Winning the Blackbird Battle

On February 14, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a lower court decision dismissing the patent infringement case brought by Blackbird Tech against Cloudflare. This marks the end of a two-year legal battle that began in March 2017. Despite the swift and decisive ruling, the process was costly and time-consuming for both parties involved. The case highlights the dysfunctional nature of patent trolling and the appeal of quick settlements for those sued by patent trolls. Cloudflare's efforts on Project Jengo aimed to change this long-term calculus and help others facing similar situations in the future.