Ashley Furniture, La-Z-Boy Denied Quick Exit in 3D Patent Suit

Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. and La-Z-Boy Inc. came up empty in their bid for a quick exit from a patent suit over a 3D interior design system, as an East Texas judge rejected arguments the patent covered an abstract idea.

Judge Sean Jordan of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas denied the furniture companies’ motion to dismiss AR Design Innovations LLC’s suit. The companies argued U.S. Patent No. 7,277,572 is invalid because it covers only an abstract idea.

Jordan said AR Design’s patent is directed to specific improvements to the functioning of a computer that make ...