Texas remains the epicenter of U.S. patent litigation, but shifting venue dynamics, Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) policy changes and a new wave of artificial intelligence infrastructure disputes are reshaping how cases will unfold in 2026.
Yetter Coleman LLP partners Jeffrey Andrews and Natalie Gonzales, along with senior counsel Christopher Johnson and Bailey Watkins, co-authored a chapter on these Texas trends and developments for the 2026 Chambers Patent Litigation Practice Guide.
The piece titled “Venue Realignment, PTAB Crosswinds and the Rise of AI Infrastructure Disputes” examines three forces expected to drive patent litigation outcomes in Texas this year: the realignment of venue dynamics in the Eastern and Western Districts, evolving discretionary review practices at the PTAB and the emergence of high-stakes disputes involving AI infrastructure and advanced semiconductor systems.
Recent changes to case assignment in the Western District of Texas, combined with a resurgence of filings in the Eastern District, are reshaping where patent lawsuits are litigated and how courts evaluate requests to transfer cases between venues. Proposed rule changes at the PTAB may also require companies to decide earlier whether to challenge patent validity through administrative review or litigate those issues in district court.
Texas courts are also seeing a growing wave of disputes involving artificial intelligence infrastructure and advanced semiconductor technologies. These cases are placing renewed focus on what types of innovations qualify for patent protection and how courts assess damages in large, technology-driven disputes.
The chapter offers practical direction for clients and practitioners navigating Texas courts in 2026, including front-loading venue strategy, developing invalidity defenses early and integrating technical and damages work at the outset of litigation.
Read the full chapter here.