throbber
Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 1 of 22 PageID #: 481
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 1 of 22 PageID #: 481
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE
`
`smco,Lu3mm1PC0uLLCdeMINTUS
`IQ,
`
`Plaintiffs,
`
`V.
`
`STREETLINE, INC. and KAPSCH
`TRAFFICCOM HOLDING CORP.=
`
`Defendants.
`
`vvvvvvvvvvvvv
`
`CA. No. 16—830-RGA
`
`DEFENDANTS’ VMEMORANDUM OF REASONS IN SUPPORT OF
`THEIR MOTION TO DISMISS UNDER RULE llgbflfil
`
`ROSS ARONSTAM & MORITZ LLP
`
`Benjamin J. Sehladweiler (#4601)
`100 S. West Street, Suite 400
`Wilmington, DE 19801
`(3 02) 576- 1600
`bsehladweilerfiQramllp.com
`
`Counselfor Defendams Streerline, Inc. and
`Kapsch TrafficCom Holding Corp.
`
`Of Counsel:
`
`Pierre R. Yanney
`Stephen E. Underwood
`Wesley A. Homer
`STROOCK & STROOCK & LAVAN LLP
`180 Maiden Lane
`New York, NY 10038
`(212) 8066400
`Eganneygcgstroock. com
`sunderwoodgtgstroock.com
`whorner@,stroo el<.com
`
`Dated: November 18, 2016
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 2 of 22 PageID #: 482
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 2 of 22 PageID #: 482
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`I.
`
`NATURE AND STAGE OF THE PROCEEDINGS ............................................................. I
`
`II.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT ..................................................................................... I
`
`III.
`
`STATEMENT OF FACTS ................................................................................................. 3
`
`IV.
`
`ARGUMENT ...................................................................................................................... 5
`
`A. Legal Standards Governing a Rule 12(b)(6) Motion .......................................................... 5
`
`B.
`
`SIPCO Has Not Sufficiently Alleged Direct Infringement................................................. 8
`
`_ I.
`
`SIPCO Has Failed to State a Claim for Direct Patent Infringement in Counts 2, 3, 5, 8
`
`and 10 ...................................................................................................................................... 8
`
`2.
`
`SIPCO Has Failed to State a Claim for Direct Patent Infringement in Counts l, 4, 6, 7
`
`and 9 ........................................................................................................................................ 9
`
`C.
`
`SIPCO Has Not Alleged Sufficient Facts to Identify the Respective Roles of Each
`
`Defendant in the Alleged Infringement .................................................................................... 12
`
`D.
`
`STPCO Has Not Adequately Alleged Involvement by Kapsch ......................................... 14
`
`E.
`
`STPCO Has Not Sufficiently Alleged Indirect Infringement ............................................ 17
`
`V. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................... l7
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 3 of 22 PageID #: 483
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 3 of 22 PageID #: 483
`
`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
`Cases
`
`Page(s)
`
`Ashcrofi v. Iqbal,
`129 S.Ct. 1937 (2009) ............................................................................................................ 1, 7
`
`Arias IP, LLC v. Exeion Corp,
`N0. 15 C 10746, 2016 WL 2866134(N.D.111.May 17, 2016) ................................................. 7
`
`Arias 1P LLC 1). Pacific Gas and Electric Co,
`No. 15-CV-05469-EDL, 2016 WL 1719545 (ND. Cal. Mar. 9, 2016) .................................... 8
`
`Bell Ail. Corp. v. Twombly,
`550 US. 544 (2007) ......................................................................................................... passim
`
`In re BillT QfLading Transmission (1’: Processing Sys. Paiem Ling,
`681 F.3d 1323 (Fed. Cir. 2012) ............................................................................................. 5-6
`
`Certain Undeiwriiers at Lloyd's, London 12. U—Line Corp,
`N0. CIV. 13-3203 NLH/AMD, 2013 WL 5503672 (DNJ. Oct. 1, 2013) ...................... passim
`
`CG Tech. Development, LLC v. FanDuel, Inc,
`No. 2:16-CV-00801-RCJ-VCF, 2016 WL 6089693 (D. Nev. Oct. 18, 2016) ....................... 5, 8
`
`Chestnut Hill Soundlnc. v. Appie Inc”
`No. 15-261-RGA, Dkt. 53 (D. Del. Feb. 29, 2016) ................................................................... 8
`
`eDigirai C0130. v. iBabyLabs, Inc,
`No. 15—CV~05790—JST, 2016 WL 4427209 (ND. Cal. Aug. 22, 2016) .................................... 5
`
`Eidos Commc’ns, LLC v. Sigzpe Techs. SA,
`686 F. Supp. 2d 465 (D. Del. 2010) ........................................................................................... 9
`
`Kost v. Kazakiewicz,
`133d 176 (3d Cir. 1993) ........................................................................................................... 5
`
`Lyda v. CBS C0111,
`No. 2015-1923, 2016 WL 5539875 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 30, 2016) ....................................... passim
`
`M2M Sois. LLC V. Teiit Commc'ns PLC,
`No. CV 14-1103-RGA, 2015 WL 4640400 (B. Del. Aug. 5, 2015) ................................ passim
`
`McZeai v. Sprint Nexiei Corp,
`501 F.3d 1354 (Fed.C1r.2007) .................................................................................................... 6
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 4 of 22 PageID #: 484
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 4 of 22 PageID #: 484
`
`Mike Mum/17y ’5 Enterprises, Inc. v. Fineline 1176045.,
`LLC, No. 1:16-CV-784-LJO-SAB, 2016 WL 4160756 (ED. Cal. Aug. 5,
`2016) ...................................................................................................................................... 7', 8
`
`Novo Nordisk v. Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories,
`450 F.Supp.2d 757 (E.D.Mich.2006) ................................................................................... 3, 15
`
`Raindance Techs., Inc. v. 1ch Genomics, Inc,
`
`No. CV 15-152-RGA, 2016 WL 927143 (D. DeL Mar. 4, 2016) .................................... 2, 8, 12
`
`Sheeran v. Blyrh Shiphola’ing 8A.,
`No. CV 14-5482, 2015 WL 9048979 (DNJ. Dec. 16, 2015) ............................................. 2, 13
`
`Other Authorities
`
`Fed. R. Civ. P. 8 .....................................................................................' .......................................... 7
`
`Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a) .......................................................................................................................... 5
`
`Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2) ...................................................................................................................... 5
`
`Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(1))(6) ................................................................................................................ 1, 5
`
`Fed. R. Civ. P. 84 ..................................................................................................................... 2, 5, 6
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 5 of 22 PageID #: 485
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 5 of 22 PagelD #: 485
`
`Defendants Streetline, Inc. (“Streetline”) and Kapsch TrafficCom Holding Corp.
`
`(“Kapsch”) (collectively “Defendants”) hereby submit this Memorandum of Reasons in support
`
`of their motion to dismiss the complaint of Plaintiffs SIPCO, LLC and 1? CO, LLC (d/b/a/
`
`INTUS IQ) (collectively “SIPCO”) under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
`
`I.
`
`NATURE AND STAGE OF THE PROCEEDINGS
`
`This is a patent infringement case. On September 19, 2016, SIPCO filed a Complaint
`
`against the Defendants, alleging infi'ingement of ten different patents: US. Patent Nos. 8,908,842
`
`(“the “842 patent”), 8,625,496 (“the ‘496 patent”), 8,233,471 (“the ‘471 patent”), 8,223,010 (“the
`
`‘010 patent”), 7,697,492 (“the ‘492 patent”), 7,468,661 (“the ‘661 patent”), 7,103,511 (“the ‘511
`
`patent”), 6,914,893 (“the ‘893 patent”), 6,437,692 (“the ‘692 patent”) and 6,249,516 (“the “516
`
`patent) (collectively, “the Patents-in—Suit”). The Complaint was served on September 20, 2016.
`
`On October 7', 2016, this Court granted Defendants an extension of time until November 18,
`
`2016 to respond to the Complaint. See DJ. 6. This motion is timely pursuant to that extension.
`
`11.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
`
`1.
`
`SIPCO’s Complaint fails to state a claim for direct patent infringement, because it
`
`does not allege sufficient factual content
`
`to show ho_w Streetline’s products and services
`
`allegedly infringe the asserted claims. At best, SIPCO’s Complaint identifies the products and
`
`services that are alleged to be infringing, then makes the conclusory assertion that these products
`
`and services are “within the scope of the claims.” See, e.g., D1. 1, 11 18. Under Bell/1t]. Corp. v.
`
`Twombt‘y, 550 US. 544 (2007) and Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (2009), and in View of the
`
`Supreme Court’s recent abrogation of the “Form 18” complaint for patent infringement,1 such
`
`conclusory allegations are insufficient to state a claim for patent infringement.
`
`1 See Supreme Court of the United States, Order Regarding Amendments to the Federal Rules of
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 6 of 22 PageID #: 486
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 6 of 22 PageID #: 486
`
`2.
`
`SIPCO’S Complaint fails to state a claim against either of the Defendants,
`
`because it does not identify which specific conduct of each Defendant allegedly constitutes
`
`infringement by that defendant. SlPCO’s Complaint lumps Kapsch and Streetline - who are
`
`separate legal entities - together as “Defendants,” and then simply alleges that “Defendants” have
`
`committed various acts of infringement. See, e.g., D1. 1, W 18, 22, 27. “Lumping .
`
`.
`
`. two
`
`defendants together and generally claiming that these entities were involved in [the alleged
`
`wrongdoing] does not satisfy the federal court pleading requirements” of Twombly and Iqbal.
`
`Certain. Underwriters atLloya’Cs, London v. U—Line Corp, No. CW. 13-3203 NLH/AMD, 2013
`
`WL 5503672, at *6 (D.N.J. Oct. 1, 2013). Rather, the complaint must “inform fl Defendant of
`
`the particular claims against
`
`it.” Sheeran v. Blyrlz Slazpltolding SA, No. CV 14—5482
`
`(JBS/AMD), 2015 WL 9048979, at *4 (DNJ. Dec. 16, 2015) (dismissing complaint because
`
`“lumping all defendants together for different misconduct fails to demonstrate each defendant's
`
`individual liability”) (emphasis added). This rule applies even where, as here, the defendants are
`
`related corporate entities. See M2M Sals. LLC v. Telii Camme’ns PLC, N0. CV l4-1103-RGA,
`
`2015 WL 4640400, at *3 (D. Del. Aug. 5, 2015) (dismissing direct infringement claim against
`
`corporate parent defendant, because complaint simply “lump[ed the] two defendants together,”
`
`and did not plead facts showing that parent was actually involved in the infringement). SIPCO’s
`
`complaint simpiy treats Kapsch and Streetline as a single, undifferentiated entity, without
`
`2015),
`29,
`Apr.
`(U.S.
`Procedure
`Civil
`https:l/wwwsupremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/frcvlStandate) 1823pdf (“SCOTUS Order”)
`at 28 (abrogating Fed. R. Civ. P. 84, which previously allowed plaintiffs to plead patent
`infringement in the relatively—threadbare form set forth in “Form 18”); see also Raindanee
`Techs, Inc. v. 10): Genomics, Inc, No. CV IS-lSZ-RGA, 2016 WL 927143, at *2 (D. Del. Mar.
`4, 2016) (Andrews, 1.) (acknowledging that on “December 1, 2015, Federal Rule of Civil
`Procedure 84 and the Appendix of Forms were ‘abrogated’” and that, since then, patent
`infringement complaints must be reviewed “{u]nder .
`.
`. Iqbal and Twombly.”)
`
`_2_
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 7 of 22 PageID #: 487
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 7 of 22 PageID #: 487
`
`explaining which specific acts of each defendant are alleged to constitute the infringement. That
`
`is insufficient to state a claim against either defendant, under Twombly and Iqbal.
`
`3.
`
`Even if SIPCO states a ciairn against Streetline, it does not state a claim against
`
`Kapsch, because SIPCO had not alleged sufficient facts to show that Kapseh directs or controls
`
`the allegedly-infringing acts of its subsidiary, Streetline. “To state a claim [for patent
`
`infringement]
`
`‘based on an alleged parent-subsidiary relationship, a plaintiff would have to
`
`allege: (l) the existence of a parent—subsidiary relationship, and (2) facts that justify piercing the
`
`corporate veil .
`
`.
`
`. [such as] the existence of an agency relationship between the entities where the
`
`parent effectively controls the conduct of the subsidiary.” M2M, 2015 WL 4640400 at *3
`
`(quoting Nova Nora’z'sk v. Cameo Pharmaceutical Laboratories, 450 F.Supp.2d 757, 761
`
`(E.D.Mich.2006)). Although SIPCO alleges a parent-subsidiary relationship between Kapsch and
`
`Streetline (see D1. 1, {l 5), it does not allege any facts to justify piercing the corporate veil. Thus,
`
`even if the complaint is not dismissed as to Streetline, it must be dismissed as to Kapsch.
`
`4.
`
`Counts 1—10 of the Complaint allege only diregt infringement. However, in its
`
`prayer
`
`for relief, SIPCO seeks a judgment “that Defendants have directly and indirectly
`
`infringed” the Patents-in—Suit. D1.
`
`1 at 15. Nowhere else in the Complaint is there any mention
`
`of indirect infringement. SIPCO has not alleged any facts to establish the elements of indirect
`
`infringement. Thus, SIPCO’s demand for relief on indirect infringement must be dismissed.
`
`III.
`
`STATEMENT OF FACTS
`
`Streetline sells products and services that monitor parking spaces in real—time. See D1. 1,
`
`ll 18. Streetline’s products and services can make parking data available to consumers - e. g, via
`
`a smartphone app - to assist them in finding a parking space. 10’.
`
`(describing the “Parker”
`
`consumer app). They can also make this data available to government authorities, e.g., to assist
`
`in parking meter enforcement. Id. (describing the “Enforcement” mobile app).
`
`-3-
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 8 of 22 PageID #: 488
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 8 of 22 PageID #: 488
`
`SIPCO asserts that Streetline’s parking-monitoring systems infringe ten different SIPCO
`
`patents. However, only one of these patents - the ‘010 patent - actually claims anything relating
`
`to parking—space monitoring. See D.I. 1-4 (‘010 patent), Claim 1 (“a vehicle parking monitoring
`
`system”). The remaining patents do not include fl claims directed to parking-space monitoring.
`
`Rather, they ciaim general aspects of various types of wireless networks, including “standard
`
`wireless mesh protocols such as WirelessHART, ZigBee, IEEE 802.154 [and] Z-Wave,” and
`
`aspects of certain “proprietary wireless protocols.” Di. 1, 11 15.
`
`In its Complaint, SIPCO identifies several Streetline products and services that it claims
`
`to be infringing. These are: (i) “Parl<er;” (ii) “ParkerMap;” (iii) “ParkEdge;” (iv) “Enforcement”
`
`(v) “ParkSight Analytics;” and (vi) “ParkingData” (collectively, “the Accused Systems”)
`
`However, SIPCO only identifies the Accused Systems in five out of the ten Counts in the
`
`complaint - i.e., Counts 1 (‘842 patent), 4 (‘010), 6 C661), 7 (‘511) and 9 (692).
`
`In the remaining five Counts, SIPCO does not identify my particular Streetline product
`
`or service that is aileged to be infringing. Rather, in these Counts - i.e., Counts 2 (‘496 patent), 3
`
`(‘471 patent), 5 (‘492 patent), 8 (‘893 patent) and 10 (‘516 patent) - SIPCO merely alleges that
`
`certain unnamed “Streetline smart parking monitoring hardware” is “within the scope of the
`
`[asserted] ciaims.” See D1. 1, W 22-23, 27, 35, 47-48 and 56. This threadbare allegation that
`
`some unnamed “Streetline smart parking monitoring hardware” is “within the scope of the
`
`[asserted] claims” is clearly insufficient to state a claim under Twombly and Iqbal. Indeed, as
`
`shown in Section iV.A.1 infra, such an allegation would have been insufficient even under the
`
`liberal “Form 18” pleading standard. Thus, Counts 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10 must be dismissed.
`
`The remaining counts in the Complaint — Counts 1, 4, 6, 7 and 9 - do, at least, identify the
`
`Accused Systems by name. However, these Counts also fail to state a claim. In Lyda v. CBS
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 9 of 22 PageID #: 489
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 9 of 22 PagelD #: 489
`
`Corp, No. 2015—1923, 2016 WL 5539875, at *5 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 30, 2016) 2, the Federal Circuit
`
`held that Twombl‘y and Iqbal “requires pleading facts sufficient to allow a reasonable inference
`
`that Mp; [or elements] of the claimed method [or device] are performed [or present]” in the
`
`accused device or process. Id. (emphasis added). Counts 1, 4, 6, 7 and 9 make no attempt to
`
`show that the Accused Systems satisfy even one element — let alone all elements — of any asserted
`
`claim. Thus, as shown in Section IV.A.2 infra, Counts 1, 4, 6, 7 and 9 must be dismissed.
`
`IV.
`
`ARGUMENT
`
`A. Legal Standards Governing a Rule 12(b)(6) Motion
`
`Rule 8(a)(2) requires-that the complaint include “a short and plain statement of the claim
`
`showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” A party may challenge the sufficiency of the
`
`complaint with a Rule 12(b)(6) motion. See Kart v. Kazakiewicz, 1 F.3d 176, 183 (3d Cir. 1993).
`
`Until recently, Fed. R. Civ. P. 84 provided an authorized list of “form” complaints for
`
`different causes of action. A complaint that complied with the requirements of a Rule 84 form
`
`was presumptively valid under Rule 8(a). See In re Bill of Lading Transmission & Processing
`
`5323. Patent Litig, 681 F.3d 1323, 1336 (Fed. Cir. 2012). One of these forms, Form 18, provided
`
`a form complaint for direct patent infringement. Id. Under Form 18, to state a valid claim for
`
`direct patent infringement, a complaint only needed to include:
`
`2 Although the claims asserted in Lyda were method claims, courts have held that Twombly and
`Iqbal also require a patentee asserting infringement of a system or device claim to allege
`sufficient facts to support a reasonable inference that all elements of the claim are present in the
`accused system or device.
`See CG Tech. Development, LLC v.
`fi‘anDuel, Inc, 2016 WL
`6089693, at *5 (D. Nev. Oct. 18, 2016) (dismissing allegations that system and apparatus claims
`were infringed, because “Piaintiffs have not addressed each element of’ each such claim);
`e.Digiral Corp. v. iBaby Labs, Inc, No. 15~CV~05790~JST, 2016 WL 4427209, at *3 (ND. Cal.
`Aug. 22, 2016) (noting that “[sleveral courts applying the Twombly pleading standard to claims
`of direct patent
`infringement since the abrogation of Form 18 have required plaintiffs to
`plausibly allege that the accused product practices each of the limitations found in at least one
`asserted claim”) (emphases added).
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 10 of 22 PageID #: 490
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 10 of 22 PageID #: 490
`
`(1) an allegation of jurisdiction; (2) a statement that the plaintiff
`owns the patent; (3) a statement that defendant has been infringing
`the patent “by making, selling, and using [the device] embodying
`the patent” (4) a statement
`that
`the plaintiff has given the
`defendant notice of its infringement; and (5) a demand for an
`injunction and damages.
`
`Id. (citing M02651] 1). Sprint Nextel Corp, 501 F.3d 1354, 1355—56 (Fed.Cir.2007)); see also
`
`M2M, 2015 WL 4640400 at *3 (noting that Form 18 “also require[d] the identification of the
`
`accused product, process or method for each defendant”) Thus, under Form 18, a patent plaintiff
`
`did not need to plead any facts showing how or why the accused product allegedly infringed the
`
`asserted claims. Indeed, under Form 18, the plaintiff did not even need to identify which claims
`
`of each patent were alleged to be infringed. McZeai, 501 F.3d at 1355-56.
`
`That all changed, however, on December 1, 2015, when the Rules were amended to
`
`eliminate Rule 84 and Form 18. See SCOTUS Order at 28. Since then, “allegations of direct
`
`infringement are .
`
`.
`
`. subject to the pleading standards established by Twombly and Iqbal.” Atlas
`
`IP LLC v. Pacific Gas and Electric Co, 2016 WL 1719545, at *2 (ND. Cal. Mar. 9, 2016).
`
`Under Twombiy and Iqbal, “[tlo survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain
`
`sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to “state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.”
`
`Id. (emphasis added). As the Supreme Court explained:
`
`A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads N
`
`content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the
`
`defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. [Twombly, 550 US] at
`556, 127 S.Ct. 1955. The plausibility standard is not akin to a
`“probability requirement,” but it asks for more than a sheer possibility
`that a defendant has acted unlawfully. Ibia’. Where a complaint pleads
`facts that are “merely consistent with” a defendant's liability, it “stops
`short of the line between possibility and plausibility of ‘entitlement to
`relief.'”Id., at 557, 127 S.Ct. 1955 .
`.
`.
`
`[T]he tenet that a court must accept as true all of the allegations
`contained in a complaint
`is
`inapplicable to legal conclusions.
`Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by
`mere conclusory statements, do not suffice. Id, at 555, 127 S.Ct.
`
`-51
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 11 of 22 PageID #: 491
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 11 of 22 PageID #: 491
`
`. [Thus,] where the weil—pieaded facts do not permit the court
`.
`1955 ,
`to infer more than the mere possibility of misconduct, the complaint
`
`has ailegedwbut it has not “show[n]”
`“that the pleader is entitled to
`relief.” Fed. Rule Civ. Proc. 8(a)(2).
`
`In keeping with these principles a court considering a motion to
`dismiss can choose to begin by identifying pleadings that, because
`they are no more than conclusions, are not entitled to the assumption
`of truth. While legal conclusions can provide the fiamework of a
`complaint, they must be supported by factuai allegations. When there
`are well-pleaded factual allegations, a court should assume their
`veracity and then determine Whether they plausibly give rise to an
`entitlement to relief.
`
`Iqbal, 556 US. at 678—679, 129 S. Ct. at 1949-1950 (emphases added).
`
`Although “the pleading standard [that} Rule 8 announces does not require ‘detailed
`
`factual ailegations’ .
`
`.
`
`. it demands more than an unadorned, the—defendant-umawfuily-harmed—
`
`me accusation.” Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 US. at 555). “A pleading that offers ‘labels and
`
`conclusions1 or ‘a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.’” Iqbal,
`
`556 US. at 678, 129 S. Ct. at 1949 (quoting Twombly, 550 US. at 557). “Nor does a complaint
`
`suffice if it tenders ‘naked assertion[s]’ devoid of ‘further factual enhancement.” Iqbal, 556 US.
`
`at 678, 129 S. Ct. at 1949 (quoting Twombi’y, 550 US. at 557').
`
`The heightened pleading standard of Twomey/Iqbal plays _a meaningful role in patent
`
`infringement cases, “[b]ecause the failure to practice even a single element is all that separates
`
`[lawful] innovation from infringement.” Atlas IP, LLC v. Exelon Corp, 2016 WL 2866134, at *5
`
`(ND.
`
`111. May 17, 2016). Accordingly,
`
`in a patent case, “[m]erely naming a product and
`
`providing a conclusory statement that it infringes a patent is insufficient to meet the ‘plausibiiity’
`
`standard set forth in Twombly and Iqbal.” Mike Murphy’s Enrerprises, Inc. v. Ftneline Indus,
`
`LLC, No. 1:16-CV-7'84-LJO-SAB, 2016 WL 4160756, at *2 (ED. Cal. Aug. 5, 2016).
`
`Rather, Twombly and Iqbal “requirefl pleading facts sufficient to allow a reasonable
`
`inference that at] steps of the claimed method,” 01' all elements of the claimed device, are present
`
`-7-
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 12 of 22 PageID #: 492
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 12 of 22 PageID #: 492
`
`in the accused product or process. Lyda, 2016 WL 5539875, at *5; see also RainDance Techs,
`
`Inc. v. 10X Genomics, Inc, 2016 WL 927143, at *2 (dismissing complaint because it failed to
`
`allege sufficient facts to show that a_ll claim elements were met); CG Tech, 2016 WL 6089693,
`
`at *4—*9 (dismissing complaint where “Plaintiffs have not addressed each element of [the
`
`claiins]”); Atlas JP, 2016 WL 1719545, at >1‘3 (dismissing “complaint [that] recites only some of
`
`the elements of the sole asserted claim, and provides only a threadbare description of the alleged
`
`abilities of the accused device”); Chestnut Hill Sound Inc. 1). Apple Inc, No. 15~261—RGA, Dkt.
`
`53 (D. Del. Feb. 29, 2016) (dismissing “formulaic” infringement claim) (emphases added).
`
`B. SIPCO Has Not Sufficiently Alleged Direct Infringement
`
`SiPCO has not plausibly alleged direct
`
`infringement under Twombly and Iqbal. The
`
`Complaint lacks sufficient factual content to support a reasonable inference that {each element of
`
`any asserted claim is satisfied by the Accused Systems. Thus, SIPCO has failed to state a claim.
`
`1. SlPCO Has Failed to State a Claim for Direct Patent Infringement in
`Counts 2 3 5 8 and 10
`
`As discussed in Section 111 supra, Counts 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10 of the Complaint do not even
`
`identify which specific products or services of Streetline are alleged to be infringing. Rather,
`
`these Counts simply allege that certain unidentified “Streetline smart parking monitoring
`
`hardware” is “within the scope of the [asserted] claims.” See D1. 1, W 22-23, 27, 35, 47-48 and
`
`56. This allegation is clearly insufficient to state a claim under Twombly and Iqbal.
`
`“Merely naming a product and providing a conclusory statement that it infringes a patent
`
`is insufficient to meet the ‘plausibility’ standard set forth in Twombly and Iqbal.” Mike Murphy’s
`
`Enterprises, 2016 WL 4160756, at *2, Thus, a fortiori, a complaint that does not even “nam e
`
`the[ product” that is alleged to be infringing also fails to meet the “plausibility” standard.
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 13 of 22 PageID #: 493
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 13 of 22 PageID #: 493
`
`Counts 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10 do not even “name the product” that SlPCO alleges to be infringing
`
`Thus, clearly, these Counts are inadequate to state a claim under Twombly and Iqbal.
`
`Indeed, these Counts would have been inadequate under the liberal pleading standards of
`
`Form 18. In Eidos Commc’ns, LLC v. Sig/p8 Techs. SA, 686 F. Supp. 2d 465 (D. Del. 2010),
`
`which was decided under Form 18, this Court found a complaint to be defective because it failed
`
`to adequately identify the products that were alleged to be infringing. In Eidos, the complaint
`
`merely alleged that the defendants’ “communication system products and]or methodologies .
`
`.
`
`.
`
`infringe[d] one or more claims” of the patents. Id. at 466. This Court found that
`
`the bare
`
`reference to “communication system products and/or methodologies” was insufficient to identify
`
`even “a general class of [allegedly—infringing] products or a general identification of the alleged
`
`infringing methods,” as was required by Form 18. Id. at 467. Thus,
`
`this Court found,
`
`the
`
`complaint failed to adequately allege direct patent infringement under Form 18.161.
`
`Similarly, here, Counts 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10 do not even identify “a general class of
`
`[allegedly-infringing] products or a general identification of the alleged infringing methods.” Id.
`
`Rather, they simply allege that certain unnamed “smart parking monitoring hardware” infringes
`
`SIPCO’s patents. This allegation is just as generic as
`
`the allegation against unnamed
`
`“communication system products and/or methodologies” that was found to be inadequate in
`
`Eidos. Thus, even under the liberal pleading standards of Form 18, Counts 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10 fail
`
`to state a claim. Accordingly, these Counts must be dismissed.
`
`2. SIPCO Has Failed to State a Claim for Direct Patent Infringement in
`Counts l 4 6 7 and9
`
`The direct infringement allegations in Counts l, 4, 6, 7 and 9 are marginally more
`
`detailed than those in Counts 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10. Nonetheless, they still fail to state a claim.
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 14 of 22 PageID #: 494
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 14 of 22 PageID #: 494
`
`Counts l, 4, 6, 7 and 9 allege direct infringement. Each Count identifies a patent, and at
`
`least one claim of that patent, which SIPCO alleges to be infringed. However, all of these Counts
`
`allege the exact same facts with respect to the functionality of the Accused Systems. Compare
`
`DJ. 1, ii 18 (Count l’s allegations about the Accused Systems) with fl 31 (Count 4’s allegations
`
`about the Accused Systems), ll 39 (Count 6), ll 43 (Count 7) and fll 52 (Count 9). Thus, for
`
`convenience, Streetline will only expressly demonstrate the inadequacy of the allegations in
`
`Count 1. Since Counts 4, 6, 7 and 9 are essentially identical to Count 1, once it has been shown
`
`that Count 1 fails to state a claim, it will follow that Counts 4, 6, 7 and 9 also fail to state a claim.
`
`Count 1 alleges that Streetline has “directly infringed .
`
`.
`
`. at least claim 16 of the [‘842]
`
`Patent .
`
`.
`
`. by making, having had made, using, offering for sale and selling, or offering for use
`
`and using,
`
`the Streetline smart parking monitoring hardware and software systems
`
`in
`
`combination with” the Accused Systems. Di. 1, 1] 18. As discussed in Section IV.A.l supra,
`
`SlPCO’s bare allegation that “Streetline smart parking monitoring hardware and software
`
`systems .
`
`.
`
`.[infringe] at least claim 16 of the ‘842 Patent” fails to state a Claim, even under the
`
`liberal standards of Form 18. Thus, for Count 1 to survive, the remainder of the Count would
`
`have to allege sufficient “factual content” about how the Accused Systems work to support a
`
`reasonable inference that they meet all the elements of claim 16. Lyda, 2016 WL 5539875, at *5.
`
`Count 1 falls far short on this front. The only allegation that SIPCO provides against each
`
`of the Accused Systems is a short parenthetical which describes, at a very high level, what
`
`SIPCO understands the Accused Systems to do. For instance, the only allegation that SIPCO
`
`provides about the Accused System “Parker” is that it “guides drivers to available parking
`
`spaces.” 13.1. 1, ll 18. Similarly, the only allegation that SIPCO provides about “ParkerMap” is
`
`that it is a “service for city merchants that enables them to provide real-time parking information
`
`-10..
`
`
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 15 of 22 PageID #: 495
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 15 of 22 PageID #: 495
`
`to their patrons, and which can be embedded on a merchant’s website and automatically updates
`
`with the latest parking information.” Id. SIPCO’S allegations against the other four Accused
`
`Systems are equally threadbare, describing only their general functionality, rather than how they
`
`actually work, or how they are actualiy stluctured. See id. (providing equally-vague descriptions
`
`of the accused “ParkEdge,” “Enforcement," “ParkSight Analytics” and “ParkingData” systems”).
`
`Meanwhile, the asserted claim in Count 1 - i.e., ciaini 16 of the ‘842 Patent — recites a
`
`wireless communication “device” which has a number of different components, performing a
`
`number of different functions.3 Specifically, claim 16 recites:
`
`16. A device for communicating information, the device comprising:
`
`a processor; and
`
`a memory, the memory comprising logical instructions that
`when executed by the processor are configured to cause the
`device to:
`
`wirelessly transmit a signal comprising instruction
`data for delivery to a network of addressable lOW-
`power transceivers;
`
`establish a communication link between at least one
`
`low-power transceiver in the network of addressable
`low-power transceivers and a central location based
`on
`an
`address
`included
`in
`the
`signal,
`the
`communication link comprising one or more low-
`power transceivers in the network of addressable
`low-power transceivers; and
`
`receive one or more low-power RF signals and
`connnunicate information contained within the
`
`signals to the central location along with a unique
`transceiver
`identification
`number
`over
`the
`communication link.
`
`
`
`D.I. 1~l (‘842 Patent), Claim 16.
`
`3 The Asserted Claims in Counts 4, 6, 7 and 9 recite similarly-lengthy and detailed limitations.
`
`-11-
`
`

`

`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 16 of 22 PageID #: 496
`Case 1:16-cv-00830-RGA Document 8 Filed 11/18/16 Page 16 of 22 PageID #: 496
`
`777;]
`
`_
`
`,
`
`‘
`
`-
`
`7
`
`... l
`
`'. M. 7777777.
`
`SIPCO’s Complaint makes no attempt to demonstrate how each of these claim elements
`
`is met by the Accused Systems. Indeed, in the complaint, there is m mention of any claim
`
`el

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