throbber
Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 1 of 25 PageID #: 1
`
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE
`
`
`
`
`
`Civil Action No. ____________
`
`
`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
`
`vs.
`
`
`IMMERSION CORPORATION
`
`
`
`APPLE INC.,
`
`AT&T INC., and
`
`AT&T MOBILITY LLC
`
`
`
`COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
`
`Plaintiff Immersion Corporation ("Immersion") brings this action for patent infringement
`
`against Apple Inc., AT&T Inc., and AT&T Mobility LLC (collectively, "Defendants"), and
`
`alleges as follows:
`
`NATURE OF THE ACTION
`
`1.
`
`Immersion is a leading innovator and developer of haptic technology. Since its
`
`founding in 1993, Immersion has developed and licensed haptic products and intellectual
`
`property across diverse industries and applications, including, for example, medical devices,
`
`medical training simulations, game systems and controllers, automotive devices, touchscreen
`
`controls for appliances and office equipment, and mobile electronic devices. In recent years, a
`
`primary focus of Immersion's business has been developing products for the mobile electronic
`
`device industry, including software products for implementing advanced haptic effects, including
`
`pressure-enabled haptic effects, on mobile electronic devices.
`
`2.
`
`"Haptics" refers to the science of touch. Haptics in consumer electronic devices
`
`provides touch or tactile sensations to the users of electronic devices. Because of the importance
`
`of the sense of touch to the way people perceive their surroundings and the things with which
`
`they interact, haptics can greatly enhance the usability and functionality of consumer electronic
`
`6251724
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 2 of 25 PageID #: 2
`
`
`devices. Haptic sensations in such devices are typically created by actuators, or motors, which
`
`create a vibration.
`
`3.
`
`When haptics is implemented on a mobile phone (for example, through
`
`Immersion's TouchSense® software), users can experience a vibrating force as they push a
`
`virtual button, select a graphical object, scroll through a list, or receive a message. As another
`
`example, when haptics is implemented in a laptop computer (for example, in the laptop's
`
`touchpad), users can experience a vibrating force when they press down on the touchpad.
`
`Haptics may, for example, confirm or provide cues that an action has been performed.
`
`Predefined haptic effects may be incorporated in an electronic device to allow certain haptic
`
`effects to be associated with certain actions and allow applications to access and use the
`
`predefined haptic effects library. As another example, when implemented in a mobile game,
`
`users can feel an engine reverberation, the crack of the bat meeting the ball, or the release of a
`
`slingshot. The presence of haptics in electronic devices provides a new level of user interaction
`
`through haptic cues, which provide users with a more rich and immersive user experience.
`
`4.
`
`In electronic devices, haptic effects are typically managed and controlled by
`
`embedded software, and integrated into device user interfaces and applications via embedded
`
`control software APIs. Applications running on a mobile electronic device call these APIs to
`
`implement the haptic effects. These APIs in turn cause specific haptic effect commands to be
`
`sent to an actuator in the electronic device, resulting in the associated haptic feedback effect.
`
`More sophisticated applications may provide a variety of tactile sensations. For example, user
`
`actions may trigger different haptic effects and thus communicate different types of information.
`
`This information may be conveyed by varying the type, duration, intensity, or frequency of the
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 2 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 3 of 25 PageID #: 3
`
`
`tactile sensations. This enables the creation of different haptic effects so that users can easily
`
`distinguish, for example, a calendar alert from a text message alert or an incoming call.
`
`5.
`
`Pressure-enabled haptics is a form of haptics. For example, pressure-enabled
`
`sensors may measure the pressure levels of contacts on the touchscreen. Separate haptic effects
`
`may be configured for different interactions with graphical objects, for example, touching
`
`graphical objects on the touchscreen and applying pressure at varying pressure levels. Different
`
`haptic effects may be provided depending on the pressure level of the contact on the touchscreen
`
`in relation to predefined pressure thresholds.
`
`6.
`
`Haptics, including pressure-enabled haptics, can be incorporated into many
`
`features of a smartphone or laptop. For example, it is especially useful in electronic devices
`
`containing touchscreens, which tend to have very few physical buttons. For example, a
`
`particular haptic effect may be used when the pressure level of the contact on the touchscreen is
`
`less than a first pressure threshold, or a particular haptic effect may be used when the pressure
`
`level of the contact on the touchscreen is between the first pressure threshold and a second
`
`pressure threshold. As another example, haptic effects in a pressure-enabled mobile device may
`
`be provided depending on whether certain conditions are met by the user's interaction with the
`
`pressure-enabled touch sensor. For example, a user may interact with a displayed graphical
`
`object on the touchscreen by applying pressure to the touchscreen. The pressure-enabled touch
`
`sensor may receive contact data from the interaction and the mobile device may determine a
`
`gesture based on the contact data. As an example, if the pressure is greater than a pressure
`
`threshold and the change in pressure is greater than a change in pressure threshold and a time
`
`interval has elapsed, a haptic effect may be provided. In this way, the user's intended interaction
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 3 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 4 of 25 PageID #: 4
`
`
`may be accurately determined based on contact data from the pressure-enabled touch sensor, and
`
`the user experience enhanced.
`
`7.
`
`Haptic effects, including pressure-enabled haptics, may also be used to confirm
`
`receipt of a command and indicate that a command is unrecognized. For example, a user may
`
`issue a command by interacting with a graphical object on a touchscreen, e.g., by applying a
`
`certain level of pressure to the touchscreen. If the user input is recognized and the command is
`
`determined, the mobile electronic device may provide a haptic effect confirming receipt of the
`
`command. Otherwise, the mobile electronic device may provide a second haptic effect. The
`
`second haptic effect may indicate, for example, that the user input is unrecognized or that a
`
`corresponding command was not found. Haptic feedback confirming receipt of a command
`
`provides a more realistic and responsive user experience, informing the user via tactile sensation
`
`whether the user's input was recognized and the command was determined.
`
`8.
`
`Immersion's hard work and ingenuity in the field of haptics has resulted in
`
`extensive intellectual property protection for Immersion's innovations. This protection includes
`
`more than 2,100 world-wide granted and pending patents, including the patents-in-suit.
`
`9.
`
`Haptics play a central role in Defendants' products. For example, important
`
`features of the current generation of Apple iPhones are promoted under the names "3D Touch"
`
`and "Taptic Engine." These features of the Apple iPhone 6s and 6s Plus provide haptic
`
`feedback, including feedback based on pressure-sensitive interactions with the touch screen.
`
`Apple and AT&T tout this functionality on their websites. See, e.g., Apple, iPhone 6s –
`
`3DTouch, http://www.apple.com/iphone-6s/3d-touch/ (3D Touch):
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 4 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 5 of 25 PageID #: 5
`
`
`See also, e.g., http://www.apple.com/iphone-6s/technology/ (Taptic Engine):
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`See also, e.g., https://www.att.com/cellphones/iphone/iphone-6s.html (3D Touch advertised by
`
`
`
`AT&T):
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 5 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 6 of 25 PageID #: 6
`
`
`10.
`
`Similarly, important haptic features of the Apple MacBook, Apple MacBook Pro
`
`13-inch, and Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch are promoted under the names "Force Touch" and
`
`"Taptic Engine."
`
` Apple
`
`touts
`
`this
`
`functionality
`
`on
`
`its website.
`
`
`
`See
`
`http://www.apple.com/macbook/design/:
`
`
`
`
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 6 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 7 of 25 PageID #: 7
`
`
`11.
`
`Defendants are capitalizing on Immersion's innovation and success by selling
`
`mobile devices that infringe Immersion's patents. Defendants are utilizing Immersion's patented
`
`inventions without license or authority from Immersion. Immersion has brought this action to
`
`
`
`remedy Defendants' infringement.
`
`PARTIES
`
`12.
`
`Immersion is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business located
`
`at 50 Rio Robles, San Jose, CA 95134. Immersion is the owner of the intellectual property rights
`
`at issue in this action. As noted above, Immersion is a leading innovator and developer of haptic
`
`feedback technologies. Since its founding in 1993, Immersion has developed and licensed haptic
`
`feedback products and intellectual property across diverse industries and applications, including
`
`mobile electronic devices.
`
`13.
`
`Defendant Apple Inc. ("Apple") is a California corporation with its principal place
`
`of business at 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014.
`
`14.
`
`Apple makes, uses, offers to sell, sells, and imports into the United States mobile
`
`electronic devices, including the Apple MacBook, Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch, Apple
`
`MacBook Pro 15-inch, Apple iPhone 6s, and Apple iPhone 6s Plus. Apple maintains one or
`
`more retail stores and numerous employees in this judicial district. Apple's retail stores in this
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 7 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 8 of 25 PageID #: 8
`
`
`judicial district offer to sell and do sell infringing devices, including the Apple MacBook, Apple
`
`MacBook Pro 13-inch, Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch, Apple iPhone 6s, and Apple iPhone 6s
`
`Plus.
`
`15.
`
`Defendant AT&T Inc. is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of
`
`business at 208 S. Akard Street, Dallas, TX 75202. Defendant AT&T Mobility LLC is a
`
`Delaware limited liability company with its principal place of business at 1025 Lenox Park
`
`Boulevard NE, Atlanta, GA 30319. AT&T Mobility LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
`
`AT&T Inc. Together, AT&T Inc. and AT&T Mobility LLC will be referred to as "AT&T."
`
`16.
`
`AT&T uses, offers to sell, sells, and imports into the United States mobile
`
`electronic devices, including the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus. AT&T maintains
`
`one or more retail stores and numerous employees in this judicial district. AT&T's retail stores
`
`in this judicial district offer to sell and do sell infringing devices, including the Apple iPhone 6s
`
`and Apple iPhone 6s Plus.
`
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`17.
`
`This is an action for patent infringement arising under the patent laws of the
`
`United States of America, 35 U.S.C. § 1, et seq., including 35 U.S.C. § 271. This Court has
`
`subject matter jurisdiction over the matters pleaded herein under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1338(a).
`
`18.
`
`This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendants because, among other
`
`reasons, Defendants have done business in this District, have committed and continue to commit
`
`acts of patent infringement in this District, and have harmed and continue to harm Immersion in
`
`this District, by, among other things, using, selling, and offering for sale infringing products in
`
`this District. Moreover, the Defendants have placed infringing products into the stream of
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 8 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 9 of 25 PageID #: 9
`
`
`commerce by shipping those products into this District or knowing that the products would be
`
`shipped into this District.
`
`19.
`
`Venue is proper in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1400(b) and 1391(b)-(c)
`
`because, among other reasons, Defendants are subject to personal jurisdiction in this District and
`
`have committed acts of infringement in this District, including selling and distributing infringing
`
`products in this District.
`
`20.
`
`Joinder of Defendants in this action is proper under 35 U.S.C. § 299 because,
`
`among other reasons, Immersion asserts a right to relief against Defendants with respect to or
`
`arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences relating
`
`to the making, using, importing into the United States, offering for sale, or selling of common
`
`accused products, including the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus, and questions of fact
`
`common to all Defendants will arise in this action.
`
`FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
`
`(U.S. Patent No. 8,749,507)
`
`21.
`
`Immersion incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 20 as if set forth here
`
`in full.
`
`22.
`
`Immersion is the owner of the entire right, title, and interest in and to U.S. Patent
`
`No. 8,749,507 (the "'507 patent"), entitled "Systems and Methods for Adaptive Interpretation of
`
`Input from a Touch-Sensitive Input Device," which was duly issued on June 10, 2014. A copy
`
`of the '507 patent is attached as Exhibit A.
`
`23.
`
`The '507 patent, in general, describes advances in providing haptic feedback in
`
`certain mobile electronic devices such as mobile phones that receive contact data from
`
`interactions with a touchscreen. The '507 patent teaches, among other things, systems and
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 9 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 10 of 25 PageID #: 10
`
`
`methods in which the mobile electronic device determines a pressure and a change in pressure
`
`based on contact data. The mobile electronic device outputs a haptic effect if the pressure is
`
`greater than a pressure threshold, the change in pressure is greater than a change in pressure
`
`threshold, and an interval has elapsed. Further details of the invention are described in the
`
`specification and the claims.
`
`24.
`
`Defendants have infringed and are currently infringing the '507 patent, in
`
`violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271, by, among other things, making, using, offering for sale, selling,
`
`and/or importing within this judicial district and elsewhere in the United States, without license
`
`or authority, products and/or processes falling within the scope of one or more claims of the '507
`
`patent, including without limitation the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus.
`
`25.
`
`Based on the information presently available to it, Immersion alleges that at least
`
`the following apparatuses, products, devices, processes, methods, acts, or other instrumentalities
`
`infringe or are covered by claims of the '507 patent: the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s
`
`Plus. Immersion makes this preliminary identification of infringing apparatuses, products,
`
`devices, processes, methods, acts, or other instrumentalities without the benefit of discovery or
`
`claim construction in this action, and expressly reserves the right to augment, supplement, and
`
`revise its identifications based on additional information obtained through discovery or
`
`otherwise.
`
`26.
`
`Apple, AT&T, and their customers directly infringe the '507 patent using the
`
`Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus. The accused devices receive contact data from a
`
`user's finger contacting the touch screen of the devices. The accused devices determine
`
`interactions with displayed graphical objects. Then, the accused devices determine a "Peek" or
`
`"Pop" press using pressure, change in pressure, and timing interval information. Additional
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 10 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 11 of 25 PageID #: 11
`
`
`details relating to the accused devices and their infringement are in the possession of
`
`Defendants.
`
`27.
`
`Defendants also indirectly infringe the '507 patent. Defendants are aware of the
`
`'507 patent at least from the date of this Complaint. Additionally, on information and belief,
`
`Defendants were aware of the '507 patent before the date of this Complaint, including without
`
`limitation through Defendants' knowledge of Immersion and Immersion's disclosure of its
`
`patents
`
`on
`
`its website
`
`(formerly
`
`located
`
`at
`
`http://www.immersion.com/haptics-
`
`technology/patents/index.html and currently
`
`located at http://www.immersion.com/legal/
`
`#patents). For example, Immersion's website specifically lists the '507 patent. Additionally, on
`
`information and belief, the relevance of Immersion's leading portfolio of haptic patents is well-
`
`known
`
`to Defendants.
`
` See,
`
`e.g., http://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-
`
`color/13/08/3816746/immersion-others-could-get-a-boost-when-haptics-market-r
`
`("When
`
`it
`
`comes to haptics, Immersion is usually the first company that comes to mind."). Defendants
`
`knew that the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus infringed the '507 patent, or at a
`
`minimum believed there was a high probability that the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s
`
`Plus were covered by the '507 patent, but willfully blinded themselves to Immersion's patent and
`
`the infringing nature of the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus.
`
`28.
`
`Defendants induced and are actively inducing infringement of the '507 patent, in
`
`violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(b), by, among other things, actively and knowingly aiding and
`
`abetting others to directly make, use, offer for sale, sell, and/or import within this judicial district
`
`and elsewhere in the United States, without license or authority, products and/or processes
`
`falling within the scope of one or more claims of the '507 patent, including without limitation the
`
`Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus. For example, Defendant Apple provides directions,
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 11 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 12 of 25 PageID #: 12
`
`
`instruction manuals, guides, and/or other materials that encourage and facilitate infringing use by
`
`others. See, e.g., http://www.apple.com/iphone-6s/3d-touch/; http://www.apple.com/iphone-
`
`6s/technology/; http://help.apple.com/iphone/9/. Defendant AT&T similarly provides directions,
`
`instruction manuals, guides, and/or other materials that encourage and facilitate infringing use by
`
`others.
`
` See, e.g., http://www.att.com/wireless/iphone/; https://www.att.com/cellphones/
`
`iphone/iphone-6s.html; http://www.att.com/esupport/iphonefaqs.jsp. The Defendants have sold
`
`and are selling these products with the knowledge and intent that customers who buy the
`
`products will use the products for their infringing use and therefore that customers have been and
`
`are directly infringing the '507 patent.
`
`29.
`
`Defendants have contributorily infringed and are currently contributorily
`
`infringing the '507 patent, in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(c), by, among other things, selling,
`
`offering for sale, and/or importing within this judicial district and elsewhere in the United States,
`
`without license or authority, products or components of products which constitute a material part
`
`of the '507 patent, knowing that such products and/or components are especially made or
`
`especially adapted for use in the infringement of the '507 patent, and not staple articles or
`
`commodities of commerce suitable for substantial noninfringing use.
`
`30.
`
`Defendants' infringement of the '507 patent has been and continues to be willful
`
`and deliberate. Despite knowledge of the '507 patent, Defendants have acted and are acting
`
`despite an objectively high likelihood that their actions constitute patent infringement. This
`
`objective risk was and is known to the Defendants, and is also so obvious that it should have
`
`been known to the Defendants.
`
`31.
`
`As a direct and proximate result of Defendants' infringement of the '507 patent,
`
`Immersion has suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable injury for which there is no
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 12 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 13 of 25 PageID #: 13
`
`
`adequate remedy at law. Immersion has also been damaged and, until an injunction issues, will
`
`continue to be damaged in an amount yet to be determined.
`
`SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
`
`(U.S. Patent No. 7,808,488)
`
`32.
`
`Immersion incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 20 as if set forth here
`
`in full.
`
`33.
`
`Immersion is the owner of the entire right, title, and interest in and to U.S. Patent
`
`No. 7,808,488 (the "'488 patent"), entitled "Method and Apparatus for Providing Tactile
`
`Sensations," which was duly issued on Oct. 5, 2010. A copy of the '488 patent is attached as
`
`Exhibit B.
`
`34.
`
`The '488 patent, in general, describes advances in providing haptic feedback in
`
`certain mobile electronic devices such as mobile phones that have, among other things, a
`
`touchscreen and an actuator. The '488 patent teaches, among other things, systems and methods
`
`in which the mobile electronic device displays on the touchscreen a graphical object. When the
`
`user touches the graphical object on the touchscreen using his or her finger, a signal is generated
`
`indicating an object contacting the touchscreen and a pressure of the contact. The mobile
`
`electronic device generates an actuator signal to the actuator to output a haptic effect based on
`
`the user's interaction with the graphical object on the touchscreen. Haptic effects are output
`
`based on, among other things, the pressure of the contact in relation to pressure thresholds.
`
`Further details of the invention are described in the specification and the claims.
`
`35.
`
`Defendants have infringed and are currently infringing the '488 patent, in
`
`violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271, by, among other things, making, using, offering for sale, selling,
`
`and/or importing within this judicial district and elsewhere in the United States, without license
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 13 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 14 of 25 PageID #: 14
`
`
`or authority, products and/or processes falling within the scope of one or more claims of the '488
`
`patent, including without limitation the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus.
`
`36.
`
`Based on the information presently available to it, Immersion alleges that at least
`
`the following apparatuses, products, devices, processes, methods, acts, or other instrumentalities
`
`infringe or are covered by claims of the '488 patent: the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s
`
`Plus. Immersion makes this preliminary identification of infringing apparatuses, products,
`
`devices, processes, methods, acts, or other instrumentalities without the benefit of discovery or
`
`claim construction in this action, and expressly reserves the right to augment, supplement, and
`
`revise its identifications based on additional information obtained through discovery or
`
`otherwise.
`
`37.
`
`Apple, AT&T, and their customers directly infringe the '488 patent using the
`
`Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus. When a user presses at a pressure level to trigger a
`
`"Peek" interaction on a software-generated object on the touch screen of the accused devices, the
`
`processor receives a signal indicating the application of pressure from a user's finger contacting
`
`the touch screen, and transmits an actuator signal to the actuator in the accused devices (e.g., the
`
`"Taptic Engine"), causing the actuator to output a first tactile sensation. Similarly, when the user
`
`then presses at a greater pressure level to trigger a "Pop" interaction, a different, second tactile
`
`sensation is produced. Additional details relating to the accused devices and their infringement
`
`are in the possession of Defendants.
`
`38.
`
`Defendants also indirectly infringe the '488 patent. Defendants are aware of the
`
`'488 patent at least from the date of this Complaint. Additionally, on information and belief,
`
`Defendants were aware of the '488 patent before the date of this Complaint, including without
`
`limitation through Defendants' knowledge of Immersion and Immersion's disclosure of its
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 14 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 15 of 25 PageID #: 15
`
`
`patents
`
`on
`
`its website
`
`(formerly
`
`located
`
`at
`
`http://www.immersion.com/haptics-
`
`technology/patents/index.html and currently
`
`located at http://www.immersion.com/legal/
`
`#patents). For example, Immersion's website specifically lists the '488 patent. Additionally, on
`
`information and belief, the relevance of Immersion's leading portfolio of haptic patents is well-
`
`known
`
`to Defendants.
`
` See,
`
`e.g., http://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-
`
`color/13/08/3816746/immersion-others-could-get-a-boost-when-haptics-market-r
`
`("When
`
`it
`
`comes to haptics, Immersion is usually the first company that comes to mind."). Defendants
`
`knew that the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus infringed the '488 patent, or at a
`
`minimum believed there was a high probability that the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s
`
`Plus were covered by the '488 patent, but willfully blinded themselves to Immersion's patent and
`
`the infringing nature of the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus.
`
`39.
`
`Defendants induced and are actively inducing infringement of the '488 patent, in
`
`violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(b), by, among other things, actively and knowingly aiding and
`
`abetting others to directly make, use, offer for sale, sell, and/or import within this judicial district
`
`and elsewhere in the United States, without license or authority, products and/or processes
`
`falling within the scope of one or more claims of the '488 patent, including without limitation the
`
`Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus. For example, Defendant Apple provides directions,
`
`instruction manuals, guides, and/or other materials that encourage and facilitate infringing use by
`
`others. See, e.g., http://www.apple.com/iphone-6s/3d-touch/; http://www.apple.com/iphone-
`
`6s/technology/; http://help.apple.com/iphone/9/. Defendant AT&T similarly provides directions,
`
`instruction manuals, guides, and/or other materials that encourage and facilitate infringing use by
`
`others.
`
` See, e.g., http://www.att.com/wireless/iphone/; https://www.att.com/cellphones/
`
`iphone/iphone-6s.html; http://www.att.com/esupport/iphonefaqs.jsp. The Defendants have sold
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 15 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 16 of 25 PageID #: 16
`
`
`and are selling these products with the knowledge and intent that customers who buy the
`
`products will use the products for their infringing use and therefore that customers have been and
`
`are directly infringing the '488 patent.
`
`40.
`
`Defendants have contributorily infringed and are currently contributorily
`
`infringing the '488 patent, in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(c), by, among other things, selling,
`
`offering for sale, and/or importing within this judicial district and elsewhere in the United States,
`
`without license or authority, products or components of products which constitute a material part
`
`of the '488 patent, knowing that such products and/or components are especially made or
`
`especially adapted for use in the infringement of the '488 patent, and not staple articles or
`
`commodities of commerce suitable for substantial noninfringing use.
`
`41.
`
`Defendants' infringement of the '488 patent has been and continues to be willful
`
`and deliberate. Despite knowledge of the '488 patent, Defendants have acted and are acting
`
`despite an objectively high likelihood that their actions constitute patent infringement. This
`
`objective risk was and is known to the Defendants, and is also so obvious that it should have
`
`been known to the Defendants.
`
`42.
`
`As a direct and proximate result of Defendants' infringement of the '488 patent,
`
`Immersion has suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable injury for which there is no
`
`adequate remedy at law. Immersion has also been damaged and, until an injunction issues, will
`
`continue to be damaged in an amount yet to be determined.
`
`THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
`
`(U.S. Patent No. 8,581,710)
`
`43.
`
`Immersion incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 20 as if set forth here
`
`in full.
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 16 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 17 of 25 PageID #: 17
`
`
`44.
`
`Immersion is the owner of the entire right, title, and interest in and to U.S. Patent
`
`No. 8,581,710 (the "'710 patent"), entitled "Systems and Methods for Haptic Confirmation of
`
`Commands," which was duly issued on Nov. 12, 2013. A copy of the '710 patent is attached as
`
`Exhibit C.
`
`45.
`
`The '710 patent, in general, describes advances in providing haptic feedback in
`
`certain mobile electronic devices such as mobile phones that have, among other things, a
`
`touchscreen and an actuator. The '710 patent teaches, among other things, systems and methods
`
`in which the mobile electronic device receives user input via the touchscreen. The mobile
`
`electronic device generates an actuator signal to the actuator to output a first haptic effect if the
`
`user input is recognized and a command is determined, confirming receipt of the command.
`
`Otherwise, the mobile electronic device generates an actuator signal to the actuator to output a
`
`second haptic effect. The second haptic effect may indicate that the user input is unrecognized
`
`or that a corresponding command was not found. Further details of the invention are described
`
`in the specification and the claims.
`
`46.
`
`Defendants have infringed and are currently infringing the '710 patent, in
`
`violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271, by, among other things, making, using, offering for sale, selling,
`
`and/or importing within this judicial district and elsewhere in the United States, without license
`
`or authority, products and/or processes falling within the scope of one or more claims of the '710
`
`patent, including without limitation the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus.
`
`47.
`
`Based on the information presently available to it, Immersion alleges that at least
`
`the following apparatuses, products, devices, processes, methods, acts, or other instrumentalities
`
`infringe or are covered by claims of the '710 patent: the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s
`
`Plus. Immersion makes this preliminary identification of infringing apparatuses, products,
`
`6251724
`
`
`- 17 -
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00325-RGA Document 1 Filed 05/05/16 Page 18 of 25 PageID #: 18
`
`
`devices, processes, methods, acts, or other instrumentalities without the benefit of discovery or
`
`claim construction in this action, and expressly reserves the right to augment, supplement, and
`
`revise its identifications based on additional information obtained through discovery or
`
`otherwise.
`
`48.
`
`Apple, AT&T, and their customers directly infringe the '710 patent using the
`
`Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus. For example, when a user of the accused devices
`
`attempts to access the "Quick Actions" associated with an application by applying pressure on
`
`the touchscreen, a first haptic effect will be output if the application supports "Quick Actions."
`
`Otherwise, a second haptic effect will be output to the housing of the device, indicating that the
`
`application does not support "Quick Actions." Additional details relating to the accused devices
`
`and their infringement are in the possession of Defendants.
`
`49.
`
`Defendants also indirectly infringe the '710 patent. Defendants are aware of the
`
`'710 patent at least from the date of this Complaint. Additionally, on information and belief,
`
`Defendants were aware of the '710 patent before the date of this Complaint, including without
`
`limitation through Defendants' knowledge of Immersion and Immersion's disclosure of its
`
`patents
`
`on
`
`its website
`
`(formerly
`
`located
`
`at
`
`http://www.immersion.com/haptics-
`
`technology/patents/index.html and currently
`
`located at http://www.immersion.com/legal/
`
`#patents). For example, Immersion's website specifically lists the '710 patent. Additionally, on
`
`information and belief, the relevance of Immersion's leading portfolio of haptic patents is well-
`
`

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