`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
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`IRONBURG INVENTIONS LTD. a
`United Kingdom Limited Company,
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`Plaintiff,
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`vs.
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`VALVE CORPORATION, a
`Washington Corporation,
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`Defendant.
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`
`
`[DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL]
`Civil Action No.
`1:15-cv-04219-TWT
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`SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 2 of 17
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`Pursuant to Stipulation and Order (Dkt. No. 43.), Plaintiff Ironburg
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`Inventions Ltd. (“Plaintiff”), by and through counsel, files this Second Amended
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`Complaint for patent infringement and demand for jury trial against Defendant
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`Valve Corporation (“Defendant”).
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`Plaintiff alleges as follows:
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`PARTIES
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`1.
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`Plaintiff Ironburg Inventions Ltd. (“Ironburg”) is a company organized and
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`existing under the laws of the United Kingdom having its principal place of
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`business at 10 Market Place, Wincanton, BA9 9LP, Great Britain.
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`2.
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`Ironburg conducts business in the United States by and through Scuf
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`Gaming International, LLC (“Scuf Gaming”), a Georgia-based manufacturer,
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`wholesaler, retailer, and restorer of custom video game equipment and accessories,
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`including video game controllers (“gaming controllers”), which include Plaintiff’s
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`patented technology.
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`3.
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`On information and belief, Defendant Valve Corporation (“Valve”) is a
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`corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Washington,
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`having a place of business at 10900 NE 4th Street, Suite 500, Bellevue,
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`Washington 90084.
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 3 of 17
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`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
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`4.
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`This is a complaint for patent infringement arising under the patent laws of
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`the United States, 35 U.S.C. § 1 et seq. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction
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`under 28 U.S.C. §§1331 and 1138(a).
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`5.
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`Defendant has committed acts and continues to commit acts within this
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`District giving rise to this action, and venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)
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`and §1400(b).
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`6.
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`On February 4, 2014, United States Patent No. 8,641,525 (hereafter the
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`“’525 Patent”) entitled, “CONTROLLER FOR VIDEO GAME CONSOLE,” was
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`duly and legally issued to Plaintiff Ironburg. A copy of the ‘525 Patent is annexed
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`hereto as Exhibit A.
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`7.
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`On July 28, 2015, United States Patent No. 9,089,770 (hereafter the “’770
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`Patent”) entitled, “CONTROLLER FOR VIDEO GAME CONSOLE,” which is a
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`continuation of the ‘525 Patent, was duly and legally issued to Plaintiff Ironburg.
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`A copy of the ‘770 Patent is annexed hereto as Exhibit B.
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`8.
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`On March 22, 2016, United States Patent No. 9,289,688 (hereafter the “’688
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`Patent”) entitled, “GAMES CONTROLLER,” was duly and legally issued to
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`Plaintiff Ironburg. A copy of the ‘688 Patent is annexed hereto as Exhibit C.
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`9.
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`On May 31, 2016, United States Patent No. 9,352, 229 (hereinafter the ‘229
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 4 of 17
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`Patent) entitled “CONTROLLER FOR A GAMES CONTROLLER,” was duly and
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`legally issued to Ironburg. A copy of the ‘229 Patent is annexed hereto as
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`Exhibit D.
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`10. Plaintiff Ironburg is the owner and assignee of record of the ‘525, the ‘770,
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`the ‘688 and the ‘229 Patents (together the “Patents-in-Suit”).
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`FACTUAL BACKGROUND
`11. As part of its business, Plaintiff licenses its patents, including to Scuf
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`Gaming and Microsoft Corporation.
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`12. Defendant is presently making, using, importing, marketing, selling, and/or
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`offering to sell gaming controllers, including but not limited to Defendant’s Steam
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`Controller1, in this District and elsewhere in the United States that incorporate
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`Plaintiff’s patented technology.
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`13. The Patents-in-Suit all have claims directed to gaming controllers with
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`controls located on the back of the controllers.
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`14. At least as early as March 7, 2014, in written and oral communications with
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`Valve, Ironburg notified Valve that its marketing of gaming controllers, including
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`Valve’s Steam Controller, infringed Ironburg’s gaming controller patents. In those
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`1 Pictures of Defendant’s Steam Controller from Defendant’s website
`(http://store.steampowered.com), which has been marketing its controller at least
`since March 2014, are annexed hereto as Exhibit E.
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 5 of 17
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`pre-suit communications with Valve, Ironburg specifically identified Claims 1 and
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`20 of the ‘525 Patent at issue in this suit (the two independent claims of that
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`patent), as well as Ironburg’s then-pending patent applications, including one now
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`issued as the ‘770 Patent at issue in this suit.
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`15. On December 3, 2015, Ironburg notified Valve in writing that its marketing
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`of gaming controllers, including Defendant’s Steam Controller, infringed the ‘525
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`and ‘770 Patents at issue in this suit.
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`16. On December 3, 2015, Ironburg filed the complaint which initiated this suit.
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`In that Complaint, Ironburg notified Valve in writing that its marketing of gaming
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`controllers, including Defendant’s Steam Controller, infringed the ‘525 and ‘770
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`Patents at issue in this suit.
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`17. On May 16, 2016, Ironburg filed its First Amended Complaint, which
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`included allegations that Valve’s marketing of its gaming controllers, including
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`Defendant’s Steam Controller, infringed upon the ‘688 Patent, as well as the ‘525
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`and ‘770 Patents.
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`18. On June 13, 2016, Ironburg notified Valve in writing that its marketing of
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`gaming controllers, including Defendant’s Steam Controller, infringed not only the
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`‘525, ‘770 and ‘688 Patents atissue in this suit, but also the newly-issued ‘229
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`Patent, including Claim 3 of the ‘229 Patent.
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 6 of 17
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`19. Despite the June 13, 2016 notice, as well as Ironburg’s previous
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`communications with Valve regarding the ‘525, ‘770, and ‘688 Patents being
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`infringed by Valve’s marketing of its controllers, as well as Ironburg filing suit on
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`December 3, 2015, as of the date of this filing, Valve still continues to market
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`those controllers in the U.S., including through its website (see
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`http://store.steampowered.com/app/353370), and U.S. retailers like Amazon
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`continue to sell those controllers (see, e.g., https://www.amazon.com/Steam-
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`Controller-SteamOS/dp/B016KBVBCS).
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`COUNT I
`(Infringement Of U.S. Patent No. 8,641,525)
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`20. Plaintiff repeats and realleges Paragraphs 1 through 19 of this complaint as
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`if fully set forth herein.
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`21. Gaming controller products made, used and sold by the defendant, including
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`Defendant's Steam Controller, infringe the '525 patent. Defendant's Steam
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`Controller is a hand held controller that closely resembles the controller depicted in
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`the patent. Each and every claim in the '525 patent is directed to a hand held
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`controller. There are only two independent claims in the '525 patent: Claims 1 and
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`20. They are similar, but Claim 1 includes a limitation that Claim 20 does not
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`(Claim 20 does not specify that an element is resilient and flexible). Claims 1 and
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`20 include the following claim elements: (1) an outer case, (2) a front control, (3)
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 7 of 17
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`shaped to be held in the hand of a user such that the user's thumb is positioned to
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`operate the front control, and (4) two back controls with elongated members.
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`Defendant's Steam Controller is a hand held controller that includes the
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`aforementioned claim elements, viz., (1) an outer case, (2) a front control, (3)
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`shaped to be held in the hand of a user such that the user's thumb is positioned to
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`operate the front control, and (4) two back controls with elongated members. The
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`remaining claims of the patent include the elements of Claim 1 and add additional
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`limitations. For example, Claim 2 further requires a top control, Claim 7 further
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`requires that each elongate member is mounted within a recess of the case of the
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`controller, and Claim 15 further requires a switch mechanism disposed between
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`each of the elongate members and an outer surface of the back of the controller.
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`The Steam Controller includes each element of exemplary Claims 1, 2, 7 and 15.
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`Plaintiff contends that the infringement is literal, but reserves the right to rely on
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`the doctrine of equivalents.
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`22. Defendant’s acts of infringement of the ‘525 Patent have caused and will
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`continue to cause Plaintiff substantial and irreparable injury, for which Plaintiff is
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`entitled to receive injunctive relief and damages adequate to compensate Plaintiff
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`for such infringement.
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`23. Plaintiff is entitled to damages under 35 U.S.C. § 284 for Defendant’s
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 8 of 17
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`infringement of one or more claims of the ‘525 Patent.
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`COUNT II
`(Infringement Of U.S. Patent No. 9,089,770)
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`24. Plaintiff repeats and realleges Paragraphs 1 through 23 of this complaint as
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`if fully set forth herein.
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`25. Gaming controller products made, used and sold by the defendant, including
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`Defendant's Steam Controller, infringe the '770 patent. Defendant's Steam
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`Controller is a hand held controller that closely resembles the controller depicted in
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`the patent. Each and every claim in the '770 patent is directed to a gaming
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`controller. There is only one independent claim in the '770 patent: Claim 1.
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`Claim 1 includes the following claim elements: (1) an outer case, (2) two back
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`controls with elongated members, (3) the first back control extending at least half
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`the distance between the top and bottom of the controller, and (4) the second back
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`control also extending at least half the distance between the top and bottom of the
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`controller. Defendant's Steam Controller is a hand held controller that includes the
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`aforementioned claim elements, viz., (1) an outer case, (2) two back controls with
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`elongated members, (3) the first back control extending at least half the distance
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`between the top and bottom of the controller, and (4) the second back control also
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`extending at least half the distance between the top and bottom of the controller.
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`The remaining claims of the patent include the elements of Claim 1 and add
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 9 of 17
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`additional limitations. For example: Claim 3 further requires that the bottom edge
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`of the controller includes a first and a second convex handle with a medial portion
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`in between; Claim 4 further requires that the first distance [for measuring length of
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`back controls] is between the top edge and the medial portion in Claim 3; Claim 5
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`further requires that the medial portion in Claim 3 is closer to the top edge than a
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`distal end of the first and second handles; Claim 6 further requires that the back
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`includes a recesses between the first and second handles; Claim 7 further requires
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`that the recess in Claim 6 is recessed towards the front; Claim 8 further requires
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`that the two elongate members are positioned at or adjacent the transition edge
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`between each handle and the recess; and, Claim 9 further requires that the first and
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`second handles protrude outwards from the recess. The Steam Controller includes
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`each element of exemplary Claims 1, 3, 4-6 and 7-9. Plaintiff contends that the
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`infringement is literal, but reserves the right to rely on the doctrine of equivalents.
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`26. Defendant’s acts of infringement of the ’770 Patent have caused and will
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`continue to cause Plaintiff substantial and irreparable injury, for which Plaintiff is
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`entitled to receive injunctive relief and damages adequate to compensate Plaintiff
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`for such infringement.
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`27. Plaintiff is entitled to damages under 35 U.S.C. § 284 for Defendant’s
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`infringement of one or more claims of the ‘770 Patent.
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 10 of 17
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`COUNT III
`(Infringement Of U.S. Patent No. 9,289,688)
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`28. Plaintiff repeats and realleges Paragraphs 1 through 27 of this complaint as
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`if fully set forth herein.
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`29. Gaming controller products made, used and sold by the defendant, including
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`Defendant's Steam Controller, infringe the '688 patent. Defendant's Steam
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`Controller is a hand held controller that closely resemble the controller depicted in
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`the patent. Each and every claim in the '688 patent is directed to a games
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`controller. There are only two independent claims in the '688 patent: Claims 1 and
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`30. They are similar, but Claim 1 is directed to a controller with certain features
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`and controls, and Claim 30 is directed to features and controls. Claim 1 includes
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`the following claim elements: (1) an outer case, (2) multiple controls on the front
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`and top of the case, (3) the case shaped to be held in two hands with the user's
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`thumbs operating the top controls and index fingers operating the front controls,
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`(4) at least one additional back control with an elongate member that is operable by
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`the user’s middle, ring or little finger, (5) and the elongate member has one side
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`disposed proximate an outer surface of the case and the opposite side is non-
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`parallel with that outer surface. Defendant's Steam Controller is a hand held
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`controller that includes the aforementioned claim elements, viz., (1) an outer case,
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`(2) multiple controls on the front and top of the case, (3) the case shaped to be held
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 11 of 17
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`in two hands with the user's thumbs operating the top controls and index fingers
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`operating the front controls, (4) at least one additional back control with an
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`elongate member that is operable by the user’s middle, ring or little finger, (5) and
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`the elongate member has one side disposed proximate an outer surface of the case
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`and the opposite side is non-parallel with that outer surface. The remaining claims
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`of the patent include the elements of Claim 1 and add additional limitations. The
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`Steam Controller includes each element of exemplary Claim 1. Plaintiff contends
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`that the infringement is literal, but reserves the right to rely on the doctrine of
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`equivalents.
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`30. Defendant’s acts of infringement of the ’688 Patent have caused and will
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`continue to cause Plaintiff substantial and irreparable injury, for which Plaintiff is
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`entitled to receive injunctive relief and damages adequate to compensate Plaintiff
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`for such infringement.
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`31. Plaintiff is entitled to damages under 35 U.S.C. § 284 for Defendant’s
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`infringement of one or more claims of the ‘688 Patent.
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`COUNT IV
`(Infringement Of U.S. Patent No. 9,352, 229)
`32. Plaintiff repeats and realleges Paragraphs 1 through 31 of this complaint as
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`if fully set forth herein.
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`33. Gaming controller products made, used and sold by the defendant, including
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 12 of 17
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`Defendant’s Steam Controller, infringe the ‘229 patent. Defendant's Steam
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`Controller is a hand held controller that closely resembles the controller depicted in
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`the patent. Each and every claim in the ‘229 patent is directed to a games
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`controller. There are only two independent claims in the ‘229 patent: Claims 1
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`and 24. They are similar, but Claim 24 also includes an element for a mounting
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`plate on the back of the controller. Claim 1 includes the following claim elements:
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`(1) an outer case, (2) multiple controls on the front and top of the case, (3) the case
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`is shaped to be held in two hands with the user's thumbs operating the top controls
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`and index fingers operating the front controls, (4) at least one additional back
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`control with an elongate member that is operable by the user’s middle finger, (5)
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`the additional control is inherently resilient and flexible and can be displaced by
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`the user to activate a control function, and (6) the elongate member is at least
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`partially disposed in a respective channel located on the back of the outer case (the
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`channel being elongated along a longitudinal dimension of the elongate member).
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`Defendant's Steam Controller is a hand held controller that includes the
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`aforementioned claim elements, viz., (1) an outer case, (2) multiple controls on the
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`front and top of the case, (3) the case is shaped to be held in two hands with the
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`user's thumbs operating the top controls and index fingers operating the front
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`controls, (4) at least one additional back control with an elongate member that is
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 13 of 17
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`operable by the user’s middle finger, (5) the additional control is inherently
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`resilient and flexible and can be displaced by the user to activate a control function,
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`and (6) the elongate member is at least partially disposed in a respective channel
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`located on the back of the outer case (the channel being elongated along a
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`longitudinal dimension of the elongate member). The remaining claims of the
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`patent include the elements of Claim 1 and add additional limitations. For
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`example, Claim 3 further requires that the elongate member comprises a first
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`dimension and the controller comprises a cover portion forming a conduit
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`enclosing the elongate member within the respective channel along a portion of the
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`first dimension of the elongate member. The Steam Controller includes each
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`element of exemplary Claims 1 and 3. Plaintiff contends that the infringement is
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`literal, but reserves the right to rely on the doctrine of equivalents.
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`34. Defendant’s acts of infringement of the ‘229 Patent have caused and will
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`continue to cause Plaintiff substantial and irreparable injury, for which Plaintiff is
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`entitled to receive injunctive relief and damages adequate to compensate Plaintiff
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`for such infringement.
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`35. Plaintiff is entitled to damages under 35 U.S.C. § 284 for Defendant’s
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`infringement of one or more claims of the ‘229 Patent.
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 14 of 17
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`INCREASED DAMAGES UNDER 35 U.S.C. § 284
`36. Plaintiff repeats and realleges Paragraphs 1 through 35 of this Complaint as
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`if fully set forth herein.
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`37. Plaintiff is entitled to increased or enhanced damages under 35 U.S.C.
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`Section 284 for ongoing egregious and willful misconduct. Valve’s infringement
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`has been and is willful and its conduct has been and is egregious.
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`38. Valve’s egregious and willful misconduct includes but is not limited to the
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`continued, deliberate sale of gaming controllers, including the Steam Controller,
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`despite repeated and ever increasing notifications and cease and desist demands
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`from Ironburg that the Steam Controller infringes at least four patents. Valve's
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`egregious conduct is beyond what is found in a typical patent case.
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`39. Valve has and continues to sell the accused controllers despite actual
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`knowledge that the Steam Controller that it continues to sell actually infringes at
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`least the four patents at issue in this suit.
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`40. Additionally, Valve acted despite a high likelihood that its actions, including
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`but not limited to its marketing and sales of Valve’s Steam Controller, constituted
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`infringement of the Patents-in-Suit. Valve acted despite the fact that the risk of
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`infringement should have been known to the Valve and was actually known to
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`Valve since at least March 7, 2014. Valve’s infringement, including but not
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 15 of 17
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`limited to its marketing and sales of the Steam Controller, has been with actual
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`notice of infringement of each of the Patents-in-Suit, including as a result of
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`Ironburg’s communications with Valve regarding Defendant’s Steam Controller
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`and Ironburg’s patents and patent applications.
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`REQUEST FOR RELIEF
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`WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that this Court grant the
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`following relief:
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`A. The entry of judgment declaring that Defendant has infringed each of the
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`Patents-in-Suit;
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`B. An award of all available damages, including, but not limited to any lost
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`profits from Defendant’s infringement of the Patents-in-Suit, but in any event not
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`less than a reasonable royalty, together with pre-judgment and post-judgment
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`interest;
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`C. An injunction restraining Defendant and its affiliates, subsidiaries,
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`officers, directors, agents, servants, employees, representatives, licensees,
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`successors, assigns, and all those acting for them and on their behalf, from further
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`infringement of the Patents-in-Suit, as well as inducements of infringement and
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`contributions to infringement of the Patents-in-Suit;
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`D. The entry of an order declaring that this is an exceptional case and
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 16 of 17
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`awarding Plaintiff its costs, expenses, and reasonable attorney fees under 35 U.S.C.
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`§ 285 and all other applicable statutes, rules, and common law;
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`E. An award of enhanced and treble damages under 35 U.S.C. § 284 for
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`Defendant's egregious conduct beyond what is found in a typical patent case; AND
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`F. An order awarding Plaintiff any such other relief as the Court may deem
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`just and proper under the circumstances.
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`DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
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`Plaintiff demands trial by jury on all claims and issues so triable.
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`Dated: August 15, 2016
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`Respectfully submitted,
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`By: /s/ Robert D. Becker
`Robert D. Becker, pro hac vice
`CA Bar No. 160648
`MANATT, PHELPS & PHILLIPS, LLP
`1841 Page Mill Road, Suite 200
`Palo Alto, CA 94304
`Telephone: (650) 812-1300
`Facsimile: (650) 213-0260
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`Cynthia R. Parks, local counsel
`GA Bar No. 563929
`PARKS IP LAW LLC
`730 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 600
`Atlanta, GA 30308
`Telephone: (678) 365-4444
`Facsimile: (678) 365-4450
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`Attorneys for Plaintiff
`IRONBURG INVENTIONS LTD.
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`Case 1:15-cv-04219-TWT Document 44 Filed 08/15/16 Page 17 of 17
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`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
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`I hereby certify that on August 15, 2016, I served the foregoing with the
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`Clerk of Court using the CM/ECF system which will automatically send email
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`notification of such filing to the attorneys of record.
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`/s/ Robert D. Becker
`Robert D. Becker
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`317406708.5
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