Tenant Turner Wins Decision in Rently Patent Infringement Lawsuit
In late March, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the district court’s decision to dismiss the patent lawsuit between Consumer 2.0, Inc. (dba “Rently”) and Tenant Turner, Inc.
“We not only defended ourselves from Rently’s misguided patent, but we also defended the property management industry’s freedom to choose the best leasing software provider from the marketplace as it deems fit,” said James Barrett, Tenant Turner’s CEO. “Rently attempted to preempt the entire concept of self-access viewings. This is a huge win for renters and property managers everywhere.”
Rently filed suit against Tenant Turner July 3, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The court dismissed Rently’s complaint later that year following oral arguments and again in April 2019. Rently appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit May 3, 2019. Oral arguments were presented before a three-judge panel of the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals March 5, 2020. The court unanimously affirmed the District’s dismissal March 9, 2020.
The patent in question broadly described the concept of self-access viewings of properties for lease by property management firms. The court dismissed the case in favor of Tenant Turner and stated the disputed claim in the patent is an abstract idea not valid for patent protection.
