Meta Wins Dismissal of Online Advertising Patent Challenge

Meta Platforms Inc. defeated accusations its online advertising violates Adnexus Inc.'s protected technology because a federal judge determined the challenger hadn’t provided enough factual details to support its allegations.

The lawsuit lacked “sufficient factual allegations” to state a claim that Meta infringes Adnexus’s patent, Judge Jason Pulliam, of the US District Court for the Western District of Texas, said in a Feb. 2 opinion. Without a plausible claim for direct infringement, Pulliam added, Adnexus’ derivative claims for indirect, contributory, and willful infringement also fail.

Adnexus’s complaint against Meta was filed in February 2023 as part of its campaign ...