Uniloc USA, Inc. et al v. Apple Inc., No. 3:2018cv00359 - Document 95 (N.D. Cal. 2018)
Court Description: ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART 57 MOTION TO DISMISS (granting in part and denying in part 60 ) by Judge Alsup. (whalc2, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/2/2018)
Download PDF
<![CDATA[
Uniloc USA, Inc. et al v. Apple Inc. Doc. 95 1 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 UNILOC USA, INC.; and UNILOC LUXEMBOURG, S.A., Plaintiffs, 12 13 14 15 No. C 18-00359 WHA v. ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART MOTION TO DISMISS APPLE INC., Defendant. / 16 17 18 INTRODUCTION In this patent infringement action, defendant moves to dismiss the amended complaint. 19 The motion is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. 20 STATEMENT 21 Plaintiffs Uniloc USA, Inc., and Uniloc Luxembourg, S.A. (collectively, “Uniloc”) 22 accuse defendant Apple Inc. of directly and indirectly infringing “at least” claims 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 23 11, 13, 16–18, and 20–21 of U.S. Patent No. 6,580,422 (“the ’422 patent”), literally or “through 24 other software utilizing the same or reasonably similar functionality” (see Dkt. No. 57-2). 25 The ’422 patent claims “[a] remote computer display for a portable computing device 26 (PCD) utilizing the transfer of graphics primitives over a wireless data link” (Dkt. No. 1-2, 27 Abstract). As the patent explains, drawing an image on a remote video display requires 28 transferring the image across a data link. At the time of the claimed invention, however, such transfer required a high data rate and could be prohibitively expensive (id. at 1:50–60). Dockets.Justia.com 1 To solve this problem, the claimed invention “keeps data link bandwidth to a minimum 2 by sending graphics primitives across the data link instead of directly transferring an image as 3 a bit stream. Graphics primitives are high level instructions which tell a graphics display what 4 to draw” (id. at 2:45–49 (emphasis added)). This, according to the patent, would be a better 5 approach because “[t]he number of primitive drawing instructions required to generate a video 6 image are [sic] significantly less than required to directly transferring [sic] the video image as a 7 bit stream” (id. at 2:1–4). 8 9 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 This action originated in the Eastern District of Texas in May 2017 and transferred to our district in January 2018. It was related to six other patent cases initiated by Uniloc and reassigned to the undersigned judge. While in Texas, Uniloc amended its complaint and appended a claim chart laying out its 12 infringement theory. Each asserted claim requires converting video requests into graphics 13 primitives to be sent as signals by a wireless transmitter to a wireless receiver. According to the 14 claim chart, Uniloc alleges that Apple products meet this “graphics primitives” limitation as 15 follows (see Dkt. No. 57-2 (emphasis added)): 16 17 18 19 20 21 The Accused Products include a PCD also having a video driver operative to receive video requests issued by a software program executing on the PCD and converting the video requests into graphics primitives which are sent as signals by the wireless transmitter to the wireless receiver. For example, Apple mobile devices include a video driver . . . that receives instructions from the processor to generate graphics primitives (e.g., encoded and compressed video data) responsive to software commands. The video driver converts received video data into an encoded and compressed video data bitstream, which is then sent as signals by the Wi-Fi module to the Apple TV. 22 Also while in Texas, Apple moved to dismiss the amended complaint under Federal 23 Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) on the basis that it affirmatively pleads noninfringement by 24 alleging that Apple products convert video requests into bitstream, which falls outside the scope 25 of the claimed invention according to the plain language of the ’422 patent (Dkt. No. 57-3). 26 The parties fully briefed the motion — including with a sur-reply from Uniloc — while still in 27 Texas. After the action transferred to our district and was assigned to the undersigned judge, 28 Apple renoticed its motion to dismiss based on all the briefing that had already taken place. 2 1 Uniloc then filed a fresh opposition brief to Apple’s fully-briefed motion to dismiss 2 (Dkt. No. 59). Apple responded with a motion to strike the new brief or, in the alternative, for 3 leave to file a fresh reply (Dkt. No. 60). Uniloc opposes the motion to strike but does not object 4 to Apple filing a reply (Dkt. No. 69). Apple’s motion to strike is discussed below in the context 5 of the parties’ arguments. This order follows the aforementioned briefing and oral argument. ANALYSIS 6 7 1. LEGAL STANDARD. 8 To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must plead “enough facts to state a claim to claim has facial plausibility when the party asserting it pleads factual content that allows the 11 For the Northern District of California relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). A 10 United States District Court 9 court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. 12 Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). When ruling on a motion to dismiss, a court may 13 generally consider only allegations in the pleadings, attached exhibits, and matters properly 14 subject to judicial notice. The court accepts factual allegations in the complaint as true and 15 construes the pleadings in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Manzarek v. St. 16 Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 519 F.3d 1025, 1030–31 (9th Cir. 2008). Conclusory allegations 17 or “formulaic recitation of the elements” of a claim, however, are not entitled to the 18 presumption of truth. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 681. 19 2. DIRECT INFRINGEMENT. 20 Apple contends the amended complaint fails to allege facts showing how Apple 21 products meet the “graphics primitives” limitation that features in each asserted claim. The 22 amended complaint relies on Uniloc’s claim chart to articulate its infringement theory. The 23 claim chart primarily focuses on claim 1, which is representative for present purposes. The 24 “graphics primitives” limitation appears in claim 1 as follows (Dkt. No. 57-3): 25 26 the PCD also having a video driver operative to receive video requests issued by a software program executing on the PCD and converting the video requests into graphics primitives which are sent as signals by the wireless transmitter to the wireless receiver 27 The claim chart asserts that Apple products meet this limitation by parroting the claim language 28 word-for-word (Dkt. No. 57-2): 3 1 2 3 4 The Accused Products include a PCD also having a video driver operative to receive video requests issued by a software program executing on the PCD and converting the video requests into graphics primitives which are sent as signals by the wireless transmitter to the wireless receiver. This conclusory statement amounts to “formulaic recitation” of the elements of Uniloc’s 5 claim and is not entitled to the presumption of truth. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 681. It supplies no 6 factual allegations showing how Apple products actually infringe. Under Twombly/Iqbal, this 7 alone would not suffice to state a facially plausible claim for patent infringement. Cf. Comcast 8 Cable Commc’ns, LLC v. OpenTV, Inc., 319 F.R.D. 269, 273–74 (2017). 9 Uniloc’s original opposition brief cites inapposite and non-binding decisions in service of the incorrect theory that it need not “plead infringement on an element-by-element basis” 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 (Dkt. No. 57-4). Just two examples will suffice. First, Uniloc cites In re Bill of Lading 12 Transmission and Processing System Patent Litigation, 681 F.3d 1323, 1341 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (a 13 decision predating the abrogation of Form 18), for the uncontroversial proposition that a 14 plaintiff need not “prove all aspects of its claims” or even “make those claims probable” at the 15 pleading stage. The proposition is correct as far as it goes, but misses the point. Apple’s 16 criticism is not that Uniloc failed to prove up a probable claim but that Uniloc failed to state 17 even a facially plausible claim. Second, Uniloc relies heavily on an order from the Eastern 18 District of Texas, in another patent infringement lawsuit initiated by Uniloc, for the proposition 19 that “marching through each claim element and addressing the legal theory that Plaintiffs intend 20 to rely on for each element is simply not required at [the pleading] stage.” The quote Uniloc 21 fixates on concerned different allegations against different defendants, operated under a 22 different district’s local rules, and dealt with the different issue of “Uniloc’s potential reliance 23 on the doctrine of equivalents.” But even if this snippet could be read in isolation to support 24 Uniloc’s argument, it would not be binding on this Court, which requires a patent infringement 25 plaintiff to plead factual allegations showing how or why each claim limitation is met by the 26 accused products. Cf. Comcast, 319 F.R.D. at 273. 27 In its sur-reply, Uniloc stresses that its amended complaint appends a claim chart (Dkt. 28 No. 57-6). To be clear, the mere presence of a claim chart offers no talismanic defense against 4 1 scrutiny under FRCP 12(b)(6). What matters is the factual content alleged, whether alleged in 2 the pleading proper or alleged in an appended claim chart. Uniloc’s factual allegations, or 3 paucity thereof, remain the subject of this motion. Uniloc also states, “The only case cited by 4 Apple is [sic] support of this argument is Ashcroft v. Iqbal, which was not even a patent case. 5 Thus, Apple’s argument regarding the content of the Amended Complaint should be rejected” 6 (ibid.). This reasoning is truly inscrutable, as Uniloc’s own opposition brief cites Iqbal for the 7 applicable pleading standard and, in any event, any suggestion that patent infringement 8 plaintiffs get some special exception from Twombly/Iqbal would be baseless. 9 In short, this order agrees with Apple as to the applicable pleading standard. But that does not end the inquiry. Uniloc also argues that, even if element-by-element pleading is 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 required (it is), the claim chart appended to the amended complaint satisfies this requirement 12 because it includes one specific example of how Apple products meet the “graphics primitives” 13 limitation. That part of the claim chart states (Dkt. No. 57-2 (emphasis added)): 14 15 16 For example, Apple mobile devices include a video driver . . . that receives instructions from the processor to generate graphics primitives (e.g., encoded and compressed video data) responsive to software commands. The video driver converts received video data into an encoded and compressed video data bitstream, which is then sent as signals by the Wi-Fi module to the Apple TV. 17 Apple contends this affirmatively pleads noninfringement because it alleges that Apple products 18 transfer video requests as “a bit stream,” which is precisely what the claimed invention does not 19 do according to the plain language of the ’422 patent (Dkt. No. 57-3). In response, Uniloc notes 20 that the ’422 patent describes “graphics primitives” as an alternative to “directly transferring 21 [data] as a bit stream” (emphasis added), but the claim chart alleges that Apple products transfer 22 “an encoded and compressed video data bitstream” (emphasis added). Thus, Uniloc contends, 23 determining whether or not “graphics primitives” encompass both versions of “bitstream” and, 24 by extension, whether or not Apple products meet the “graphics primitives” limitation, requires 25 claim construction not properly teed up on a motion to dismiss (see Dkt. Nos. 57-4, 57-6). 26 Uniloc doubles down on this point in its new opposition brief filed in our district, which 27 cites Nalco Company v. Chem-Mod, LLC, 883 F.3d 1337, 1349 (Fed. Cir. 2018), a recent 28 decision by the Federal Circuit, for its conclusion that claim construction disputes are “not 5 1 suitable for resolution on a motion to dismiss” (Dkt. No. 59). Apple moves to strike the new 2 opposition brief as improper because the underlying motion to dismiss was already fully briefed 3 in Texas, Uniloc never sought or received leave to submit further briefing, and “[t]o allow 4 Uniloc to raise new arguments in a third brief, without affording Apple a chance to respond to 5 those arguments, would unduly prejudice Apple” (see Dkt. No. 60 at 3–4). Uniloc explains that 6 another judge in this district, presiding over another recently-transferred cluster of Uniloc- 7 Apple lawsuits, has ordered fresh briefing on Apple motions that had been fully briefed in 8 Texas because the Texas briefs were missing from that judge’s docket (Dkt. No. 69). As Uniloc 9 recognizes, however, the situation here differs because Apple supplied the Texas briefs in the instant action (see id. at 2). And, in any event, a different judge ordering briefing in a different 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 case gives Uniloc no excuse to file an unauthorized brief here. 12 Moreover, Uniloc itself admits the biggest difference between its original and new 13 opposition briefs is the inclusion of the recently-issued Nalco decision, which this order could 14 take into account even if neither side cited it (see id. at 4–5). Otherwise, the new opposition 15 brief essentially reiterates the same arguments as the original opposition brief, albeit with 16 formatting and some citations modified for our district. In summary, except insofar as it applies 17 Nalco, Uniloc’s new opposition brief was improperly filed, redundant, and unnecessary to 18 decide Apple’s motion to dismiss. It is therefore STRICKEN, except that this order 19 acknowledges Nalco’s relevance to the arguments at hand and fully takes Nalco into account. 20 Apple’s motion to strike is GRANTED only to the extent stated herein and is otherwise DENIED. 21 This order agrees with Uniloc that a claim construction dispute precludes dismissal here. 22 With respect to the “graphics primitives” limitation, the two sides have argued past each other. 23 Apple has focused on the mutual exclusivity between “sending graphics primitives” and 24 “directly transferring . . . a bit stream,” which appears on the face of the ’422 patent, whereas 25 Uniloc has focused on a supposed distinction between “directly transferring . . . a bit stream” 26 and sending “an encoded and compressed . . . bitstream” (emphasis added). Apple’s reply fails 27 to come to grips with this supposed distinction. Its motion to dismiss is therefore DENIED with 28 respect to direct infringement. 6 1 3. INDIRECT INFRINGEMENT. 2 Apple contends the amended complaint fails to state a claim for indirect infringement 3 because it (1) fails to plead a direct infringement claim and (2) fails to allege facts showing 4 either induced or contributory infringement (Dkt. No. 57-3). As explained, Uniloc’s direct 5 infringement claim survives dismissal, which in turn neutralizes Apple’s first argument. This 6 order therefore considers whether or not Uniloc has otherwise alleged facts showing induced or 7 contributory infringement. 8 A. INDUCED INFRINGEMENT. induces infringement of a patent shall be liable as an infringer.” Induced infringement “requires 11 For the Northern District of California Section 271(b) of Title 35 of the United States Code provides, “Whoever actively 10 United States District Court 9 knowledge that the induced acts constitute patent infringement.” Global-Tech Appliances, Inc. 12 v. SEB S.A., 563 U.S. 754, 766 (2011). Such knowledge requires that the accused inducer not 13 only had “knowledge of the patent in suit” but also “knew the acts were infringing.” Commil 14 USA, LLC v. Cisco Sys., Inc., 135 S. Ct. 1920, 1926, 1928 (2015). The accused inducer must 15 also have possessed “a specific intent to encourage another’s infringement of the patent.” Vita- 16 Mix Corp. v. Basic Holding, Inc., 581 F.3d 1317, 1328 (Fed. Cir. 2009). 17 Here, the amended complaint alleges Apple has known of the ’422 patent at least since 18 service of the original complaint. Uniloc agrees it has not alleged pre-suit knowledge of the 19 patent and has therefore pled no claim for pre-suit indirect infringement (Dkt. Nos. 57-4, 57-6). 20 As to post-suit induced infringement, the amended complaint alleges Apple 21 “intentionally instructs its customers to infringe through training videos, demonstrations, 22 brochures, and installation and user guides.” The amended complaint lists five generic Apple 23 websites as examples with no explanation as to what specific site content allegedly induces 24 infringement, or how (see Dkt. No. 57-2). In its sur-reply, Uniloc contends this should suffice 25 to state a claim for induced infringement, again relying on an order from the Eastern District of 26 Texas in another patent infringement lawsuit initiated by Uniloc (see Dkt. No. 57-6). To repeat, 27 that order is not binding on this Court. This order holds Uniloc’s vague and conclusory 28 allegations that Apple “intentionally instructs its customers to infringe” using broad categories 7 1 of materials, coupled with a list of five generic websites, do not amount to factual content 2 supporting any reasonable inference that Apple possessed either “knowledge that the induced 3 acts constitute patent infringement” or “specific intent to encourage another’s infringement.” 4 The amended complaint also alleges Apple “induces infringement by failing to remove 5 or diminish infringing features” of the accused products (see Dkt. No. 57-2). Uniloc contends 6 this suffices to state a claim for induced infringement, quoting Ricoh Company, Ltd. v. Quanta 7 Computer Inc., 550 F.3d 1325, 1343 (Fed. Cir. 2008). Uniloc’s reliance on Ricoh is misplaced. 8 In that case, the Federal Circuit observed that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. v. Grokster, 9 Ltd., 545 U.S. 913 (2005), “recognized that a failure to remove or diminish infringing features of a distributed product is relevant to a party’s intent that those features be used for direct 11 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 infringement.” Ricoh, 550 F.3d at 1343 (emphasis added). As Apple points out, however, this 12 hardly amounts to a holding that merely alleging failure to remove or diminish infringing 13 features, without more, suffices to state a claim for induced infringement. On the contrary, in 14 citing Grokster, Ricoh specifically noted that “evidence of a failure to act . . . must be 15 accompanied by other evidence of affirmative acts.” Ibid. In its sur-reply, Uniloc circles back 16 to its allegations about generic Apple materials and websites as an example of an “affirmative 17 act” (Dkt. No. 57-6). As explained, however, those vague and conclusory allegations say 18 nothing about what specific material or site content allegedly induces infringement, or how. 19 20 B. CONTRIBUTORY INFRINGEMENT. Section 271(c) provides, “Whoever offers to sell or sells within the United States or 21 imports into the United States a component of a patented machine, manufacture, combination or 22 composition, or a material or apparatus for use in practicing a patented process, constituting a 23 material part of the invention, knowing the same to be especially made or especially adapted for 24 use in an infringement of such patent, and not a staple article or commodity of commerce 25 suitable for substantial noninfringing use, shall be liable as a contributory infringer.” “Like 26 induced infringement, contributory infringement requires knowledge of the patent in suit and 27 knowledge of patent infringement.” Commil, 135 S. Ct. at 1926 (citation omitted). 28 8 1 Here, the amended complaint alleges that Apple contributes to infringement “by offering constituting a material part of the invention, knowing the same to be especially made or 4 especially adapted for use in infringing the ’422 Patent, and not a staple article or commodity of 5 commerce suitable for substantial non-infringing use.” This is merely formulaic recitation of 6 Section 271(c) not entitled to the presumption of truth. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 681. The 7 amended complaint adds by way of “example” that “the software that causes the Wireless 8 Devices to operate as described above is a component of a patented machine, manufacture, or 9 combination. Furthermore, the software is a material part of the claimed inventions and is not a 10 staple article or commodity of commerce suitable for substantial non-infringing use” (see Dkt. 11 For the Northern District of California to sell, selling, or importing a component of a patented machine, manufacture or combination, 3 United States District Court 2 No. 57-2). More formulaic recitation. Again, the amended complaint falls short of alleging 12 factual content sufficient to support Uniloc’s conclusions. 13 14 In summary, the amended complaint fails to state a facially plausible claim for indirect infringement. Apple’s motion is therefore GRANTED with respect to indirect infringement. 15 16 CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, defendant’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED IN PART and 17 DENIED IN PART. Plaintiff may move for leave to file yet another amended complaint in this 18 action by MAY 16 AT NOON. Any such motion must include as an exhibit a redlined version of 19 the proposed amendment that clearly identifies all changes from the amended complaint. This 20 order highlighted certain deficiencies in the amended complaint, but it will not necessarily be 21 enough to add sentences parroting each missing item identified herein. If plaintiff moves for 22 leave to file yet another amended complaint, it should be sure to plead its best case. 23 24 IT IS SO ORDERED. 25 26 Dated: May 2, 2018. WILLIAM ALSUP UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 27 28 9
]]>
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You
should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
