Match, Bumble End Dating App Patent, Trademark Litigation (1)

Tinder owner Match Group LLC and the makers of competing dating app Bumble jointly agreed to dismiss a Texas federal court case in which Match accused Bumble Trading Inc. of infringing its dating-app patents and trademarks.

Bumble—created by former Tinder executives—was sued by Match for infringing patents covering dating app technology, trademarks related to Tinder’s “Swipe” function, and trade dress in the app’s design. Bumble countered with accusations that Match engaged in fraudulent buyout negotiations with it.

In April, Match accused Bumble of exploiting the Covid-19 crisis in an attempt to postpone the case until the Patent Trial and Appeal Board could rule on its request to invalidate the patents.

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board Friday announced its termination of Bumble’s challenges to three of Match’s patents. Bumble and Match jointly asked the PTAB to terminate the patent reviews.

The parties’ attorneys didn’t immediately respond to a request for more information about the court case’s dismissal. The court filing said the parties would dismiss all of the claims and counterclaims with prejudice.

Judge Alan D. Albright is hearing the case.

Caldwell Cassady & Curry PC and Naman Howell Smith & Lee PLLC represent Match. The Dacus Firm PC and Cooley LLP represent Bumble.

—With assistance from Ian Lopez

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The case is Match Group LLC v. Bumble Trading Inc., W.D. Tex., No. 6:18-cv-00080, joint motion to dismiss filed 6/18/20.