Every SAD Scheme Opinion Is Weird In Its Own Way–Cai v. Chaozhoushi Yitong Dianzi Shangwu Youxiangongsi

This case generally follows the SAD Scheme template, but with several twists: it’s in the Western District of Texas, not the more typical N.D. Ill. it’s a copyright claim rather than the more typical trademark claim it’s against a single defendant, not dozens or hundreds of defendants it’s filed by the Valley & Summit Law firm, a relatively new firm (formed 2024) I haven’t encountered before. The firm’s principal says in her bio: “Ms. Ouyang started her IP practice by helping cross-border e-commerce stores defend draconian IP lawsuits. Over the years, Ms. Ouyang accumulated abundant experience in the fun area of IP litigation.” Switching sides and bringing SAD Scheme lawsuits is my idea of “fun” too. it’s in front of a new judge, Judge Andrew Bray Davis, who just took the bench in April. I’ve previously suggested that recent judges tend to be more skeptical of SAD Scheme cases than judges who have rubber-stamped them for years, though I’m not sure this opinion supports that…