What happens to a patent case in bankruptcy?

Does every patent case stop?

No blanket answer works. Under 11 U.S.C. 362(a), the stay generally reaches specified proceedings and collection efforts against the debtor, including continuation of a prepetition action against it. The statute has exceptions and permits relief from the stay. A patent owner's bankruptcy does not, simply because it is the plaintiff, make every claim it brought a stayed action against the debtor. Counterclaims and efforts involving estate property need separate analysis.

What happens to a patent license?

Section 365(n) gives certain intellectual-property licensees an election when a debtor-licensor rejects an executory license. A licensee may retain specified existing rights for the contractual term and available extensions, subject to statutory conditions including continued royalty payments. This is a particular protection, not a rule that every license survives every bankruptcy event unchanged.

What should I collect for counsel?

Provide the bankruptcy petition and orders, the patent-case docket, any judgment, and complete licenses and amendments. Identify deadlines and pending payments. Review district-court, agency, and collection proceedings separately before taking the next step; do not assume a stay either covers or excludes an ITC proceeding without that analysis.