Law That Will Govern the Case

Lyft believes this factor is neutral. Mot. to Transfer at 18. Ikorongo argues that Texas 

employment law will likely be relevant in determining agency issues between Lyft and its drivers. 

Resp. at 19. Lyft replies by arguing Ikorongo has not demonstrated how Texas employment law 

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would impact this litigation. The Court agrees. Both districts are well versed in patent law, and the 

Court fails to see how Texas employment law rather than federal patent law will govern this case. 

The Court finds this factor neutral. 

iv. Avoiding Conflict of Laws and the Application of Foreign Laws Factors

Both parties agree that this factor is neutral. Mot. to Transfer at 18; Resp. at 19. The Court 

also agrees.

IV. Conclusion

Having found that Lyft has not met the threshold issue as to Ikorongo Texas and, even if it 

has satisfied the threshold issue, that the access to proof and the cost of attendance for willing 

witnesses weigh in favor or only slightly in favor of transfer while other practical problems that 

make trial of a case easy, expeditious and inexpensive, and administrative difficulties weigh 

against transfer with the other factors being neutral, the Court finds that Lyft has not met its “heavy 

burden” to demonstrate that the Northern District of California is “clearly more convenient.” 

Volkswagen II, 545 F.3d at 314 n.10, 315. 

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendant Lyft’s Motion to Transfer (ECF No. 30) 

is DENIED. It is further ORDERED that the above-styled case remain on the docket of United 

States District Judge Alan D Albright.

SIGNED this 1st day of March, 2021.

ALAN D ALBRIGHT

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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