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Page 00001
`
`Apple Exhibit 4255
`Apple v Sightsound Technologies
`CBM2013-00020
`Page 00001
`
`

`
`I, Jeffrey Robbin, declare:
`
`1.
`
`I am employed by Apple Inc. (“Apple”) as Vice President, iTunes and
`
`Apple TV.
`
`I am over the age of 18, I have personal knowledge of the facts set forth
`
`herein, and I am competent to testify regarding these facts.
`
`2.
`
`In my current capacity at Apple, my responsibilities include overseeing
`
`the development of the {Fumes client and setting product direction. The iTunes client
`
`is the software that runs on Microsoft Windows or (Mac) OS X computers and iOS
`
`devices that, in addition to other functions, provides users with access to the iTunes
`
`Store.
`
`3.
`
`I began working at Apple as an intern in 1992 and returned full time in
`
`1993. In 1997, I left Apple and later started the company SoundStep.
`
`\While at
`
`Soundstcp, I, along with Bill Kincaid and David Heller, developed the Software
`
`product Sound_]an1 MP, a music player product for the Mac. Soundjam MP, among
`
`other things, allowed users to play music, transfer music from their computers to MP3
`
`players, create playlists, and transfer music from CDs to their computers and convert
`
`to MP3 format.
`
`4.
`
`In September 2000, Apple acquired SoundStep, and I returned to Apple
`
`as part of the acquisition. I was employed as an engineer to Continue my work on
`
`Soundjam MP, which was the predecessor product to iTunes.
`
`I was responsible,
`
`along with Mr. Kincaid and H1‘. Heller, for the development of the iTunes client.
`
`iTunes commercially launched in January 2001.
`
`414025883
`
`-2-
`
`Page 00002
`
`Page 00002
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`

`
`5.
`
`Prior to March 2002, I became involved in developing a music purchase
`
`service for Apple, which became the iTunes Music Store, currently known as the
`
`iTunes Store.
`
`6.
`
`I was one of the leaders of the initial development team for the iTunes
`
`Music Store. An internal demonstration version of the iTunes Music Store was
`
`available by the end of 2002. The iTunes Music Store officially launched on April 23,
`
`2003.
`
`7.
`
`The iTunes client and iTunes Music Store include many technological
`
`features developed by Apple. One example is the “Genius” feature, which, among
`
`other functions, implements a sophisticated algorithm to provide recommendations
`
`based on past purchases. Apple has been granted U.S. patents on rnany inventions
`
`relating to the iTunes Music Store, including user interface technology, playlist
`
`management, presentation of media on a device, secure access to content, and
`
`assigning ratings. For example, Apple patents for which I am one of the named
`
`inventors include US. Patent No. 7,853,893 relating to a graphical user interface for
`
`searching, browsing, previewing, and/ or purchasing media items; US. Patent No.
`
`6,728,729 relating to accessing media across networks; U.S. Patent No. 7,765,326
`
`relating to improved interac1ion between a host computer and a media player; U.S.
`
`Patent No. 7,797,446 relating to automatic updating of playlists; US. Patent No.
`
`7,827,259 relating to selecting and presenting media items at a media device; U.S.
`
`Patent No. 7,844,498 relating to interacting with an online media store to obtain a
`"I
`-3-
`
`4l4025S8_2
`
`Page 00003
`
`Page 00003
`
`

`
`media asset bundle; US. Patent No. 7,895,661 relating to secure access to content
`
`within media files; US. Patent No. 7,958,441 relating to management of playlists; and
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,046,369 relating to assigning ratings to media assets. Apple also has
`
`been granted many other patents, for which I am not a named inventor, for
`
`innovative features of the iTunes client and iTunes Store.
`
`8.
`
`To my recollection, I had not heard of, nor was I aware of, any
`
`SightSound entity or any services offered by any Sightfaound entity before 2003.
`
`I
`
`also have no recollection of any communication from either Tom ‘Weyer or Mark
`
`Gavini (now Marco Mazzoni) relating to SightSound or to the concept of electronic
`
`purchase of digital audio or video signals over telecommunication lines. Nor am I
`
`aware of anyone in the development team for the launch of the iTunes Music Store,
`
`including Mr. Heller, who knew anything about SightSound or its services prior to
`
`2003, or had such communication from either Mr. Weyer or Mr. Gavini (now Mr.
`
`Mazzoni). As one of the leaders of the development team for the iTunes Music Store,
`
`if anyone had heard of Sightsound or received any information about SightSound that
`
`related to the {fumes Music Store, I believe I would have been aware of it.
`
`9.
`
`I am informed that Sigl1tSound is alleging in this proceeding—more than
`
`10 years after Apple developed and launched the iTunes Music Store—~that Apple
`
`developed the iTunes client and iTunes Music Store by copying from SightSound.
`
`Based on my knowledge and experience as a key member of the development team
`
`for the iTunes client and the iTunes Music Store, that allegation is utterly false. Apple.
`
`41-m25ss_2
`
`-4-
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`Page 00004
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`Page 00004
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`

`
`developed those technologies based on the predecessor product Soundjam MP that it
`
`acquired in September 2000, and based on the significant innovative work done at
`
`Apple to make commercially viable the idea—prevalent in the industry since the mid-
`
`1980s——that it would be desirable to sell music and video files over computer
`
`networks. Apple’s work on this project was both innovative and pioneering, which
`
`helps to explain why Apple became the market leader so soon after its launch of the
`
`iTunes Music Store. Based on my core involvement in this project, and my extensive,
`
`sustained interaction with all of the other team members in developing the iTunes
`
`ecosystem, Apple did not copy anything from any SightSound entity.
`
`I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of
`
`America that the foregoing is true and correct.
`
`Dated: March A, 2014
`
`E
`
`Jeffrey Robbin
`
`4I402588_2
`
`Page 00005
`
`Page 00005

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