Apple Closes Texas Retail Stores to Evade Patent Trolls
Apple is shutting down two retail stores in the Eastern District of Texas to shield itself from patent infringement lawsuits. Affected employees receive new positions within the company as a replacement store opens nearby.
Apple confirms that it closes its retail stores in Plano and Frisco, Texas, as part of a strategic move to avoid patent infringement lawsuits. By removing its physical presence from the Eastern District of Texas, Apple limits the ability of patent assertion entities to file lawsuits against the tech giant in this plaintiff-friendly jurisdiction.
The company shuts down the Apple Willow Bend and Apple Stonebriar locations permanently, but immediately replaces them with a new store at the Galleria Dallas mall. Apple ensures a smooth transition for its workforce by offering new jobs to all impacted retail employees, preventing any negative impact on the local job market.
This decision highlights Apple's ongoing frustration with patent trolls like VirnetX, which previously forces the company to pay over $1.4 billion in total damages. Although a recent Supreme Court ruling restricts where patent holders can file lawsuits, Apple takes this additional geographic step to further protect itself from future costly litigation.