Southern District of New York (S.D.N.Y.)

You Win Some and Lose Some: Judge Liman Decides Competing Motions to Compel

September 10, 2026
Lewis V. Popovski and Alexander A. Ivanovic

On September 4, 2026, District Judge Lewis J. Liman (S.D.N.Y.) granted in part and denied in part Plaintiff Lashify, Inc.’s (“Lashify”) motion to compel discovery and denied Defendants Qingdao Network Technology Co., Ltd., d/b/a UCoolMe and Vivicute Limited’s (“UCoolMe”) motion to compel. Lashify, Inc. v. Qingdao Network Tech. Co., Ltd., No. 25-cv-4183 (S.D.N.Y. Sep. 4, 2026).

Lashify’s Motion to Compel

Lashify moved to compel UCoolMe to provide responses to discovery requests relating to: (i) product samples and raw materials; (ii) manufacturing; (iii) employees and supply chain; (iv) marketing; and (v) finances. Id. at *2. The Court found that each of those topics were relevant under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a) and that UCoolMe did not sufficiently respond to discovery requests related to them. Id.

For example, UCoolMe responded to Lashify’s discovery requests regarding (i) product samples and raw materials by stating that it “struggled” to find inventory to produce samples. Id. The Court held that such a response was insufficient and that UCoolMe had an obligation to conduct a reasonable inquiry of documents in its possession, custody, or control, and locate them. Id. Similarly, UCoolMe responded to requests concerning (ii) manufacturing by stating that it does not engage in manufacturing. Id. The Court found that even if UCoolMe did not technically “manufacture” the Accused Products, it still should have produced documents (including communications) regarding its manufacturers. Id. at *2–3. Accordingly, the Court granted Lashify’s motion to compel for all discovery requests at issue except for ones the parties were planning on discussing in upcoming meet and confers. Id. at *3.

UCoolMe’s Motion to Compel

UCoolMe moved to compel Lashify to provide responses to its requests for production of documents (“RFPs”), requests for admission (“RFAs”), and interrogatories (“ROGs”). Id. at *3–4. The Court denied UCoolMe’s motion for each of the requests at issue. Id. First, the Court denied UCoolMe’s motion to compel responses to its RFPs because it found that Lashify had either produced (or agreed to produce) all non-privileged documents responsive to UCoolMe’s requests. Id. at *3. Next, the Court denied UCoolMe’s motion to compel responses to its RFAs because UCoolMe filed a “blanket” motion that lacked the specificity required under Local Rule 37.1. Id. at *4.

Regarding the ROGs at issue, UCoolMe moved to compel responses to ROGs related to Lashify’s compliance with the patent marking statute, 35 U.S.C. § 287(a). Id. at *3. The Court found that an alleged infringer challenging a patentee’s compliance with § 287 bears the initial burden of articulating the products it believes are unmarked “patented articles.” Id. at *4 (citing Arctic Cat Inc. v. Bombardier Recreational Prods. Inc., 876 F.3d 1350, 1368 (Fed. Cir. 2017)). Because UCoolMe did not articulate any alleged unmarked products, the Court denied its motion. Id.

The Case is Lashify, Inc. v. Qingdao Network Tech. Co., Ltd., No. 25-cv-4183 (S.D.N.Y. Sep. 4, 2026).