The complaint

BozeMN LLC d/b/a Oros filed BozeMN LLC d/b/a Oros v. Solitude Fly Company, Inc., No. 2:26-cv-12797, in the Central District of California on November 2, 2026. Oros demands a jury.

Oros says it is a Montana limited liability company with its principal place of business in Belgrade, Montana, that sells fly fishing equipment, including strike indicators, the buoyant devices anglers attach to a line or leader to see when a fish takes a fly. The complaint alleges, on information and belief, that Solitude is a California corporation based in Alhambra, California, that markets, distributes, and sells fly fishing products, including through its website. It pleads venue under 28 U.S.C. 1391 and 1400(b), alleging that Solitude resides in the district, has committed acts of infringement there, and has a regular and established place of business there.

The patent and claim 1

The complaint asserts U.S. Patent 12,137,678, titled Indicator with Internal Attachment Mechanism, which issued November 12, 2024 on an application filed March 7, 2022. It alleges that Oros owns all right, title, and interest in the patent, that the claims are valid and enforceable, and that Oros has complied with the marking requirements of 35 U.S.C. 287(a).

Claim 1 covers a strike indicator assembly with a top hemisphere and a bottom hemisphere. Each is made of a compressible foam, is substantially hemispherical on the outside, and has an initially uncompressed inner surface with an outer perimeter region surrounding a central region recessed inward into the foam. A rigid internal component holds a fishing line: a male screw coupling component made of a rigid material is affixed to the top hemisphere at its recessed central region, inside a volume defined within the foam, and a female nut coupling component made of a rigid material is affixed to the bottom hemisphere the same way and is configured to rotationally engage the screw component. The two components hold the fishing line between them in place and prevent slip or movement of the line when engaged. Compressing the outer perimeter regions when they are engaged at least partially flattens the two inner surfaces against one another, providing a friction fit that prevents the nut component from rotating relative to the screw component.

The accused product

The complaint accuses the V-Drop Strike Indicator, which it shows in several sizes, assembled and disassembled. It alleges, on information and belief, that Solitude makes, uses, sells, offers for sale, and imports the product, and that the product meets every limitation of at least claim 1, literally or under the doctrine of equivalents, as illustrated in a claim chart in Exhibit 2.

Notice and willfulness

Oros says it sent Solitude a letter on October 6, 2026 giving express notice of the alleged infringement, with a claim chart, and that Solitude acknowledged receipt but continues to make, use, sell, and offer for sale the V-Drop Strike Indicator. The complaint alleges that the infringement is knowing, intentional, and willful, and that Solitude's conduct is egregious.

The count and relief

The complaint has one count, infringement of the '678 patent under 35 U.S.C. 271(a), alleging direct infringement of one or more claims, including claim 1. The prayer asks for a judgment that the patent is valid and enforceable and has been infringed; an injunction against further infringement and against making, using, importing, offering for sale, or selling the V-Drop Strike Indicator, colorable imitations of it, and any other infringing products; an accounting of damages, with enhanced damages of up to three times under 35 U.S.C. 284 and interest; actual damages, including lost profits, and no less than a reasonable royalty; and an exceptional-case finding with attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses under 35 U.S.C. 285.

What to watch next

Watch for Solitude's response to the complaint.