throbber
Case 3:20-cv-06754-WHA Document 824 Filed 06/23/23 Page 1 of 37
`
`
`
`QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART & SULLIVAN, LLP
` Sean Pak (Bar No. 219032)
` seanpak@quinnemanuel.com
` Melissa Baily (Bar No. 237649)
` melissabaily@quinnemanuel.com
` James Judah (Bar No. 257112)
` jamesjudah@quinnemanuel.com
` Lindsay Cooper (Bar No. 287125)
` lindsaycooper@quinnemanuel.com
` Iman Lordgooei (Bar No. 251320)
` imanlordgooei@quinnemanuel.com
`50 California Street, 22nd Floor
`San Francisco, California 94111-4788
`Telephone:
`(415) 875-6600
`Facsimile:
`(415) 875-6700
`
` Marc Kaplan (pro hac vice)
` marckaplan@quinnemanuel.com
`191 N. Wacker Drive, Ste 2700
`Chicago, Illinois 60606
`Telephone:
`(312) 705-7400
`Facsimile:
`(312) 705-7401
`
`Attorneys for GOOGLE LLC
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`
`NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
`
`SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION
`
`
`
`SONOS, INC.,
`
`
`Plaintiff and Counter-
`Defendant,
`
`
`GOOGLE LLC,
`
`
`vs.
`
`Defendant and Counter-
`Claimant.
`
`-1-
`Case No. 3:20-cv-06754-WHA
`NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW AND NEW TRIAL
`
` Case No. 3:20-cv-06754-WHA
`Consolidated with Case No. 3:21-cv-07559-
`WHA
`
`GOOGLE LLC’S NOTICE OF MOTION
`AND MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS A
`MATTER OF LAW AND NEW TRIAL
`
`
`Location: Courtroom 12, 19th Floor
`Judge: Hon. William Alsup
`
`
`
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
`
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:20-cv-06754-WHA Document 824 Filed 06/23/23 Page 2 of 37
`
`
`
`NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION
`PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on August 10, 2023 at 8:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the
`matter may be heard, in Courtroom 12 before the Honorable William H. Alsup, 450 Golden Gate
`Avenue, San Francisco, California, Defendant Google LLC (“Google”) shall and hereby does
`respectfully seek an order (1) granting judgment as a matter of law pursuant to Federal Rule of
`Civil Procedure 50(b) and (2) granting a new trial pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59
`or, in the alternative, remittitur. This Motion is based on the testimony and evidence admitted at
`trial, all pleadings, exhibits, and records in this action, and such other papers, evidence, and/or
`argument as may be submitted to the Court in connection with this Motion or that the Court may
`take notice or otherwise consider.
`Google hereby renews its motion for judgment as a matter of law of invalidity of the
`asserted claims of U.S. Patent No. 10,848,885 (the “’885 patent”) and U.S. Patent No. 10,469,966
`(the “’966 patent”), non-infringement of claim 1 of the ’885 patent by Google’s new design, and
`damages for any infringement of claim 1 of the ’885 patent. In the alternative, Google hereby
`moves for a new trial on invalidity and non-infringement of Google’s new design. Google also
`hereby moves for a new trial on damages, or in the alternative remittitur, on the grounds that the
`jury’s royalty rate of $2.30 per unit is excessive and contrary to and unsupported by the evidence.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
`
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-i-
`Case No. 3:20-cv-06754-WHA
`NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW AND NEW TRIAL
`
`

`

`Case 3:20-cv-06754-WHA Document 824 Filed 06/23/23 Page 3 of 37
`
`
`
`QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART & SULLIVAN,
`LLP
`
`By
`
`/s Sean Pak
`Sean Pak
`Melissa Baily
`James D. Judah
`Lindsay Cooper
`Marc Kaplan
`Iman Lordgooei
`
`
`Attorneys for GOOGLE LLC
`
`DATED: June 23, 2023
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
`
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`01980-00181/14135277.1
`
`
`
`-ii-
`Case No. 3:20-cv-06754-WHA
`NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW AND NEW TRIAL
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:20-cv-06754-WHA Document 824 Filed 06/23/23 Page 4 of 37
`
`
`
`ASSERTED CLAIMS
`
`[1.0]. A first zone player comprising:
`
`[1.1] a network interface that is configured to communicatively couple the first zone
`player to at least one data network;
`
`[1.2] one or more processors;
`
`[1.3] a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
`
`[1.4] program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium
`that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first zone player to
`perform functions comprising:
`
`[1.5] while operating in a standalone mode in which the first zone player is
`configured to play back media individually in a networked media playback system
`comprising the first zone player and at least two other zone players:
`
`[1.6] (i) receiving, from a network device over a data network, a first indication
`that the first zone player has been added to a first zone scene comprising a first
`predefined grouping of zone players including at least the first zone player and a
`second zone player that are to be configured for synchronous playback of media
`when the first zone scene is invoked; and
`
`[1.7] (ii) receiving, from the network device over the data network, a second
`indication that the first zone player has been added to a second zone scene
`comprising a second predefined grouping of zone players including at least the
`first zone player and a third zone player that are to be configured for synchronous
`playback of media when the second zone scene is invoked, wherein the second
`zone player is different than the third zone player;
`
`[1.8] after receiving the first and second indications, continuing to operate in the
`standalone mode until a given one of the first and second zone scenes has been
`selected for invocation;
`
`[1.9] after the given one of the first and second zone scenes has been selected for
`invocation, receiving, from the network device over the data network, an instruction
`to operate in accordance with a given one of the first and second zone scenes
`respectively comprising a given one of the first and second predefined groupings of
`zone players; and
`
`[1.10] based on the instruction, transitioning from operating in the standalone mode
`to operating in accordance with the given one of the first and second predefined
`groupings of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate
`with at least one other zone player in the given one of the first and second predefined
`groupings of zone players over a data network in order to output media in synchrony
`with output of media by the at least one other zone player in the given one of the first
`and second predefined groupings of zone players.
`
`
`01980-00181/14135277.1
`
`
`
`-iii-
`Case No. 3:20-cv-06754-WHA
`NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW AND NEW TRIAL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
`
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`’885 Patent, Claim 1:
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:20-cv-06754-WHA Document 824 Filed 06/23/23 Page 5 of 37
`
`
`
`
`’966 Patent, Claim 1:
`
`
`[1.0] A computing device comprising:
`
`[1.1] one or more processors;
`
`[1.2] a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
`
`[1.3] program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that,
`when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform
`functions comprising:
`
`[1.4] while serving as a controller for a networked media playback system comprising a first
`zone player and at least two other zone players, wherein the first zone player is operating in
`a standalone mode in which the first zone player is configured to play back media
`individually:
`
`[1.5] receiving a first request to create a first zone scene comprising a first predefined
`grouping of zone players including at least the first zone player and a second zone player
`that are to be configured for synchronous playback of media when the first zone scene is
`invoked;
`
`[1.6] based on the first request, i) causing creation of the first zone scene, ii) causing an
`indication of the first zone scene to be transmitted to the first zone player, and iii) causing
`storage of the first zone scene;
`
`[1.7] receiving a second request to create a second zone scene comprising a second
`predefined grouping of zone players including at least the first zone player and a third zone
`player that are to be configured for synchronous playback of media when the second zone
`scene is invoked, wherein the third zone player is different than the second zone player;
`
`[1.8] based on the second request, i) causing creation of the second zone scene, ii) causing
`an indication of the second zone scene to be transmitted to the first zone player, and iii)
`causing storage of the second zone scene;
`
`[1.9] displaying a representation of the first zone scene and a representation of the second
`zone scene; and
`
`[1.10] while displaying the representation of the first zone scene and the representation of
`the second zone scene, receiving a third request to invoke the first zone scene; and
`
`[1.11] based on the third request, causing the first zone player to transition from operating
`in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone
`players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least the second
`zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the second zone
`player.
`
`
`’966 Patent, Claim 2:
`01980-00181/14135277.1
`
`
`
`-iv-
`Case No. 3:20-cv-06754-WHA
`NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW AND NEW TRIAL
`
`
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
`
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:20-cv-06754-WHA Document 824 Filed 06/23/23 Page 6 of 37
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[2.0] The computing device of claim 1,
`
`[2.1] further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transistory computer-
`readable medium that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing
`device to perform functions comprising:
`
`[2.2] while the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least the second zone
`player to play back media in synchrony with at least the second zone player, receiving a
`fourth request to invoke the second zone scene; and
`
`[2.3] based on the fourth request, causing the first zone player to (a) cease to operate in
`accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player
`is no longer configured to coordinate with at least the second zone player to output media in
`synchrony with output of media by at least the second zone player and (b) begin to operate
`in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone
`player is configured to coordinate with a t least the third zone player to output media in
`synchrony with output of media by at least the third zone player.
`
`
`’966 Patent, Claim 4:
`
`[4.0] The computing device of claim 3,
`
`[4.1] wherein the location other than the computing device comprises a zone player of the
`first predefined group of zone players.
`
` ’966 Patent, Claim 6:
`
`
`[6.0] The computing device of claim 1,
`
`[6.1] wherein the first predefined grouping of zone players does not include the third zone
`player, and wherein the second predefined grouping of zone players does not include the
`second zone player.
`
`’966 Patent, Claim 8:
`
`
`[8.0] The computing device of claim 1,
`
`[8.1] wherein receiving the first request comprises receiving a first set of one or more inputs
`via a user interface of the computing device, wherein receiving the second request comprises
`receiving a second set of one or more inputs via the user interface, and wherein receiving
`the third request comprises receiving a third set of one or more inputs via the user interface.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`01980-00181/14135277.1
`
`
`
`-v-
`Case No. 3:20-cv-06754-WHA
`NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW AND NEW TRIAL
`
`
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
`
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:20-cv-06754-WHA Document 824 Filed 06/23/23 Page 7 of 37
`
`
`
`
`
`I. 
`II. 
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
`
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`LEGAL STANDARD ............................................................................................................1 
`ARGUMENT .........................................................................................................................2 
`The Court Should Enter Judgment Of Invalidity Of The ’885 And ’966
`A. 
`Patents As A Matter of Law .......................................................................................2 
`1. 
`Claim 1 of the ’885 Patent Is Invalid .............................................................3 
`2. 
`The Asserted Claims of the ’966 Patent Are Invalid for the Same
`Reasons .........................................................................................................12 
`Sonos Did Not Prove Any Secondary Considerations .................................12 
`3. 
`The Court Should Enter Judgment OF Non-Infringement Of the ’885 Patent
`As A Matter of Law .................................................................................................13 
`Google’s New Design Enters An Idle Mode And Does Not Practice
`1. 
`the “Operating In Standalone” Limitations While Continuing To
`Operate In The Claimed Standalone Mode ..................................................14 
`Google’s New Design Does Not Continue To Operate In The
`Claimed Standalone Mode Under The Proper Claim Construction
`Requiring Active Playback Of Media ..........................................................16 
`The Court Should Enter Judgment For Google On Damages As a Matter Of
`Law ...........................................................................................................................18 
`1. 
`The $2.30/Unit Royalty Rate Had No Evidentiary Support .........................18 
`2. 
`The Legally Relevant Evidence Does Not Support A Damages
`Verdict In Excess Of $2.25 Million .............................................................22 
`The Court should Grant a New Trial On Limited Issues .........................................22 
`Google Is Entitled To A New Trial On Validity Of The ’885 Patent
`1. 
`And Infringement Of Its New Design ..........................................................22 
`Google Is Entitled To A New Trial On Damages ........................................22 
`
`
`B. 
`
`C. 
`
`D. 
`
`2. 
`
`2. 
`
`-i-
`Case No. 3:20-cv-06754-WHA
`NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW AND NEW TRIAL
`
`

`

`Case 3:20-cv-06754-WHA Document 824 Filed 06/23/23 Page 8 of 37
`
`
`
`
`
`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
`Cases
`
`Page
`
`Apple Inc. v. Wi-LAN Inc.,
`25 F.4th 960 (Fed. Cir. 2022) ............................................................................................ 19, 23
`
`Apple Inc. v. Wi-LAN, Inc.,
`No. 14CV2235 DMS (BLM), 2019 WL 4248899 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 3, 2019), aff’d,
`25 F.4th 960 (Fed. Cir. 2022) .................................................................................................. 25
`
`Apple, Inc. v. Samsung Elecs. Co.,
`926 F. Supp. 2d 1100 (N.D. Cal. 2013) .................................................................................... 2
`
`Apple, Inc. v. Samsung Elecs. Co.,
`No. 11-CV-01846-LHK, 2013 WL 5958176 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 7, 2013) ........................... 21, 24
`
`Brocade Commc’ns Sys., Inc. v. A10 Networks, Inc.,
`No. C 10-3428 PSG, 2013 WL 831528 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 10, 2013) ......................................... 25
`
`CUPP Computing AS v. Trend Micro Inc.,
`53 F.4th 1376 (Fed. Cir. 2022) ................................................................................................ 16
`
`Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
`509 U.S. 579 (1993) ................................................................................................................ 23
`
`Del Monte Dunes at Monterey, Ltd. v. City of Monterey,
`95 F.3d 1422 (9th Cir. 1996) ............................................................................................... 1, 22
`
`Emblaze Ltd. v. Apple Inc.,
`No. 5:11-cv-01079-PSG, 2015 WL 396010 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 29, 2015) .................................... 1
`
`ePlus, Inc. v. Lawson Software, Inc.,
`764 F. Supp. 2d 807 (E.D. Va. 2011), aff’d, 700 F.3d 509 (Fed. Cir. 2012) .......................... 21
`
`Forest Laboratories, LLC v. Sigmapharm Laboratories, LLC,
`918 F.3d 928 (Fed. Cir. 2019) ................................................................................................... 9
`
`Frazier v. Layne Christensen Co.,
`239 Fed. App’x 604 (Fed. Cir. 2007) ........................................................................................ 7
`
`Hanson v. Alpine Valley Ski Area, Inc.,
`718 F.2d 1075 (Fed. Cir. 1983) ............................................................................................... 22
`
`Hynix Semiconductor Inc. v. Rambus Inc.,
`No. CV-00-20905-RMW, 2006 WL 1991760 (N.D. Cal. July 14, 2006) ........................... 2, 25
`
`Informatica Corp. v. Bus. Objects Data Integration, Inc.,
`No. C 02 03378 EDL, 2007 WL 2344962 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 16, 2007) ................................... 25
`-ii-
`Case No. 3:20-cv-06754-WHA
`NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW AND NEW TRIAL
`
`
`
`
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
`
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:20-cv-06754-WHA Document 824 Filed 06/23/23 Page 9 of 37
`
`
`InTouch Techs., Inc. v. VGO Commc’ns, Inc.,
`751 F.3d 1327 (Fed. Cir. 2014) ................................................................................................. 1
`
`
`
`Landes Const. Co. v. Royal Bank of Canada,
`833 F.2d 1365 (9th Cir. 1987) ................................................................................................... 1
`
`LaserDynamics, Inc. v. Quanta Computer, Inc.,
`694 F.3d 51 (Fed. Cir. 2012) ............................................................................................. 19, 24
`
`Lucent Techs., Inc. v. Gateway, Inc.,
`580 F.3d 1301 (Fed. Cir. 2009) ......................................................................................... 19, 20
`
`Mentor H/S, Inc. v. Med. Device All., Inc.,
`244 F.3d 1365 (Fed. Cir. 2001) ................................................................................................. 1
`
`MLC Intellectual Property, LLC v. Micron Tech., Inc.,
`10 F.4th 1358 (Fed. Cir. 2021) ................................................................................................ 19
`
`Molski v. M.J. Cable, Inc.,
`481 F.3d 724 (9th Cir. 2007) ..................................................................................................... 1
`
`Norian Corp. v. Stryker Corp.,
`363 F.3d 1321 (Fed. Cir. 2004) ................................................................................................. 7
`
`Odom v. Microsoft Corp.,
`429 Fed. App’x. 967 (Fed. Cir. 2011) ..................................................................................... 13
`
`Ohio Willow Wood Co. v. Alps South, LLC,
`735 F.3d 1333 (Fed. Cir. 2013) ............................................................................................... 13
`
`Omega Patents, LLC v. CalAmp Corp.,
`13 F.4th 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2021) .............................................................................. 18, 19, 21, 23
`
`Pavao v. Pagay,
`307 F.3d 915 (9th Cir. 2002) ..................................................................................................... 3
`
`ResQNet.com, Inc. v. Lansa, Inc.,
`594 F.3d 860 (Fed. Cir. 2010) ................................................................................................. 19
`
`Revolution Eyewear, Inc. v. Aspex Eyewear, Inc.,
`563 F.3d 1358 (Fed. Cir. 2009) ................................................................................................. 1
`
`SimpleAir, Inc. v. Sony Ericsson Mobile Commc'ns AB,
`820 F.3d 419 (Fed. Cir. 2016) ................................................................................................. 17
`
`TransCore, LP v. Elec. Transaction Consultants Corp.,
`563 F.3d 1271 (Fed. Cir. 2009) ............................................................................................... 21
`
`Uniloc USA, Inc. v. Microsoft Corp.,
`632 F.3d 1292 (Fed. Cir. 2011) ................................................................................... 19, 23, 24
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
`
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-iii-
`Case No. 3:20-cv-06754-WHA
`NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW AND NEW TRIAL
`
`

`

`Case 3:20-cv-06754-WHA Document 824 Filed 06/23/23 Page 10 of 37
`
`
`Vectura Ltd. v. Glaxosmithkline LLC,
`981 F.3d 1030 (Fed. Cir. 2020) ............................................................................................... 18
`
`
`
`Viasat, Inc. v. Space Sys./Loral, Inc.,
`No. 3:12-CV-00260-H WVG, 2014 WL 3896073 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 8, 2014) ......................... 25
`
`Wordtech Sys., Inc. v. Integrated Networks Solutions, Inc.,
`609 F.3d 1308 (Fed. Cir. 2010) ..................................................................................... 1, 19, 22
`
`ZUP, LLC v. Nash Mfg.,
`896 F.3d 1365 (Fed. Cir. 2018) ........................................................................................... 9, 10
`
`Other Authorities
`Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(b) ........................................................................................................................ 1
`
`Fed. R. Civ. P. 59 ............................................................................................................................ 1
`
`Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(a) ...................................................................................................................... 22
`
`Fed. R. Civ. P. 702 ........................................................................................................................ 23
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
`
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-iv-
`Case No. 3:20-cv-06754-WHA
`NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW AND NEW TRIAL
`
`

`

`Case 3:20-cv-06754-WHA Document 824 Filed 06/23/23 Page 11 of 37
`
`
`
`
`
`MEMORANDUM AND POINTS OF AUTHORITIES
`Google renews its motion for judgment as a matter of law (“JMOL”) pursuant to Fed. R.
`
`Civ. P. 50(b). No substantial evidence supported a verdict for Sonos on validity of the asserted
`patents or infringement of the ’885 patent by Google’s redesigned products, and the evidence did
`not support more than the $2.25 million lump sum damages proposed by Google’s damages expert.
`At a minimum, Google should be awarded a new trial.
`I.
`LEGAL STANDARD
`The Court should enter JMOL following a jury trial where “the evidence, construed in the
`light most favorable to the nonmoving party, permits only one reasonable conclusion, and that
`conclusion is contrary to that of the jury.” InTouch Techs., Inc. v. VGO Commc’ns, Inc., 751 F.3d
`1327, 1338 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (quotations omitted). “In other words, to set aside the verdict, there
`must be an absence of substantial evidence—meaning relevant evidence that a reasonable mind
`would accept as adequate to support a conclusion—to support the jury’s verdict.” Emblaze Ltd. v.
`Apple Inc., No. 5:11-cv-01079-PSG, 2015 WL 396010, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 29, 2015) (cleaned up).
`A new trial should be awarded if “the verdict is contrary to the clear weight of the evidence,
`or is based upon evidence which is false, or to prevent, in the sound discretion of the trial court, a
`miscarriage of justice.” Wordtech Sys., Inc. v. Integrated Networks Solutions, Inc., 609 F.3d 1308,
`1313 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (quotations omitted). In addressing a Rule 59 motion, “the judge can weigh
`the evidence and assess the credibility of witnesses, and need not view the evidence from the
`perspective most favorable to the prevailing party.” Landes Const. Co. v. Royal Bank of Canada,
`833 F.2d 1365, 1371 (9th Cir. 1987); Revolution Eyewear, Inc. v. Aspex Eyewear, Inc., 563 F.3d
`1358, 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2009). Thus, a “trial court may grant a new trial, even though the verdict is
`supported by substantial evidence[.]” Mentor H/S, Inc. v. Med. Device All., Inc., 244 F.3d 1365,
`1374 (Fed. Cir. 2001); Molski v. M.J. Cable, Inc., 481 F.3d 724, 729 (9th Cir. 2007). In particular,
`a trial court should grant a new trial if the jury’s damages award “is grossly excessive or monstrous,
`clearly not supported by the evidence, or based only on speculation or guesswork.” Del Monte
`Dunes at Monterey, Ltd. v. City of Monterey, 95 F.3d 1422, 1435 (9th Cir. 1996) (citations
`omitted). Rule 59 also permits remittitur, reducing an excessive jury award to a supportable
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
`
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-1-
`Case No. 3:20-cv-06754-WHA
`NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW AND NEW TRIAL
`
`

`

`Case 3:20-cv-06754-WHA Document 824 Filed 06/23/23 Page 12 of 37
`
`
`
`
`amount. Apple, Inc. v. Samsung Elecs. Co., 926 F. Supp. 2d 1100, 1109-10 (N.D. Cal. 2013). If the
`Court chooses remittitur, the party that prevailed may accept the reduced award or demand a new
`trial. Hynix Semiconductor Inc. v. Rambus Inc., No. CV-00-20905-RMW, 2006 WL 1991760 (N.D.
`Cal. July 14, 2006).
`II.
`ARGUMENT
`A.
`The Court Should Enter Judgment Of Invalidity Of The ’885 And ’966
`Patents As A Matter of Law
`The Court should grant JMOL that the asserted claims are invalid because no reasonable
`jury could have found the asserted claims valid over: (1) the Sonos 2005 System in view of Sonos
`Forums; (2) the Sonos 2005 System in view of Squeezebox; and (3) the Sonos 2005 System in view
`of Nourse.
`It is undisputed that the Sonos 2005 System is prior art. Multiple Sonos witnesses confirmed
`that the Sonos 2005 System was on sale in January 2005, which is more than a year before the filing
`of Sonos’s provisional application in September of 2006. Trial Tr. (Millington) at 280:4-11, 280:16-
`19, 314:3-9, 315:13-24; id. (Lambourne) at 520:14-16; TX0062; TX0063; TX6991; TX6974;
`TX6979; TX6730.
`Google’s expert, Dr. Schonfeld, also testified that the prior art rendered obvious every
`element of Claim 1 of the ’885 and ’966 patents. Trial Tr. at 1375:15-1390:17, 1419:21-1426:13,
`1431:13-1438:5, 1438:6-1441:10, 1441:11-1451:9, 1455:13-1456:5, 1713:9-1714:2. For instance,
`Google presented testimony from Dr. Schonfeld on ’885 patent elements [1.0]-[1.4] (id. at 1375:18-
`1377:8) and [1.5]-[1.6] (id. at 1377:9-1389:14) and [1.0]-[1.6] and ’966 patent elements [1.9] (id. at
`1389:17-1390:18). Google also presented testimony from Dr. Schonfeld on elements [1.9]-[1.10] of
`the ’885 patent (id. at 1420:5-1422:3) and [1.10]-[1.11] of the ’966 patent (id. at 1422:6-14).1 And
`with respect to ‘885 patent elements [1.7]-[1.8] and ’966 patent elements [1.7]-[1.8], because Sonos
`2005 disclosed a first zone scene (as well as overlapping groups) but not a second overlapping zone
`
`
`1 See also Trial Tr. (Millington) at 357:8-14, 357:24-358:4, 395:16-396:2 (Sonos 2005 taught claim
`limitations 1.0-1.4), 336:5-10, 343:5-16 (describing indication messages received by zone players
`in Sonos 2005), 320:21-321:9 (Sonos 2005 taught limitation 1.9); id. (Lambourne) at 429:17-20
`(equating standalone with “not in a group”), 421:9-21 (admitting that Sonos 2005 system taught
`operating in a standalone mode).
`
`
`-2-
`Case No. 3:20-cv-06754-WHA
`NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW AND NEW TRIAL
`
`
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
`
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 3:20-cv-06754-WHA Document 824 Filed 06/23/23 Page 13 of 37
`
`
`
`
`scene, Google showed that this difference was obvious in view of the knowledge of a person of skill
`in the art and when combined with any one of the Sonos Forums, Nourse, and Squeezebox prior art
`references. Id. at 1422:15-1451:9.
` Google also presented substantively unrebutted testimony from Dr. Schonfeld with respect
`to the asserted dependent claims of the ’966 patent. Trial Tr. (Schonfeld) at 1451:10-1455:2. Dr.
`Schonfeld showed that the prior art teaches the ’966 patent claims 2 (id. at 1451:23-1452:12), 3-4
`(id. at 1452:13-1453:9), 6 (id. at 1453:10-1454:11), and 8 (id. at 1454:12-1455:2). The evidence,
`even “construed in the light most favorable to [Sonos], permits only one reasonable conclusion, and
`that conclusion is” that all asserted claims are invalid. See Pavao v. Pagay, 307 F.3d 915, 918 (9th
`Cir. 2002) (citations omitted). Below, Google addresses Sonos’s attempted distinctions.
`1.
`Claim 1 of the ’885 Patent Is Invalid
`(a)
`
`Claim 1 is Invalid Over the Combination of the Sonos 2005 System
`and the Sonos Forums
`
`(i)
`Sonos 2005 System Disclosed a Party Mode Zone Scene
`With respect to the Sonos 2005 System, Sonos’s expert, Dr. Almeroth, disputed only that
`the Sonos 2005 System disclosed “zone scenes.” Trial Tr. 1653:21-1654:8; 1658:1-1665:11. Thus,
`Dr. Schonfeld’s mapping of the Sonos 2005 prior art system to the asserted claims limitations was
`otherwise undisputed. There also was no genuine dispute that the Sonos 2005 System included a
`first “zone scene.” The Court construed “zone scene” as “a previously-saved grouping of zone
`players according to a common theme.” Dkt. 762 at 8-9. Dr. Schonfeld showed that the “party
`mode” in the Sonos 2005 system was a previously-saved grouping of zone players according to a
`common theme. Trial Tr. at 1381:8-1383:6. The testimony of Sonos’s own witnesses, including
`Mr. Lambourne (the sole inventor) was in accord. The Sonos 2005 System’s party mode was a
`grouping of all zone players in the system that was “hard-coded” in the controller (i.e., previously
`stored) and grouped according to a common theme (i.e., a whole-house “party”). E.g., Trial Tr.
`(Millington) 324:7-22, 327:3-17; Trial Tr. (Lambourne) at 420:1-7, 489:23-25, 490:1-5, 502:25-
`503:1-2, 503:12-23, 505:9-23, 504:20-25, 505:20-506:1; TX3923 (Lambourne Decl.) ¶ 6; see also
`TX0062 at 30; TX0063 at 4. The pre-saved party mode could then be invoked from the zone menu
`
`1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
`
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-3-
`Case No. 3:20-cv-06754-WHA
`NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW AND NEW TRIAL
`
`

`

`Case 3:20-cv-06754-WHA Document 824 Filed 06/23/23 Page 14 of 37
`
`
`
`
`screen using a “single touch.” TX3923 ¶ 6. Users could also modify the party mode to remove
`zone players and create a smaller group of zone players. E.g., Trial Tr. (Millington) at 327:14-
`328:1; Trial Tr. (Schonfeld) at 1384:15-24. The testimony from Sonos’s inventor, corroborated by
`his contemporaneous documents, conclusively established that the party mode in the Sonos 2005
`System was a “zone scene.” E.g., Trial Tr. (Lambourne) at 420:1-7, 489:23-25, 490:1-5, 502:25-
`503:1-2, 503:12-23, 505:9-23, 520:20-521:10, 546:11-22, 627:6-12; see also TX6544 at 27 (Sonos
`UI Specification: “‘Party Mode’ that currently ships with the product is one example of a Zone
`Scene.”); ’966 Patent at Fig. 7 (illustrating “Party Mode” as an exemplary zone scene); TX3941 at
`1 (“Zone Scene Macros. ‘Party Mode’ is one example”); TX0120 at 1 (“think Party mode”).
`Dr. Almeroth nevertheless argued that party mode was not a zone scene because it “did not
`provide users with any ability to customize and pre-save their own defined groups of zone
`players.” Trial Tr. (Almeroth) 1659:21-1660:5, 1661:17-20 (emphasis added). But claim 1 has no
`such requirement. In fact, the Court expressly “omitted the user language from the
`construction.”2 Dkt. 762 (Final Charge to the Jury) at 8-9; see also Trial Tr. (Lambourne) 479:22-
`483:23, 501:11-25 (agreeing the claim nowhere requires a user), 509:19-23. Under the correct claim
`construction, no reasonable jury could find that party mode in the Sonos 2005 system was not a zone
`scene. Thus, the only claim elements not taught by Sonos 2005 were the addition of a second zone
`scene that overlaps with the first zone scene and remaining in standalone mode until a zone scene is
`invoked. And those limitations were conclusively disclosed by Sonos Forums and other prior art.
`(ii)
`Sonos Forums Disclosed Multiple Overlapping Zone Scenes
`Google established that the Sonos Forums website—which “allowed users to write about
`their experiences of using a Sonos system”—rendered the asserted claims obvious by adding to the
`Sonos 2005 System a second, overlapping zone scene that could be saved and later invoked—prior
`to Sonos’s alleged December 21, 2005 conception date. Trial Tr. at 466:12-15, 535:11-551:25;
`TX2424; TX3928; TX3930. Google showe

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket