Compliance Software Sol’ns. Corp. v. MODA Tech. Partners, Inc., No. 07 C 6752, 2008 WL 2960711 (N.D. Ill. Jul. 31, 2008) (Manning, J.)

Judge Manning granted defendants’ (collectively “MODA”) Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(2) motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. MODA was a Pennsylvania resident, as were its employees. Its alleged Illinois contacts were: 1) attendance at an Illinois trade show, Pittcon, where it demonstrated its software – software that allegedly infringed plaintiff CSSC’s patent and copyright covering CSSC’s environmental monitoring software; and 2) signing a contract with an Illinois choice of law provision.

MODA’s Pittcon attendance did not create specific jurisdiction because MODA just presented its software and tried to generate interest in it. MODA did not sell its software or “use” it. Pittcon attendance, therefore, did not create jurisdiction. Similarly, MODA’s alleged offer to sell its software in Illinois did not create jurisdiction. The offer did not include a price term, a requirement for a legal offer to sell.

Finally, MODA’s execution of a contract governed by Illinois law did not create jurisdiction. While Illinois law governed the contract, it did not include a forum selection clause making Illinois the exclusive forum. Without the exclusive forum selection clause, the contract did not create jurisdiction.