throbber
Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 1 of 31 PageID #: 30041
`Case 1:10-cv-00258—SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 1 of 31 PagelD #: 30041
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`
`
`
`FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE _
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IRONWORKS PATENTS, LLC,
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`
`
`
`V.
`
`
`APPLE, INC.
`
`
`
`Defendant.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`vvvvvvvvvv
`
`
`
`CIV. No. 10—258-SLR
`
`
`
`Brian E. Farnan, Esquire and Michael J. Farnan, Esquire of Farnan LLP, Wilmington, I
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Delaware. Of Counsel: David Berten, Esquire and Alison A. Richards, Esquire of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`'Global IP Law Group, LLC Counsel for Plaintiff..
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Richard K. Herrmann, Esquire and Mary Matterer, Esquire of Morris James LLP,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Wilmington, Delaware. Of Counsel: Tara D. Elliott, Esquire of Wilmer Cutler Pickering
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Hale and Dorr, and Melody Drummond Hansen, Esquire, Luann L. Simmons, Esquire,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and Xin-Yi Zhou, Esquire of O’Melveny &'Myers LLP Counsel for Defendant.
`
`
`' MEMORANDUM OPINION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Dated: June H" ,2017
`
`
`Wilmington, Delaware
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 2 of 31 PageID #: 30042
`Case 1:10-cv-00258—SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 2 of 31 PagelD #: 30042
`
`
`MWtrict Judge
`
`
`I. INTRODUCTION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`On March 31, 2010, plaintiff MobileMedia Ideas LLC (“MMI”) filed suit againSt
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`defendant Apple, Inc. (“defendant”), alleging infringement of a number of patents
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`including US. Patent No. RE 39,231 (“the ‘231 patent). As part of an extensive motion
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`practice, on November 8, 2012, the courtconstrued'the relevant claim terms of the ‘231
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`patent and granted summaryjudgment of noninfringement in favor of defendant.
`
`
`
`
`(D.|.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`461 at 45) The court denied reconsideration (D.l. 539, 540), and the parties went to trial
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`on the other patents—in-suit in December 2012. (See, e.g., D.|. 506 (verdict sheet))
`After post—trial briefing, and the court’s memorandum opinion and order (D.l. 539, 540),
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the parties appealed to the Federal Circuit.
`(D.l. 548, 550) The Federal Circuit
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`construed the ‘231 patent and vacated and remanded the court’s finding of
`noninfringement. MobileMedia Ideas LLC v. Apple Inc., 780 F.3d 1159, 1181 (Fed. Cir.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2015) (“Consistent with the specification, ‘controlling the alert sound generator to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`change a volume of the generated alert sound’ by the ‘control means’ encompasses
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`both stopping and reducing the volume of the alert sound as recited in dependent
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`claims 2 and 3, respectively.”). The court held a five-dayjury trial from September 12-
`18, 2016 on infringement, validity, and damages of claims 12 and 2 of the ‘231 patent.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`On September 20, 2016, the jury returned a verdict that defendant’s iPhone infringes
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`claims 12 and 2 of the ‘231 patent.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(D.l. 704 at 2) The jury determined that the
`
`
`
`asserted claims are not invalid as obvious or'for indefiniteness.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(D.l. 704 at 2-3) As a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`consequenCe of this infringement, the jury awarded MMI damages of $3 million.
`
`
`
`
`(D.l.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`704 at 4) After‘post-trial briefing was complete, Ironworks Patents LLC (“Ironworks”)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 3 of 31 PageID #: 30043
`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 3 of 31 PagelD #: 30043
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`acquired rights in the ‘231 patent and was substituted as the plaintiff; MMI withdrew
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`from this matter.1 (D.l. 734)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Presently before the court are the following motions:
`(1) lronworks’ renewed
`motion forjudgment as a matter of law or motion for a new trial with respect to damages
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(D.l. 712); (2) lronworks’ motion for an award of prejudgment and postjudgment interest
`
`
`
`(D1. 713); and (3) defendant’s renewed motion forjudgment as a matter of law or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`motion for anew trial with respect to validity, infringement, and damages (D.l. 714).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a).
`
`
`
`
`ll. BACKGROUND
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The ‘231 patent, entitled “Communication Terminal Equipment and Call Incoming
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Control Method,” was filed under US. Application No. 09/571,650 on December 13,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1995, claiming priority to an application filed in Japan on December 19, 1994. The ‘231
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`patent originally issued on November 30, 1998 as U.S. Patent No. 5,995,852 and was
`reissued on August 8, 2006. As part of related litigation against other defendants in
`‘
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`other courts, on February 10, 2011, Research In Motion, Ltd. requested an ex par/e
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`reexamination of the ‘231 patent.2 In a reexamination certificate that issued April 3,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2012, claims 1, 11, 13-16, and 18-23 were cancelled; claims 2—4,‘ 8, 12, and 17 were
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`amended and determined to be patentable; claims 5-7, 9 and 10 were determined to be I
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`patentable as dependent on an amended claim, and new claims 24-29 were determined
`
`
`
`to be patentable.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(‘231 patent, ex parte reexamination certificate at 1:20-29)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The patent teaches communication terminal equipment and a method for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`stopping or reducing the volume of an alert sound for an incoming call on a telephone.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1 The court refers to MW and lronworks collectively as (“plaintiff’) except where a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`specific reference'(e.g. “an MMI employee” and “an MMI -license”)-is necessary.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2 See File Wrapper, U.S. Application No. 90/011,482, “Receipt of Orig. Ex Parte
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Request by Third Party” (Feb. 10, 2011).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 4 of 31 PageID #: 30044
`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 4 of 31 PagelD #: 30044
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(‘231 patent, abstract) Conventionally, a “call incoming on a telephone is informed by
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`means of an alert sound," but the alert sound “does not stop ringing before a user
`
`
`
`'
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`effects [a] next operation.” (‘231 patent, 1:17-20) A user who cannot respond to a call
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`incoming has only the Option to forcibly disconnect the incoming call, turn off the
`telephone, or allow the alert sound to continue ringing.~ (‘231 patent, 1:20-25) The first
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`two options, forcibly disconnecting the incoming call or turning offthe telephone, may
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`give the person on the call origination side an “unpleasant feeling because [he or she]
`
`
`
`can notice that the circuit was broken off intentionally" or may give the person the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`impression that the telephone network has failed.
`
`
`
`
`
`(‘231 patent, 1:26-30, 39-42)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Moreover, a user who turns off the power may forget to turn the power back on and
`
`
`
`
`
`miss the next incoming call.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(‘231 patent, 1:37-39) On the other hand, the third option,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`allowing the alert sound to continue ringing, may disturb the user or other persons in the
`
`
`
`surroundings.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(‘231 patent, 1:3—33)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In light of these problems, the invention aims “to provide a communication
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`terminal equipment which is superior in selecting and handling properties for users .
`
`.
`
`.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(‘231 patent, 1:43-46)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`it teaches a telephone in which an alert sound muting or volume
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`reducing function is allotted to a key.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(‘231 patent, 2:2-5; 4:40-42; 5:12-17) When the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`telephone receives an incoming call, the user can use a predetermined operation, such
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`as depressing a key for a short time, to prompt the “alert on/off controller” to st0p
`generation of the‘alert sound. (231 patent, 3:36-48) Alternatively, the alert sound may
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`be reduced.
`
`
`
`
`
`(‘231 patent, 4:40-42)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Claims 2, 3, 4, and 12 are at issue. During reexamination, claim 12 was
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`amended to recite as follows:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`12. A communication terminal for informing a user of a received call
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`from a remote caller by an alert sound, comprising:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`an alert sound generator for generating the alert sound when the call is
`
`
`
`
`
`received from the remote caller;
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 5 of 31 PageID #: 30045
`Case 1:10-cv-00258—SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 5 of 31 PagelD #: 30045
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`control means for controlling said alert sound generator; and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`means for specifying a predetermined operation by the user,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`wherein when said alert sound generator is generating the alert sound
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`. and said means for specifying said predetermined operation is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`operated by the user, said control means controls said alert sound
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`generator to change a volume of the generated alert sound only for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the received call, without affecting the volume of the alert sound for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`future received calls, while leaving a call ringing state, as perceived
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`by the remote caller, of the call to the terminal from the remote caller
`
`unchanged,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`further comprising:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RF signal processing means for transmitting and/or receiving radio
`
`
`waves; and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`an antenna for transmitting and/or receiving said radio waves, wherein
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`said communication status between said apparatus and said remote
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`caller is established by said transmitted and/or received radio waves.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(‘231 patent, ex parte reexamination certificate, 2:11-39)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Reexamined claims 2, 3, and 4 are all dependent from claim 12. Reexamined
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`claim 2 adds the limitation that the “control means controls the state of said alert sound
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`generator to stop the sound.” Reexamined claim 3 adds the limitation that the alert
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`sound generator reduces the volume of the sound. Finally, reexamined claim 4 adds
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the limitation “where said predetermined operation is an operation depressing a
`
`
`
`
`
`predetermined operation key."
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Ill. STANDARD OF REVIEW
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`A. Renewed Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law
`
`
`
`' The Federal Circuit “review[s] a district court’s denial of judgment as a matter of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`law under the law of the regional circuit. WBIP, LLC v. Kohler C0,, 1829 F.3d 1317, 1325
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(Fed. Cir. 2016) (citation omitted).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In the Third Circuit, a “court may grant a judgment as
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a matter of law contrary to the verdict only if ‘the record is critically deficient of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`minimum quantum of evidence’ to sustain the verdict.” Acumed LLC v. Advanced
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Surgical Servs., Inc., 561 F.3d 199, 211 (3d Cir. 2009) (citing Gomez v. Allegheny
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 6 of 31 PageID #: 30046
`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 6 of 31 PagelD #: 30046
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Health Sen/s, Inc., 71 F.3d 1079, .1083 (3d Cir. 1995)); see also McKenna v. City of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Philadelphia, 649 F.3d 171, 176 (3d Cir. 2011). The court should grantjudgment as a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`matter of law “sparingly,” and “only if, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the nonmovant and giving it the advantage of every fair and reasonable inference, there
`is insufficient evidence from which a jury reasonably could find liability.” Marra v.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Philadelphia Hous Auth., 497 F.3d 286, 300 (3d Cir. 2007) (citing Moyer v. United
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Dominion Indus, Inc., 473 F.3d 532, 545 n.8 (3d Cir. 2007)). “In performing this narrow
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`inquiry, [the court] must refrain from weighing the evidence, determining the credibility of
`witnesses, or substituting [its] own version of the facts for that of the jury.
`Id. (citing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Lightning Lube, Inc. v. Witco Corp., 4 F.3d 1153, 1166 (3d Cir. 1993)). Judgment as a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`~matter of law may be appropriate when there is “a purely legal basis” for reversal "that
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`does not depend on rejecting the jury’s findings on the evidence at trial.” Acumed, 561
`
`
`
`F.3d at 211.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`B. Motion for a New Trial
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(a) provides, in pertinent part:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`A new trial may be granted to all or any of. the parties and on all or part of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the issues in an action in which there has been a trial by jury, for any of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the reasons for which new trials have heretofore been granted in actions
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`at law in the courts of the United States.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(a). The decision to grant or deny a new trial is within the sound
`
`
`
`discretion of the trial court and, unlike the standard for determining judgment as a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`matter of law, the court need not view the evidence in the light most favorable to the ,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`verdict winner. See Allied Chem. Corp. v. Daiflon, Inc., 449 US. 33, 36 (1980); Leonard
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`v. Stemtech Int’l Inc, 834 F.3d 376, 386 (3d Cir. 2016) (citing Olefins Trading, Inc. v.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Han Yang Chem. Corp., 9 F.3d 282 (3d Cir. 1993)); LifeScan Inc. v. Home Diagnostics,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Inc., 103 F. Supp. 2d 345, 350 (D. Del. 2000) (citations omitted); see also 9A Wright &
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2531 (2d ed. 1994) (“On a motion for new trial
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 7 of 31 PageID #: 30047
`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 7 of 31 PagelD #: 30047
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the court may consider the credibility of witnesses and the weight of the evidence").
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Among the most common reasons for granting a new trial are: (1) the jury’s verdict is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`against the clear weight of the evidence, and a new trial must be granted to prevent a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`miscarriage ofjustice; (2) newly-discovered evidence exists that would likely alter the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`outcome of the trial; (3) improper conduct by an attorney or the court unfairly influenced
`
`the verdict; or (4) thejury’s verdict was facially inconsistent. See Zarow—Smith v. NJ.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Transit Rail Operations, 953 F. Supp. 581, 584-85 (D.N.J. 1997) (citations omitted).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The court must proceed cautiously, mindful that it should not simply substitute its own -
`judgment of the facts and the credibility of the Witnesses for those of the jury. Rather,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the court should grant a new trial “only when the great weight of the evidence cuts
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`against the verdict and a miscarriage of justice would result if the verdict were to stand.”
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Leonard, 834 F.3d at 386 (citing Springer v. Henry, 435 F.3d 268, 274 (3d Cir. 2006)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and Williamson v. Consol. Rail Corp., 926 'F.2d 1344, 1352-53 (3d Cir. 1991)) (internal
`
`
`
`
`
`quotation marks omitted).
`
`
`
`
`IV. DISCUSSION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`A. Defendant’s Renewed JMOL — Liability
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Defendant argues that “JMOL of noninfringement should be granted because no
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`reasonable jury could have found that the accused iPhones literally infringe claims 12
`and 2 of the ‘231 patent.” (D..l. 717 at 12)
`In support,defendant contends that:
`(1) the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`‘_‘alert sound generator” as construed under § 112, TI 6, requires plaintiff to show “that
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the accused iPhones contain structures identical to the structure disclosed in the ‘231
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`patent;” (2) plaintiff did not provide sufficient evidenCe of infringement of the “control
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`means” limitation; and (3) plaintiff’s expert only testified as to the iPhone 368 and did'
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`not present sufficient evidence of infringement by the other accused iPhone products.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(D.|. 717 at 12-13)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 8 of 31 PageID #: 30048
`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 8 of 31 PagelD #: 30048
`
`
`1. Standard
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`A patent is infringed when a person “without authority makes, uses or sells any
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`patented invention, within the United States .
`.
`. during the term of the patent.” 35
`U.S.C. § 271(a). To prove direct infringement, the patentee must establish that one or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`more claims of the patent read on the accused device literally or under the doctrine of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`equivalents. Advanced Cardiovascular Sys., Inc. v. Scimed Life Sys., Inc., 261 F.3d
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1329, 1336 (Fed. Cir. 2001). A two-step analysis is employed in making an
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`infringement determination. Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 52 F.3d 967, 976
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(Fed. Cir. 1995), aff’d, 517 US. 370 (1996). First, the court must construe the asserted
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`claims to ascertain their meaning and scope, a question of law.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Id. at 976-77; see also
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Teva Pharms. USA, Inc. v. Sandoz, Inc., _ U.S. _, 135 S. Ct. 831, 837 (2015). The
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`trier of fact must then compare the properly construed claims with the accused infringing
`
`
`
`product. See Markman, 52 F.3d at 976. This second step is a question of fact.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Spectrum Pharm., Inc. v. Sandoz Inc., 802'F.3d 1326, 1337 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (citing Bai
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`v. L 8. L Wings, Inc., 160 F.3d 1350, 1353 (Fed. Cir. 1998)).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`“Direct infringement requires a party to perform each and every step or element
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of a claimed method or product.” Exergen Corp. v. Wal—Mart Stores, Inc., 575 F.3d
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1312, 1320 (Fed. Cir. 2009) (quoting BMC Res, Inc. v. Paymentech, L.P., 498 F.3d
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1373, 1378 (Fed. Cir. 2007)). “If any claim limitation is absent .
`
`.
`
`
`
`
`
`., there is no literal
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`infringement as a matter of law.” BayerAG v. Elan Pharm. Research Corp., 212 F.3d
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1241, 1247 (Fed. Cir. 2000).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`If an accused product does not infringe an independent
`
`
`
`claim, it also does not infringe any claim depending thereon. Ferring B.V. v. Watson
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Labs, Ina-Florida, 764 F.3d 1401, 1411 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (citing Wahpeton Canvas Co.,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Inc. v. Frontier, Inc., 870 F.2d 1546, 1552 (Fed. Cir. 1989) (“One who does not infringe
`
`
`
`an independent claim cannot infringe a claim dependent on (and thus containing all the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`limitations of) that claim.")). However, “[o]ne may infringe an independent claim and not
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 9 of 31 PageID #: 30049
`Case 1:10-cv-00258—SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 9 of 31 PagelD #: 30049
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`infringe a claim dependent on that claim." Monsanto Co. v. Syngenta Seeds, Inc., 503
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`F.3d 1352, 1359 (Fed. Cir. 2007) (quoting Wahpeton Canvas, 870 F.2d at 1552)
`
`
`
`'
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(internal quotations omitted). The patent owner has the burden of proving literal
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`infringement by a preponderance of the evidence. Octane Fitness, 134 S. Ct. at 1758.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2. All accused iPhone products
`
`
`
`Defendant argues that plaintiff “presented no evidence at trial that the accused
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`products perform the claimed functions of generating an alertsound and stopping the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`alert sound using structures identical to any structure disclosed in the ‘231 Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`specification.” (D.l. 717 at 13, citing Enfish, LLC v. Microsoft Corp., 822 F.3d 1327,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1345—46 (Fed. Cir. 2016))
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a. “Alert sound generator”
`
`
`
`Defendant argues that plaintiff “presented no evidence that the iPhone’s
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`components are identical to the ‘alert sound generator 13’ in Figure 2 of the ‘231
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`patent." (D.l. 717 at 13) The court construed “an alert sound generator for generating
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the alert sound when the call is received from the remote caller” under § 112, 11 6, and
`
`
`
`
`
`identified that “[t]he function is generating the alert sound when the call is received from
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the remote caller" and “[t]he structure is an alert sound generator (such as the alert
`sound generator 13 in the ‘231 patent.” (D.l. 703 at 19 (emphasis omitted» Defendant
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`repeatedly sought to limit the construction to item 13 in figure 2, and the court
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`disagreed. (See, e.g., D.l. 739 at 94124—23) This motion is essentially a request for
`
`
`
`reconsideration.
`
`
`
`
`i. Standard
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`A motion for reconsideration is the “functional equivalent" of a motion to alter or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`amend judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e). See Jones v. Pittsburgh
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Nat’l Corp., 899 F.2d 1350, 1352 (3d Cir. 1990) (citing Fed. Kemper Ins. Co. v.
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 10 of 31 PageID #: 30050
`Case 1:10-cv-00258—SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 10 of 31 PagelD #: 30050
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Rauscher, 807 F.2d 345, 348 (3d Cir. 1986)). The standard for obtaining relief under
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Rule 59(e) is difficult to meet. The purpose of a motion for reconsideration is to “correct
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`manifest errors of law or fact or to present newly discovered evidence.” Max’s Seafood
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Cafe ex rel. Lou-Ann, Inc. v. Quinteros, 176 F.3d 669, 677 (3d Cir. 1999). A court
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`should exercise its discretion to alter or amend its judgment only if the movant
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`demonstrates one of the following:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(1) a change in the controlling law; (2) a need to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`correct a clear error of law or fact or to prevent manifest injustice; or (3) availability of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`new evidence not available when the judgment was granted. See id. A motion for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`reconsideration is not properly grounded on a request that a court rethink a decision
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`already made and may not be used “as a means to argue new facts or issues that
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`inexcusably were not presented to the court in the matter previously decided.”
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Brambles USA, Inc. v. Blocker, 735 F. Supp. 1239, 1240 (D. Del. 1990); see also
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Glendon Energy Co. v. Borough of Glendon, 836 F. Supp. 1109, 1122 (ED. Pa. 1993).
`
`
`
`
`
`ii. Analysis
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Defendant argues that plaintiff “can establish infringement only by proving that
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the accused iPhones contain structures identical to the structure disclosed in the ‘231
`
`
`patent specification.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(D.l. 717 at 12) Defendant presents no new evidence to support
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`its argument, identifies no changes in the law, and addresses no clear errors of law or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`fact in the court’s construction. Max’s Seafood Cafe, 176 F.3d at 677. Therefore, the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`court denies defendant’s motion for reconsideration.
`
`
`
`
`
`b. “Control means”
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Plaintiff presented testimony from Sigurd Meldal, PhD (“Dr. Meldal”) in which he
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`opined that, in the accused iPhone products, the “control means” limitation is met by the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CPU running software and the “L61” audio interface.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(D.l. 737 at 412:18—413:23;'see
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`also D.l. 740 at 1080:8—1081:10, 1134:1-10) Defendant’s expert, Ravin Balakrishnan,
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 11 of 31 PageID #: 30051
`Case 1:10-cv-00258—SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 11 of 31 PagelD #: 30051
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PhD (“‘Dr. Balakrishnan”), opined that “the accused iPhones do not have the control
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`means element.” (D.l. 739 at 842:2-8)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Defendant argues that “[w]ith respect to the ‘control means,’ [plaintiff] failed to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`present any evidence that the accused iPhones include a structure identical to the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`structure disclosed in the specification—a CPU and an alert sound generator on/off
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`controller.” (D.|. 717 at 14) Thejury was instructed that “control means for controlling
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`said alert sound generator” is construed under § 112, 1] 6, “[t]he function is controlling
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the alert sound generator to change a volume of the generated alert sound,” and “[t]he
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`structure is CPU and alert sound generator on/off controller.” (D.l. 703 at 19 (emphasis
`omitted)) Dr. Meldal expressed the opinion that the CPU, software, and the L61 audio
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`is the structure that performs the identified function. Dr. Balakrishnan disagreed. The
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`jury credited the testimony of Dr. Meldal over that of Dr. Balakrishnan. The court
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`declines to re-weigh the evidence or the credibility of the witnesses. Viewing the record
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in the light most favorable to plaintiff, substantial evidence supports the jury’s verdict.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`For these reasons, defendant’s renewed motion for JMOL is denied.
`
`
`
`
`3.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`iPhone 3G, iPhone 4 GSM, and iPhone 4 CDMA
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Defendant presents numerous overlapping arguments as to liability on the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`iPhone 3G, iPhone 4 GMS, and iPhone 4 CDMA.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(D.l. 717 at 16-17) With respect to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the “alert sound generator” term, the court declines to reconsider defendant’s
`duplicative arguments as to these three accused devices. Defendant argues that “for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the limitation ‘[wherein] said call ringing state between said apparatus and said remote
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`caller is established by said transmitted and/or received radio waves,’ Dr. Meldal relied
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`exclusively on the iPhone 3GS’s practice of the GSM standard.” (D.l. 717 at 17 (citing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`D.l. 737 at 424:20-425:4)) Defendant contends that plaintiff “presented no infringement
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`evidence for any CDMA product.” (D.l. 717 at 17) Dr. Meldal [expressed the opinion
`
`
`
`
`
`that, for limitation
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 4 (CDMA and GSM) contain the
`
`10
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 12 of 31 PageID #: 30052
`Case 1:10-cv-00258—SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 12 of 31 PagelD #: 30052
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`same limitation “for the same reasons if not exactly the same hardware.”3 (D.l. 737 at
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`426:6-10) Dr. Meldal performed a limitation-by—limitation analysis of the iPhone 3G8 as
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`compared to claims 12 and 2 of the ‘231 patent.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(D:l. 737 at 40721—40822, 41012-21,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`411:1-41222, 412:18—413:23, 416:17-417218, 418:2-421z16, 421':20-422:20, 423:3-425:4,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`426,:11-20) Dr. Meldal addressed the comparisons between the iPhone 3G8 and the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`other accused iPhone products on a limitation—by-limitation basis.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(D.l. 737 at 409:1-3,
`
`
`
`412213—17,416:13-16,417:19-23,421217-19,422:21-423:2,426:6-10,426:21-23) The
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`jury credited the testimony of Dr. Meldal and concluded that the iPhone 3G, iPhone 4 ‘
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`GSM, and iPhone 4 CDMA infringe the claims. The court declines to reiweigh the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`evidence or the credibility of the witnesses. Viewing the record in the light most
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`favorable to plaintiff, substantial evidence supports the jury’s verdict. For these
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`reasons, defendant’s renewed motion for JMOL is denied.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4. New trial — liability
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In the alternative, defendant requests a new trial on liability should the court deny
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the renewed motion for JMOL.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(D.l 717 at 20) Defendant’s request is premised on the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`same arguments as its renewed motion for JMOL with respect to liability.
`
`
`
`
`(/d.)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Defendant asks the court to exercise its own judgment in assessing the evidence, and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`reach the opposite conclusion as the jury.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(/d.) For the reasons discussed above, the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`jury’s verdict is not against the clear weight of the evidence, therefore, the court denies
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`defendant’s request for a new trial on liability.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`B. Defendant’s Renewed JMOL — Validity
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Defendant has moved for a JMOL that the ‘231 patent is invalid on three
`
`
`
`grounds:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`indefiniteness, obviousness, and lack of written description.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(D.l 717 at 3)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3 Defendant argues that this type of opinion testimony is insufficient evidence of
`
`
`
`
`
`infringement.
`(D.l. 717 at 16-17)
`
`
`
`11
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:10-cv-00258-SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 13 of 31 PageID #: 30053
`Case 1:10-cv-00258—SLR Document 748 Filed 06/14/17 Page 13 of 31 PagelD #: 30053
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Plaintiff responds that defendant is “reargu[

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