Seiko Epson Corporation et al v. Glory South Software Manufacturing Inc. et al, No. 3:2006cv00477 - Document 227 (D. Or. 2010)
Court Description: Opinion and Order - The Court, in the exercise of its discretion, DENIES the Motion 212 of Defendants and Counterclaimants Ninestar Image Co., Ltd; Ninestar Technology Co., Ltd; Town Sky, Inc.; and DataProducts USA, LLC, forClarification and/or Modification of this Court's Opinion and Order entered on January 19, 2010. Signed on 3/10/2010 by Judge Anna J. Brown. (See formal Opinion and Order, 16-pages) (ecp)
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON Portland Division SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, a Japan corporation; EPSON AMERICA, INC., a California corporation; and EPSON PORTLAND, INC., an Oregon corporation, Plaintiffs, v. GLORY SOUTH SOFTWARE MANUFACTURING, INC., a California corporation; BUTTERFLY PRINT IMAGE CORP., LTD, a Hong Kong company; INK LAB (B. K.) CO., LTD, a Bong Kong company; NECTRON INTERNATIONAL, LTD, a Texas company; NINE STAR IMAGE CO., LTD, a China company; NINE STAR TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD, a 1 - OPINION AND ORDER 06-CV-477-BR OPINION AND ORDER California company; TOWN SKY, INC., a California corporation; ZHUHAI GREE MAGNETO-ELECTRIC CO., LTD, a China company; MMC CONSUMABLES, INC., a California company; TULLY IMAGING SUPPLIES, LTD, a Hong Kong company; INKJET WAREHOUSE. COM, INC., a Connecticut corporation; WELLINK TRADING CO., LTD, a China company; RIBBON TREE (MACAO) TRADING CO., LTD, a China company; RIBBON TREE (USA), INC., dba CANA-PACIFIC RIBBONS, INC., a Washington company; APEX DISTRIBUTING, INC., a Washington company; DATAPRODUCTS USA, LLC, a California l~ited liability corporation; MASTER INK CO., LTD, a Hong Kong company; and ACUJET U.S.A., INC., a California company, Defendants. DAVID W. AXELROD CONNIE C. KONG Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, P.C. Pacwest Center 1211 S.W. Fifth Ave, Suite 1900 Portland, OR 97204 (503) 796-2900 AARON B. CRAIG HAROLD A. BARZA J.D. HORTON RYAN S. GOLDSTEIN TIGRAN GULEDJIAN Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges, LLP 865 South Figueroa Street, lOth Floor Los Angeles, CA 90017-2543 (213) 624-7707 Attorneys for Plaintiffs Seiko Epson Corporation; Epson America, Inc.; and Epson Portland, Inc. 2 - OPINION AND ORDER SETH H. ROW Parson Farnell & Grein, LLP 1030 SW Morrison Street Portland, OR 97205 (503) 222-1812 EDWARD O'CONNOR STEPHEN M. LOBBIN The Eclipse Group LLP 1920 Main Street Suite 150 Irvine, CA 92614 (949) 851-5000 LEE MEI Mei & Mark LLP 1050 Connecticut Ave NW, 10 th Floor Washington, DC 20036 (202) 256-1008 Attorneys for Defendants Glory South Software Manufacturing, Inc.; Butterfly Print Image Corp., LTD; Ink Lab (H.K.) Co., LTD; Nectron International, LTD; Nine Star Image Co., LTD; Nine Star Technology Company, LTD; Town Sky, Inc.; and DataProducts USA, LLC CHARLES R. SUTTON JOSEPH M. LIU Law Offices of Roger C. Hsu 201 S. Lake Ave. Suite 302 Pasadena, CA 91101 (626) 792-7936 ALBERT P. KRAGES II 6665 S.W. Hampton Street Suite 200 Portland, OR 97223 (503) 597-2525 Attorneys for Defendant Zhuhai Gree Magneto-Electric Co., LTD 3 - OPINION AND ORDER BROWN, Judge. This matter comes before the Court on the Motion (#212) of Defendants and Counterclaimants NineStar Image Co., Ltd; Ninestar Technology Co., Ltd; Town Sky, Inc.; and DataProducts USA, LLC (hereinafter referred to collectively as Ninestar)l for Clarification and/or Modification of this Court's Opinion and Order issued on January 21, 2010. 2 In its Opinion and Order, the Court addressed the Motion of Plaintiffs and Counterdefendants Seiko Epson Corporation; Epson America, Inc.; and Epson Portland, Inc. (hereinafter referred to collectively as Seiko Epson) to Dismiss and Strike or, in the Alternative, Stay and Bifurcate the Litigation of the Ninestar Defendant's Antitrust Counterclaims and Affirmative Defenses. 3 l The Court notes Defendants Ninestar have retained new local counsel. The Court reminds all counsel that the Court expects the meaningful participation of local counsel in both the preparation and trial of the case and in their client's maintenance of appropriate decorum. See LR 83-3(1) and LR 837 (b) and (c) . 2 In the related case, Seiko Epson Corp. v. Glory South Software Manufacturing, Inc., 06-CV-236-BR (Glory South I), Seiko Epson alleges Ninestar has infringed other patents. The issues involved in both cases, however, are procedurally and substantively identical. Ninestar has filed a similar Motion (#233) for Clarification and/or Modification in that case. 3 The same allegations support Ninestar's Counterclaims and Affirmative Defenses based on antitrust violations. The parties' arguments and the Court's Opinion on the original Motion focused on the Counterclaims. The Court's rulings on both the original Motion and this Motion, however, apply equally to Ninestar's Affirmative Defenses and related Counterclaims. 4 - OPINION AND ORDER For the following reasons, the Court DENIES Ninestar's Motion for Clarification and/or Modification. BACKGROUND On July 27, 2009, Seiko Epson filed a Motion to Dismiss and Strike, or, in the Alternative, Stay and Bifurcate Litigation of the Ninestar Defendants' Antitrust Counterclaims and Affirmative Defenses. On August 24, 2009, Ninestar filed a Response with a proposed Second Amended Answer. On September 15, 2009, Seiko Epson filed a Reply. On November 3, 2009, the Court issued an Order directing the parties to submit a Joint Status Report for the purpose of "clarify[ing]" and "narrow[ing] the Claims and Counterclaims in dispute" and "identif[ying] the issues raised in the pending Motions that need to be decided." On November 12, 2009, the parties filed a Joint Status Report in which they set forth their views of the issues to be resolved by the Court in light of the allegations in Ninestar's Second Amended Answer. On January 19, 2010, the Court issued its Opinion and Order in which it granted Ninestar's Motion to file a Second Amended Answer, dismissed Ninestar's antitrust Counterclaim based on "sham" litigation, denied Seiko Epson's Motion to Dismiss 5 - OPINION AND ORDER Ninestar's antitrust Walker Process fraud Counterclaim, and dismissed Ninestar's Counterclaim for intentional interference with prospective advantage. DISCUSSION 1. Nature of Ninestar's Motion. Ninestar seeks clarification and/or modification of the Court's January 19, 2010, Opinion and Order addressing Ninestar's Motion to Dismiss and Strike or, in the Alternative, Stay and Bifurcate the Litigation of the Ninestar Defendant's Antitrust Counterclaims and Affirmative Defenses. In its Memorandum in support of its Motion, Ninestar argues this Court's analysis in its Opinion and Order as to Ninestar's Motion to Dismiss relies "largely" on Seiko Epson's "representation of the counterclaims as opposed to what the counterclaims actually say." According to Ninestar, Seiko Epson's representation and the Court's alleged reliance thereon are erroneous. Ninestar argues "it is clear from the Court's order as well as from the misleading arguments presented by [Seiko] Epson that there is confusion and a need for clarification." The overarching theme of Ninestar's initial Memorandum and Reply Memorandum in support of its pending Motion is that the Court did not understand Ninestar's pleadings and 6 - OPINION AND ORDER inappropriately deferred to Seiko Epson's analysis. Ninestar attempts to explicate its pleadings for the purpose of persuading the Court to revisit and to "modifyH (i.e., to reconsider) those rulings that were adverse to Ninestar, particularly as they pertain to Ninestar's antitrust Counterclaims based on Seiko Epson's alleged "sham litigation H tactics before the International Trade Commission (ITC) and its related Counterclaim for damages arising from Seiko Epson's alleged intentional interference with Ninestar's prospective advantage. Seiko Epson, in return, asserts Ninestar's Motion is essentially a "Motion for Reconsideration." The Court agrees. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b) governs motions for reconsideration. It provides in relevant part: [A]ny order or other decision, however, designated, that adjudicates fewer than all the claims or the rights and liabilities of fewer than all of the parties does not end the action as to any of the claims or parties and may be revised at any time before the entry of a judgment adjudicating all the claims and all the parties' rights and liabilities. Emphasis added. See also City of Los Angeles v. Santa Monica Baykeeper, 254 F.3d 882, 885 (9 th Cir. 2001) ("As long as a district court has jurisdiction over the case, then it possesses the inherent procedural power to reconsider, rescind, or modify 7 - OPINION AND ORDER an interlocutory order for cause seen by it to be sufficient." (italicized emphasis in ori9inal; underlined emphasis added). On this record, the Court concludes Ninestar is requesting the Court to reconsider and to modify two of its prior rulings as to Seiko Epson's Motion (#197) to Dismiss relating to Seiko Epson's alleged "sham" litigation tactics and its alleged interference with Ninestar's prospective advantage. Accordingly, the Court concludes Ninestar's pending Motion is a Motion for Reconsideration of the Court's January 19, 2010, Opinion and Order pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure S4(b}. 2. Standards for Ru1e 54(b) Reconsideration. "The doctrine of the law of the case . . . counsels against reopening questions once resolved in ongoing litigation. Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of Indians v. Hodel, 882 F.2d 364, 369 n.S (9 th Cir. 1989) (citing 18 Charles Alan Wright, Arthur R. Miller & Edward H. Cooper, Federal Practice and Procedure ยง4478 (1981) at 788-89). "[T]he major grounds that justify reconsideration involve an intervening change in the law, the availability of new evidence, or the need to correct a clear error or prevent manifest injustice." Pyramid Lake, 882 F.2d at 369 n.S. The decision whether to reconsider an interlocutory order is within the discretion of the trial court. at 887. See also Barber v. Haw., 42 F.3d 1185, 1198 (9th Cir. 1994). 8 Baykeeper, 254 F.3d - OPINION AND ORDER 3. Analysis. The fundamental issue raised by Ninestar is whether the Court misconstrued the nature of Ninestar's antitrust Affirmative Defenses and Counterclaims and, therefore, whether the Court should reconsider or modify that part of its Opinion and Order in which its dismisses those Affirmative Defenses and Counterclaims in order to prevent manifest injustice. After Ninestar improperly attached its ~proposed" Second Amended Answer to its Memorandum in opposition to Seiko Epson's Motion to Dismiss, the Court, as noted, ordered the parties ~to clarify and possibly narrow the Claims and Counterclaims in dispute" by filing a Joint Status Report that ~identifies the issues raised in the pending Motions that remain to be decided . if the Court allows the Second Amended Answer to be filed." In the Joint Status Report, Ninestar stated: It appears to [Ninestar] that the only issues for the Court to decide are whether or not the proposed Second Amended Counterclaim properly spells out causes of action related to the sham litigation allegations involved in the ITC proceedings, based on the assertion of fraudulently obtained patents as well as on inappropriate infringement allegations and tortious interference allegations related to the presently pending action based on the assertion of fraudulently obtained or maintained patents. Emphasis added. 9 - OPINION AND ORDER Seiko Epson identified, inter alia, the following issues: Whether Ninestar's attempt to plead a Sherman Act Section 2 antitrust claim premised on "sham li tiga tion" allega tions fails as a matter of law; Whether Ninestar's claim for intentional interference with prospective business advantage is preempted. Emphasis added. a. Sham Litigation before the ITC. This Court held "Seiko Epson's success in protecting its related patent rights [against Ninestar] before the lTC precludes as a matter of law Ninestar's Antitrust Counterclaim that Seiko Epson engaged in sham litigation before the lTC." Opin. and Order at 12. In an apparent contradiction of its position set forth in the Joint Status Report, Ninestar now asserts: In fact, there is no counterclaim for sham litigation in the ITC proceedings [alleged in Ninestar's Second Amended Complaint]. There are specific allegations in the general factual allegations relating to the factual issues which were litigated in the ITe proceedings, such as, e.g., whether there was infringement of the patents in suit. Defs.' Mem. at 3 (emphasis added). In its Second Amended Answer, Ninestar alleges 47 paragraphs of "general allegations" in support of its Affirmative Defenses and Counterclaims for a "Federal Antitrust Violation." Ninestar, however, does not identify any of the "specific" allegations in its pleadings that 10 - OPINION AND ORDER are incorporated in the "general u allegations that it now refers to in the Joint Status Report as an antitrust Walker Process fraud Counterclaim based on "sham litigation," which is a sobriquet Ninestar now appears to renounce. The Court notes the "general allegations" in paragraphs 10 and 11 of Ninestar's Affirmative Defenses and Counterclaims may state a Counterclaim against Seiko Epson for fraud on United States Customs and Border Protection (Customs) and those Affirmative Defense and Counterclaim allegations set forth in paragraphs 16, 17, 29, 34, and 44 may state a Counterclaim against Seiko Epson for fraud on the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Ninestar, however, asserts the Court either failed to address or misunderstood that there also are specific allegations in Ninestar's Second Amended Answer that, if proved, would allow Ninestar to recover damages under its antitrust Walker Process fraud Counterclaim based on Seiko Epson's alleged fraud in the proceedings before Customs and the USPTO. According to Ninestar, the ITC determined only that Ninestar's products infringed Seiko Epson's patents but did not, however, determine whether Seiko Epson obtained its patents by engaging in fraud before USPTO. Ninestar contends the Court's "confusion u resulted in the dismissal of "a non-existent cause of action for sham litigation." 11 - OPINION AND ORDER Ninestar's underlying concern, appears to be that it believes the Court should allow Ninestar to present damages evidence at trial relating to the surviving Walker Process fraud Counterclaim regardless of the lTC's ruling adverse to Ninestar as to patent infringement. Seiko Epson, however, points out that contrary to Ninestar's current position, Ninestar agreed in the Joint Status Report that its sham-litigation Counterclaim was still to be decided, The Court, thereafter, dismissed the Counterclaim in light of Seiko Epson's success before the lTC. See Prof'l Real Estate Investors, Inc. v. Columbia Pictures Indus., Inc., 508 U.S. 49, 61 n.S ~by (~A winning lawsuit" is not objectively baseless because definition" it is redress."). ~a reasonable effort at petitioning for In any event, Seiko Epson does not contend the Court's ruling necessarily precludes Ninestar from seeking damages based on its alleged antitrust Walker Process fraud Counterclaim, which survived Seiko Epson's Motion to Dismiss. Seiko Epson's analysis accurately portrays the Court's ruling. On this record, the Court finds there is not any reason to clarify, to modify, or to reconsider its ruling pertaining to Ninestar's Counterclaim based on Seiko Epson's alleged sham litigation before the ITC. The Court shall address evidentiary issues relating to the trial of this case if and when they are presented in pretrial Motions. 12 - OPINION AND ORDER b. Intentional interferenoe with prospeotive advantage. In its Opinion and Order, the Court concluded Ninestar's Counterclaim for intentional interference with prospective advantage is "objectively baseless" in light of the lTC's finding in favor of Seiko Epson and against Ninestar. In the pending Motion, Ninestar seeks "clarification" of the Court's ruling and characterizes the ruling as "like something out of Alice in Wonderland" because "such claims are filed every day in patent cases." Ninestar's Counterclaim for intentional interference with prospective advantage rests on its incorporation of the following "general allegations" that are also alleged in support of Ninestar's Counterclaims for patent invalidity and antitrust violations: [Seiko Epson's] allegations of infringement of these claims were used in proceedings before the International Trade Commission in securing a General Exclusion Order ("GEO") and cease and desist orders, which have had a major financial impact on Defendants and have further established [Seiko Epson's] monopoly in the market for ink jet cartridges for use in Epson printers. * * * [Seiko Epson has] attempted to monopolize the market for ink cartridges for use in the market created by Epson printers and in obtaining a multimillion dollar penalty against [Ninestar] in the [ITC]. 13 - OPINION AND ORDER * * * The foregoing conduct of [Seiko Epson] constitutes monopolization in violation of the antitrust laws of the United states for which Defendants are entitled to recover treble damages they have sustained as a result of said conduct . Second Am. Answer at ~~ 9, 24, 25. In addition, Ninestar alleges Seiko Epson filed this action for the purpose of unlawfully interfering with Ninestar's prospective advantage: [Seiko Epson], as competitors of [Ninestar], have at all times been aware of the relationship between Ninestar and their customers and have initiated this litigation for the specific and intentional purpose of interfering with those relationships so [Seiko Epson] could take Ninestar's customers for themselves. Second Am. Answer at ~ 69 (emphasis added). Thus, the gravamen of Ninestar's allegations is that Seiko Epson sued Ninestar in the ITC and then brought this action for the sole purpose of interfering with Ninestar's relationship with its customers. In support of this proposition, Ninestar, both in its original opposition to Seiko Epson's Motion to Dismiss and in its pending Motion, relies on the Federal Circuit's holding in Zenith Electronics Corp. v. ExZec, Inc., that ~state tortious interference with contractual relations claims [are] not preempted by the patent laws" if the patentee acted in "bad faith." 1340, 1355 (Fed. Cir. 1999). 14 - OPINION AND ORDER 182 F.3d The Court found Ninestar's Counterclaim for tortious interference against Seiko Epson based on Seiko Epson's initiation of a proceeding against Ninestar in the ITC to protect its patent rights was not viable because Seiko Epson prevailed in the ITC proceeding. See Globetrotter Software, Inc. v. Elan, 362 F.3d 1367, 1377 (Fed. Cir. 2004). The fact that the ITC addressed only whether Ninestar infringed Seiko Epson's patents and not whether Seiko Epson fraudulently obtained the patents in the first instance is not relevant. The fact is that Seiko Epson prevailed, and, therefore, Seiko Epson's claim was not objectively baseless as a matter of law. On this record, the Court concludes Ninestar has not shown any reason why this Court should modify or reconsider its previous rulings set forth in its Opinion and Order issued January J.9, 2010. CONCLUSION For these reasons, the Court, in the exercise of its discretion, DENIES the Motion (#212) of Defendants and Counterclaimants Ninestar Image Co., Ltd; Ninestar Technology Co., Ltd; Town Sky, Inc.; and DataProducts USA, LLC, for 15 - OPINION AND ORDER Clarification and/or Modification of this Court's Opinion and Order entered on January 19, 2010. IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED this 10th day of March, 2010. A~--United States District Judge 16 - OPINION AND ORDER
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