Lex Machina 2025 Patent Litigation Report Shows 22% Surge in Filings and Record $4.3B in Damages

By Carla Rydholm | Lex Machina General Manager and Head of Product 

The 2025 Lex Machina® Patent Litigation Report reveals a striking 22% increase in U.S. patent case filings and a record-breaking $4.3 billion in damages awarded in 2024. Drawing from the industry’s most comprehensive Legal Analytics(R) platform, the report offers critical insights into patent litigation trends, including shifts in venue, rising specialty patent disputes, and strategic implications for legal teams and IP stakeholders. 

The high-stakes landscape of U.S. patent litigation saw trends of record-breaking damages awards and a reshuffling of preferred venues, according to the Lex Machina 2025 Patent Litigation Report. 

Over the past four years, annual patent damages have consistently exceeded $1 billion, with both the number of awards and their monetary value growing year over year. In 2024, patent damages set a new benchmark, with record-breaking total damages alongside the highest number of patent cases with damage awards granted in a single year. 

For legal practitioners navigating this evolving terrain, the data reveals both opportunities and strategic considerations that will shape litigation decisions in the coming years. 

Patent Damages Reach Unprecedented $4.3 Billion 

2024 marked a year of record-setting financial outcomes for patent holders: 

• Total damages awarded: $4.3B — the highest in Lex Machina’s 10-year dataset 

• Over 90 patent cases resulted in damages awards — another annual record 

This milestone reflects a trend of growing valuation of intellectual property, with high-dollar outcomes likely to influence litigation strategy, funding models, and portfolio enforcement.  

Eastern District of Texas Reclaims Top Venue Status 

After several years of reduced activity post-TC Heartland, the Eastern District of Texas reclaimed its position as the most active venue for patent litigation:  

• It led all districts in new filings in both 2023 and 2024  

• Judge James Rodney Gilstrap presided over nearly 800 new patent cases in 2024, more than six times his closest peer 

This resurgence comes at the expense of previously favored venues. For practitioners, this shift signals a renewed preference for the Eastern District's patent-friendly procedures and experienced judiciary, though it also raises questions about forum shopping and case management efficiency. 

Specialized Patent Litigation: Design and ANDA Cases Climb  

Two specialized areas of intellectual property litigation saw significant momentum in 2024.  

• Design patent litigation surged by over 30% in 2024, continuing an ongoing recovery from the 2016-2019 decline, largely attributable to patent owners flocking to the Northern District of Illinois to file suit against alleged counterfeiters selling knockoff goods on online marketplaces.  

• ANDA (Abbreviated New Drug Application) patent litigation rose by more than 20%, marking three consecutive years of expansion and highlighting the ongoing importance of generic drug market access and pharmaceutical patent challenges, providing opportunities for practitioners specializing in Hatch-Waxman Act disputes. 

These patterns point to growing demand for specialized legal expertise and present business development opportunities for IP litigators in these segments. 

Strategic Implications for Practitioners 

These trends offer clear signals for in-house legal teams, IP boutiques, and Large Law firms alike: 

- Plaintiffs may find greater value in pursuing enforcement, given the record damages and favorable venues like EDTX 

- Defendants should prioritize early-stage PTAB challenges, venue motions, and risk assessment to avoid exposure to high-dollar outcomes 

- Specialized expertise in design patent law and ANDA disputes is increasingly valuable for capturing new market share 

The Lex Machina 2025 Patent Litigation Report demonstrates both the enduring value of intellectual property rights and the continuing evolution of enforcement strategies. As damage awards reach record levels and venue preferences shift dramatically, practitioners must adapt their approaches to capitalize on these trends while effectively serving their clients in an increasingly high-stakes environment. 

Experience Lex Machina 

Lex Machina, the LexisNexis® Legal Analytics® platform, provides strategic insights on judges, lawyers, law firms, parties, and other critical information across 22 federal practice areas and a rapidly growing number of state courts. With the industry’s most comprehensive and powerful litigation dataset, Lex Machina enables companies and law firms to make data-empowered decisions for case strategy and business development. 

Learn more about Lex Machina at LexisNexis.com/LexMachina