`
`
`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-
`
`